I have my own opinion as to what this song means. I also take some lyrics from the live versions to show what they mean more, and some I think are different than what is posted above, so I just write what I think he's singing.
I assumed this song was about a pain shared between him and someone he loved, a death, a fight, something like that. That's what this song means to me:
Come and see, I swear by now I'm playing time against my troubles
I'm coming slow but speeding
(I'm trying to forget the pain we've felt, I'm not perfect but I'm trying to get better.)
Do you wish a dance and while I'm in the front my playing time is won. Oh but the difficulty's coming here.
(Do you want to be like me and try to move on, as you can see I am moving on. Only more pain will be coming to you.)
I will go in this way, and find my own way out. I won't tell you what to be, but I'm coming to much more.
(I will fix my own problems. I won't tell you to be like me, but I'm getting better.)
Me, come now that ghosts come back, reeling in you now. What if they came down crushing?
(You are only going to keep remembering me. What if these memories are too painful?)
In the wake, we used to play for all the loneliness that nobody notices now. Begging slow, I'm coming here.
(Remember now, we used to just ignore all the pain that no one else can see. I'm coming very slowly, but I'm coming to help you.)
Only waiting, I wanted to stay, I wanted to play, I wanted to love you.
(I am willing to wait for you, I wish we could have stayed happy, I wish I could have just loved you with no pain.)
I'm only this far, and only tomorrow leads the way. I'm coming waltzing back and moving into your head.
(I've only come this far, but only the future leads the way. I am coming back into your life now.)
Please, I wouldn't pass this by, I wouldn't take any more than what sort of man goes by. I will bring water.
(I won't just let you go that easily, I won't just be like other people and leave you here. I will help you.)
Why won't you ever be glad, it melts into wonder. I came in praying for you.
(Why can't you just forget the pain, I'm happy, it will all just go away. I came here just trying to help you.)
Why won't you run into the rain and play, and let tears splash all over you.
(Why don't you just let go of the pain and be happy again, let it become part of you, but no longer controlling you.)
My personal take on this song is about a guy in a relationship. He dies and he's writing from his perspective on the other side. He's sad because he misses his spouse, but he's also bummed that he can't do anything to console her, although if she went outside to play in the rain at least his tears could be touching her again. Only tomorrow leads my way. I'm coming waltzing back and moving into your head, indicates a memory to his spouse. The Live at Luther College recording is haunting btw!
My personal take on this song is about a guy in a relationship. He dies and he's writing from his perspective on the other side. He's sad because he misses his spouse, but he's also bummed that he can't do anything to console her, although if she went outside to play in the rain at least his tears could be touching her again. Only tomorrow leads my way. I'm coming waltzing back and moving into your head, indicates a memory to his spouse. The Live at Luther College recording is haunting btw!
I have my own opinion as to what this song means. I also take some lyrics from the live versions to show what they mean more, and some I think are different than what is posted above, so I just write what I think he's singing.
I assumed this song was about a pain shared between him and someone he loved, a death, a fight, something like that. That's what this song means to me:
Come and see, I swear by now I'm playing time against my troubles I'm coming slow but speeding (I'm trying to forget the pain we've felt, I'm not perfect but I'm trying to get better.)
Do you wish a dance and while I'm in the front my playing time is won. Oh but the difficulty's coming here. (Do you want to be like me and try to move on, as you can see I am moving on. Only more pain will be coming to you.)
I will go in this way, and find my own way out. I won't tell you what to be, but I'm coming to much more. (I will fix my own problems. I won't tell you to be like me, but I'm getting better.)
Me, come now that ghosts come back, reeling in you now. What if they came down crushing? (You are only going to keep remembering me. What if these memories are too painful?)
In the wake, we used to play for all the loneliness that nobody notices now. Begging slow, I'm coming here. (Remember now, we used to just ignore all the pain that no one else can see. I'm coming very slowly, but I'm coming to help you.)
Only waiting, I wanted to stay, I wanted to play, I wanted to love you. (I am willing to wait for you, I wish we could have stayed happy, I wish I could have just loved you with no pain.)
I'm only this far, and only tomorrow leads the way. I'm coming waltzing back and moving into your head. (I've only come this far, but only the future leads the way. I am coming back into your life now.)
Please, I wouldn't pass this by, I wouldn't take any more than what sort of man goes by. I will bring water. (I won't just let you go that easily, I won't just be like other people and leave you here. I will help you.)
Why won't you ever be glad, it melts into wonder. I came in praying for you. (Why can't you just forget the pain, I'm happy, it will all just go away. I came here just trying to help you.)
Why won't you run into the rain and play, and let tears splash all over you. (Why don't you just let go of the pain and be happy again, let it become part of you, but no longer controlling you.)
My personal take on this song is about a guy in a relationship. He dies and he's writing from his perspective on the other side. He's sad because he misses his spouse, but he's also bummed that he can't do anything to console her, although if she went outside to play in the rain at least his tears could be touching her again. Only tomorrow leads my way. I'm coming waltzing back and moving into your head, indicates a memory to his spouse. The Live at Luther College recording is haunting btw!
My personal take on this song is about a guy in a relationship. He dies and he's writing from his perspective on the other side. He's sad because he misses his spouse, but he's also bummed that he can't do anything to console her, although if she went outside to play in the rain at least his tears could be touching her again. Only tomorrow leads my way. I'm coming waltzing back and moving into your head, indicates a memory to his spouse. The Live at Luther College recording is haunting btw!
@2732 Love it. Yes.
@2732 Love it. Yes.