So, I listen to a lot A LOT of music, and within a week this song easily made it into my top twenty or so favorites of all time; I can't believe it's not more popular. It's just perfect for whatever mood I'm in, and always the first thing I go to when I'm alone in my car and want to play around with singing some great harmonies!
As for the meaning, I don't think I'll be able to pin it down exactly but the images all seem to suggest to me some kind of imminent and unavoidable ending ("dying leaves can grip no more," "when ("when," not if) they spill, they'll wreck these shores," "this is the last decade.") The very calming orchestration though makes me feel like the speaker is very at peace with this inevitability.
So, I listen to a lot A LOT of music, and within a week this song easily made it into my top twenty or so favorites of all time; I can't believe it's not more popular. It's just perfect for whatever mood I'm in, and always the first thing I go to when I'm alone in my car and want to play around with singing some great harmonies!
As for the meaning, I don't think I'll be able to pin it down exactly but the images all seem to suggest to me some kind of imminent and unavoidable ending ("dying leaves can grip no more," "when ("when," not if) they spill, they'll wreck these shores," "this is the last decade.") The very calming orchestration though makes me feel like the speaker is very at peace with this inevitability.