First thing we'd climb a tree
And maybe then we'd talk
Or sit silently
And listen to our thoughts
With illusions of someday
Cast in a golden light
No dress rehearsal
This is our life

And that's where the hornet stung me
And I had a feverish dream
With revenge and doubt
Tonight, we smoke them out

You are ahead by a century
You are ahead by a century
You are ahead by a century

Stare in the morning shroud
And then the day began
I tilted your cloud
You tilted my hand
Rain falls in real time
And rain fell through the night
No dress rehearsal, this is our life

But that's when the hornet stung me
And I had a serious dream
With revenge and doubt
Tonight, we smoked them out

You are ahead by a century
You are ahead by a century
You are ahead by a century

You are ahead by a century
You are ahead by a century
You are ahead by a century
And disappointing you is gettin' me down


Lyrics submitted by black_cow_of_death, edited by bulldog728

Ahead By A Century Lyrics as written by Johnny Fay Gordon Downie

Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing

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Ahead By A Century song meanings
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    General Comment

    Saw them perform this song in Winnipeg years back. Before beginning to sing Gord said the song was about young love. Particularly being the more infatuated person in the relationship and ultimately being dumped by the other person. The other (a girl) being more mature than the boy and expecting more from him. Ultimately, the disparity leads her to seek someone else.

    Hip_hipster_with_broken_hipon September 05, 2016   Link

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