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.
I sit at my table and wage war on myself
It seems like it's all, it's all for nothing
I know the barricades
And I know the mortar in the wall breaks
I recognize the weapons, I used them well
This is my mistake
Let me make it good
I raised the wall and I will be the one to knock it down
I've a rich understanding of my finest defenses
I proclaim that claims are left unstated
I demand a rematch
I decree a stalemate
I divine my deeper motives
I recognize the weapons
I've practiced them well, I fitted them myself
It's amazing what devices you can sympathize (empathize)
This is my mistake
Let me make it good
I raised the wall and I will be the one to knock it down
Reach out for me and hold me tight
Hold that memory
Let my machine talk to me, let my machine talk to me
This is my world and I am world leader pretend
This is my life
And this is my time
I have been given the freedom
To do as I see fit
It's high time I've razed the walls that I've constructed
It's amazing what devices you can sympathize (empathize)
This is my mistake
Let me make it good
I raised the wall and I will be the one to knock it down
You fill in the mortar
You fill in the harmony
You fill in the mortar
I raised the wall
And I'm the only one
I will be the one to knock it down
It seems like it's all, it's all for nothing
I know the barricades
And I know the mortar in the wall breaks
I recognize the weapons, I used them well
This is my mistake
Let me make it good
I raised the wall and I will be the one to knock it down
I've a rich understanding of my finest defenses
I proclaim that claims are left unstated
I demand a rematch
I decree a stalemate
I divine my deeper motives
I recognize the weapons
I've practiced them well, I fitted them myself
It's amazing what devices you can sympathize (empathize)
This is my mistake
Let me make it good
I raised the wall and I will be the one to knock it down
Reach out for me and hold me tight
Hold that memory
Let my machine talk to me, let my machine talk to me
This is my world and I am world leader pretend
This is my life
And this is my time
I have been given the freedom
To do as I see fit
It's high time I've razed the walls that I've constructed
It's amazing what devices you can sympathize (empathize)
This is my mistake
Let me make it good
I raised the wall and I will be the one to knock it down
You fill in the mortar
You fill in the harmony
You fill in the mortar
I raised the wall
And I'm the only one
I will be the one to knock it down
Lyrics submitted by scaredforthisworld, edited by picturesofthesun
World Leader Pretend Lyrics as written by Peter Buck Bill Berry
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I tended to agree with 'the narrator' pov here. I mean it really seems something about facing up to personal fears that you have created&fed along your life. And as more you take time to start this inner war, more those fears have grown inside yourself, and, at the same time, only you know all the tricks that you have used to deceive yourself on putting the beginning of that 'war' off ("I've a rich understanding of my finest defenses / I proclaim that claims are left unstated, / I demand a rematch / I decree a stalemate / I divine my deeper motives / I recognize the weapons / I've practiced them well. I fitted them myself"), thus only you are able to break this vicious circle where you put yourself ("It's amazing what devices you can sympathize...empathize / This is my mistake. Let me make it good / I raised the walls, and I will be the one to knock it down").
"You fill in the mortar. You fill in the harmony" and "This is my life / And this is my time / I have been given the freedom / To do as I see fit"
So it's only in your own hands the 'key' for opening that 'door' which will make you leave all those 'ghosts' behind for finding some inner peace at last. Or you can choose to keep on carrying heavy 'weights' upon your back if you decide to be an eternal victim of yourself.
Since you mention this bit...I find the switch to 2nd person in the final verse ("You fill in the mortar, you fill in the harmony") rather abrupt and weird. Who is the narrator addressing, all of a sudden?