I have a few thoughts about the possible meaning of the song.
“Helpless, she lies across the stairs”
I think that 'she' is not an actual person but a metaphor for his love life, and his thoughts about love. His love is helpless, there is no hope. Whether in his relationship or in his hope to get one or maybe hi ability to love at all. His ill love is blocking the way up the stairs, he can't move on as long she lays there. To get 'on top' of the stairs she has to be healed.
“Haunting your days, consuming your prayers”
Love is the only thing he can think about, it haunts him. Its the only thing he prays for.
“There will be healing but don't force this girl to stand”
Love is the only thing he can think about, it haunts him. Its the only thing he prays for.
His cripple love will recover, but it needs time. As long as he don't force it it will recover. He shouldn't try to love, force himself to fall in love, for she would fall because she is still to sick. He has to wait until he got over his hurts in love. Maybe he just had a relationship that ended.
“As she's counting the ceilings, with pale voice and trembling hands”
'the sky is the limit' but a ceiling is definitely a lot lower than the sky. The ceiling is the highest you can get in a room, it is the limit. She is counting the limits, the things that she can't do. And it makes her ill. She is only thinking about the things that are impossible.
“You told me life was long
But now that it's gone
You find yourself on top
As the leader of a flock
Called to be a rock for those below”
now hes life is gone, now he is old, after time had passed, he finds himself on top. On top of the stairs. So she has stand up. His love problem is over. He is the leader of a flock and can help those who are still below the stairs. In the song there are 3 persons: 'I' 'you' and 'she', these are all forms of himself, I are his thoughts, you is himself when he is self reflecting, and she is his ability to love. These three might form a group, a flock that forms him. So when he is old he finally is able to lead himself. I am not very sure about the flock part, but it is just a thought.
“Whispered notes from the piano in the corner of the room
Hold your throat is that healing that you're hearing in her tune”
his love slowly starts to play a tune, though it is still wary, it whispers. He holds his breath, is he hearing healing in her tune? Is she recovering.
“ Wanting change but loving her just as she lies
Is the burden of the man who's built his life on love”
this piece is confusing me a bit. He wants his love situation to change, but he still don't want to give up on his old love, his relationship which is kind of dying.
“I'll be locked up and stored
In a lavender ward
Cos my mind is just like hers
Just as broken, just as crippled, just as burned”
he will be old and locked up and stored in a retirement home. Because he doesn't do anything about it, because his mind got just as sick as his heart.
But what I find confusing is the contrast between the last couplet, and the refrain. In both he is old but in the refrain he learned from it and now it is over he can help others. And in the couplet he is just broken and crippled by it. I have to think a little more about this. this is all just my interpretation and I could be completely wrong, I'd love to hear your thoughts about it.
I have a few thoughts about the possible meaning of the song. “Helpless, she lies across the stairs” I think that 'she' is not an actual person but a metaphor for his love life, and his thoughts about love. His love is helpless, there is no hope. Whether in his relationship or in his hope to get one or maybe hi ability to love at all. His ill love is blocking the way up the stairs, he can't move on as long she lays there. To get 'on top' of the stairs she has to be healed.
“Haunting your days, consuming your prayers” Love is the only thing he can think about, it haunts him. Its the only thing he prays for.
“There will be healing but don't force this girl to stand” Love is the only thing he can think about, it haunts him. Its the only thing he prays for. His cripple love will recover, but it needs time. As long as he don't force it it will recover. He shouldn't try to love, force himself to fall in love, for she would fall because she is still to sick. He has to wait until he got over his hurts in love. Maybe he just had a relationship that ended.
“As she's counting the ceilings, with pale voice and trembling hands” 'the sky is the limit' but a ceiling is definitely a lot lower than the sky. The ceiling is the highest you can get in a room, it is the limit. She is counting the limits, the things that she can't do. And it makes her ill. She is only thinking about the things that are impossible.
“You told me life was long But now that it's gone You find yourself on top As the leader of a flock Called to be a rock for those below”
now hes life is gone, now he is old, after time had passed, he finds himself on top. On top of the stairs. So she has stand up. His love problem is over. He is the leader of a flock and can help those who are still below the stairs. In the song there are 3 persons: 'I' 'you' and 'she', these are all forms of himself, I are his thoughts, you is himself when he is self reflecting, and she is his ability to love. These three might form a group, a flock that forms him. So when he is old he finally is able to lead himself. I am not very sure about the flock part, but it is just a thought.
“Whispered notes from the piano in the corner of the room Hold your throat is that healing that you're hearing in her tune” his love slowly starts to play a tune, though it is still wary, it whispers. He holds his breath, is he hearing healing in her tune? Is she recovering.
“ Wanting change but loving her just as she lies Is the burden of the man who's built his life on love” this piece is confusing me a bit. He wants his love situation to change, but he still don't want to give up on his old love, his relationship which is kind of dying.
“I'll be locked up and stored In a lavender ward Cos my mind is just like hers Just as broken, just as crippled, just as burned” he will be old and locked up and stored in a retirement home. Because he doesn't do anything about it, because his mind got just as sick as his heart.
But what I find confusing is the contrast between the last couplet, and the refrain. In both he is old but in the refrain he learned from it and now it is over he can help others. And in the couplet he is just broken and crippled by it. I have to think a little more about this. this is all just my interpretation and I could be completely wrong, I'd love to hear your thoughts about it.