In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Germ
the enemy of the world
our greatest defeat
slave warfare
our wings are almost dry and free
absorbing violence [pain]
punishing pain
poetry is the perfume of the soul [no fear, no god, alternate staces take me places, the world, enemy]
nightmare babies, fire gods
speaking of dream time serpants
and walking with the elder dead
fear me mortal [fear me]
fear me
feed my disease
feed my disease [the taste of fear in the seventh phase of the disease]
and in tiny little houses
on tiny little streets [everythings normal, everythings not ok, it's normal]
voices raise and[as long as you're under my roof you will respect me]
fear is alive [as long as you're under my roof you will respect me]
and laughter
he's knows tolerance [don't forget me]
she only knows lonliness [not you, not you, not you]
and in my blackness of sleep
savages dance and scream
but only truth is suffering
bleeding like embryos [but only truth is suffering]
starving with dreams [life, blood]
you, single cell are commerse
whoa, what happened to you last night?
you've given up without a fight
and learned the words thay say receit
you killed the flower that blossoms in the night
smothered and crushed
rage gives way to a little giggle and sudden blush
and in my molecules, the vast eternity of invention [can you smell my fever mama? can you smell my poor veins?]
infected with the good disease
intellect, rebellion
finding the need in every single one
...of you
what's a matter you don't like it when i touch you?
come here
don't run, don't run
hand me babies and nightmare gods
i will shed my skin [but i can't get his sins off of me]
he prefers pain to pretty
death to daughter
to the shivering creature that lay beneath him
i will not be want you want me to be
i will not be want you want me to be [nothings changed, go away, go away]
people are evil and girls hate each other
oh great devour of the dead
i will know my demons names
i will conquer them
i will rise [rise]
i will...fight
why?
coming...
salvation...
this is my holy war
we come to you like desert warriors
fresh from the cool dew of night
in a sea of odor
in a tapestry of pain
absorbing violence
feasting on hopelessness
expand your mind
expand your mind
this is our time to shine [our time to shine, our time for justice]
and out of the ashes
only the holy will rise
sweet paper messiah [die]
sweet paper messiah
how i sacrifice you, i sacrifice you [save me, save me]
dear, sweet paper messiah [save me, save me, save me, save me]
my offering
my suffering [i speak to you on behalf of all of mankind]
whatever you need
what...ever you need
whatever you...
whatever you need
unite
messiah
me
the enemy of the world
our greatest defeat
slave warfare
our wings are almost dry and free
absorbing violence [pain]
punishing pain
poetry is the perfume of the soul [no fear, no god, alternate staces take me places, the world, enemy]
nightmare babies, fire gods
speaking of dream time serpants
and walking with the elder dead
fear me mortal [fear me]
fear me
feed my disease
feed my disease [the taste of fear in the seventh phase of the disease]
and in tiny little houses
on tiny little streets [everythings normal, everythings not ok, it's normal]
voices raise and[as long as you're under my roof you will respect me]
fear is alive [as long as you're under my roof you will respect me]
and laughter
he's knows tolerance [don't forget me]
she only knows lonliness [not you, not you, not you]
and in my blackness of sleep
savages dance and scream
but only truth is suffering
bleeding like embryos [but only truth is suffering]
starving with dreams [life, blood]
you, single cell are commerse
whoa, what happened to you last night?
you've given up without a fight
and learned the words thay say receit
you killed the flower that blossoms in the night
smothered and crushed
rage gives way to a little giggle and sudden blush
and in my molecules, the vast eternity of invention [can you smell my fever mama? can you smell my poor veins?]
infected with the good disease
intellect, rebellion
finding the need in every single one
...of you
what's a matter you don't like it when i touch you?
come here
don't run, don't run
hand me babies and nightmare gods
i will shed my skin [but i can't get his sins off of me]
he prefers pain to pretty
death to daughter
to the shivering creature that lay beneath him
i will not be want you want me to be
i will not be want you want me to be [nothings changed, go away, go away]
people are evil and girls hate each other
oh great devour of the dead
i will know my demons names
i will conquer them
i will rise [rise]
i will...fight
why?
coming...
salvation...
this is my holy war
we come to you like desert warriors
fresh from the cool dew of night
in a sea of odor
in a tapestry of pain
absorbing violence
feasting on hopelessness
expand your mind
expand your mind
this is our time to shine [our time to shine, our time for justice]
and out of the ashes
only the holy will rise
sweet paper messiah [die]
sweet paper messiah
how i sacrifice you, i sacrifice you [save me, save me]
dear, sweet paper messiah [save me, save me, save me, save me]
my offering
my suffering [i speak to you on behalf of all of mankind]
whatever you need
what...ever you need
whatever you...
whatever you need
unite
messiah
me
Lyrics submitted by Otepsaves
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
uh...i think you mean she...lead singer is a she.