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.
Every time we do this
I fall for her
Wave after wave after wave
It's all for her
"I know this can't be wrong" I say
And I'll lie to keep her happy
As long as I know that you know
That today I belong
Right here with you
Right here with you
And so we watch the sun come up
From the edge of the deep green sea
And she listens like her head's on fire
Like she wants to believe in me
So I try
Put your hands in the sky
Surrender
Remember
We'll be here forever
And we'll never say goodbye
I've never been so
Colorfully-see-through-head before
(I've never been)
I've never been so
Wonderfully me, you want some more?
And all I want is to keep it like this
You and me alone
A secret kiss
And don't go home
Don't go away
Don't let this end
Please stay
Not just for today
"Never, never, never, never
Never, never, never, never
Never let me go" she says
"Hold me like this for a hundred thousand million days"
But suddenly she slows
And looks down at my breaking face
"Why do you cry? what did I say?"
But it's just rain, I smile
Brushing my tears away
I wish I could just stop
I know another moment will break my heart
Too many tears
Too many times
Too many years I've cried
Over you
Over you
Over you
How much more can we use it up?
Drink it dry?
Take this drug?
Looking for something forever gone
But something
We will always want?
"Why, why, why
Are you letting me go?" she says
I feel you pulling back
I feel you changing shape
And just as I'm breaking free
She hangs herself in front of me
Slips her dress like a flag to the floor
And hands in the sky surrenders it all
I wish I could just stop
I know another moment will break my heart
Too many tears
Too many times
Too many years I've cried for you
It's always the same
Wake up in the rain
Head in pain
Hung in shame
A different name
Same old game
Love in vain
And miles and miles and miles and miles and miles and miles
Away from home again
I fall for her
Wave after wave after wave
It's all for her
"I know this can't be wrong" I say
And I'll lie to keep her happy
As long as I know that you know
That today I belong
Right here with you
Right here with you
And so we watch the sun come up
From the edge of the deep green sea
And she listens like her head's on fire
Like she wants to believe in me
So I try
Put your hands in the sky
Surrender
Remember
We'll be here forever
And we'll never say goodbye
I've never been so
Colorfully-see-through-head before
(I've never been)
I've never been so
Wonderfully me, you want some more?
And all I want is to keep it like this
You and me alone
A secret kiss
And don't go home
Don't go away
Don't let this end
Please stay
Not just for today
"Never, never, never, never
Never, never, never, never
Never let me go" she says
"Hold me like this for a hundred thousand million days"
But suddenly she slows
And looks down at my breaking face
"Why do you cry? what did I say?"
But it's just rain, I smile
Brushing my tears away
I wish I could just stop
I know another moment will break my heart
Too many tears
Too many times
Too many years I've cried
Over you
Over you
Over you
How much more can we use it up?
Drink it dry?
Take this drug?
Looking for something forever gone
But something
We will always want?
"Why, why, why
Are you letting me go?" she says
I feel you pulling back
I feel you changing shape
And just as I'm breaking free
She hangs herself in front of me
Slips her dress like a flag to the floor
And hands in the sky surrenders it all
I wish I could just stop
I know another moment will break my heart
Too many tears
Too many times
Too many years I've cried for you
It's always the same
Wake up in the rain
Head in pain
Hung in shame
A different name
Same old game
Love in vain
And miles and miles and miles and miles and miles and miles
Away from home again
Lyrics submitted by oofus, edited by Mellow_Harsher, Hgaudguad
From The Edge Of The Deep Green Sea Lyrics as written by Boris Williams Perry Bamonte
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Odds are, this song wasn't inspired by any event that happened in Robert's own life but more likely something he witnessed, heard about, or read about. As the posters who have mentioned before, Robert married his high school sweet heart and while some of the love songs he writes are indeed about her, most of them are not, and they're not even about events in his own life (A Letter to Elise for example).
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As far as what this song 'means'. It's all pretty much summed up in one of the last lines, love in vein. Leading a relationship on that you know isn't going to last. While it looks beautiful and romantic to start off it all ends in heart ache. A pretty common theme in Robert's song writing, especially on the album this song comes off of.
@Liquidninja I think what’s amazing that he can so perfectly create an emotion that he hasn’t diredtly experienced given his long time relationship with Mary.. unless of course, he was having affairs. But I dont know of any of that ...