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.
Well your eyes just haven't been the same, Joseph
Are you bad at dealing with the fame, Joseph
There's a pale moonshine, above you
Do you see both sides, do they shove you, around
Is the touchstone forcing you to hide, Joseph
Are the rumors eating you alive, Joseph
When the holy night is upon you
Will you do what's right, the position is yours
From the temple walls to the New York night
Our decisions rest on a child
When she took her stand
Did she hold your hand
Will your faith stand still or run away
Run away
When they've driven you so far
That you think you're gonna drop
Do you wish you were back there at the carpenter shop
With the plane and the lathe
The work never drove you mad
You're a maker, a creator
Not just somebody's dad
From the temple walls to the New York night
Our decisions rest on a man
When I take the stand
When I take the stand
Will he hold my hand
Will my faith stand still or run away
(Run away)
And the desert
It's a hell of a place to find heaven
Forty years lost in the wilderness looking for God
And you climb to the top of the mountain
Looking down on the city
Where you were born
(On the years since you left gave you time to sit back and reflect)
Better you than me (better you than me)
Better you than me
Yes
Well the Holy night is upon you (better you than me, better you than me)
Do you see both sides, do they shove you, around
Better you than me, Joseph (better you than me)
Better you than me
Joseph, Joseph, Joseph, Joseph
Than me
Better you than me
Better you than me (better you, better you, better you)
Than me
Well your eyes just haven?t been the same, Joseph
Are you bad at dealing with the fame, Joseph
There's a pale moonshine, above you
Do you see both sides, do they shove you, around
Is the touchstone forcing you to hide, Joseph
Are the rumors eating you alive, Joseph
When the holy night is upon you
Will you do what's right, the position is yours
From the temple walls to the New York night
Our decisions rest on a child
When she took her stand
Did she hold your hand
Will your faith stand still or run away
Run away
When they've driven you so far
That you think you're gonna drop
Do you wish you were back there at the carpenter shop
With the plane and the lathe
The work never drove you mad
You're a maker, a creator
Not just somebody's dad
From the temple walls to the New York night
Our decisions rest on a man
When I take the stand
When I take the stand
Will he hold my hand
Will my faith stand still or run away
(Run away)
And the desert
It's a hell of a place to find heaven
Forty years lost in the wilderness looking for God
And you climb to the top of the mountain
Looking down on the city
Where you were born
(On the years since you left gave you time to sit back and reflect)
Better you than me (better you than me)
Better you than me
Yes
Well the Holy night is upon you (better you than me, better you than me)
Do you see both sides, do they shove you, around
Better you than me, Joseph (better you than me)
Better you than me
Joseph, Joseph, Joseph, Joseph
Than me
Better you than me
Better you than me (better you, better you, better you)
Than me
Well your eyes just haven?t been the same, Joseph
Lyrics submitted by ShotgunXXWedding, edited by unillama
Joseph, Better You Than Me Lyrics as written by Elton John Neil Tennant
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
This song sounds like it's about the decision of Joseph to keep the pregnant Mary in the Nativity Story. Mary was pregnant with Jesus at the time, conceived by the Holy Spirit. This could certainly be seen by her contemporaries as some lame excuse, and Joseph had to make a decision to leave her or keep her. According to ancient Jewish customs, he was supposed to leave her, and he was going to (albeit in secret to keep her honor) but was visited by an Angel in a dream telling him to keep her and to name the baby Jesus. I would have to look closer but this song seems like it references this decision, and concludes "better you than me" to make the decision, as in Brandon Flowers admits he wouldn't want to have had to made such a difficult decision. Oh, and Elton John too. Heh.
No one has commented yet??
Not sure about this one, think its growing on me though.....
Brandon Flowers is mormon, and this song is obviously about Joseph Smith...<br /> "are the rumors eating you alive," Joseph Smith was hated by a lot of people, and there were a lot of rumors about him...<br /> "from the temple walls to the new york night," they built a lot of temples when he was alive, and he was born and lived most of his life in New York...<br /> "And the desert It's a hell of a place to find heaven Forty years lost in the wilderness looking for God" (i know it sounds a lot like Moses but listen to this) Salt Lake City was the desert and that was supposed to be Zion, it also took them 40 years to build the Salt Lake City temple...<br /> <br /> <br /> it also says about a carpenter, so that's obviously Joseph from the old testiment... i think he's kind of talking about both
Needs a little less Elton John and a bit more Killers me thinks!
^yep lol i totally agree. elton john is....well elton john. and the killers are rock geniuses!
Ya, this one's about Joseph from the bible. "Bad at dealin with the fame" = all the people around bringing gifts to baby jesus and other things. he's not used to all these people around him like a celebrity almost.
"Are the rumors eatin you alive" = he didnt conseive the baby so people are bound to talk....
"When she took her stand did she hold your hand Will your faith stand still or run away" = Will you stay with Mary, or leave her?
"And the desert It's a hell of a place to find heaven Forty years lost in the wilderness looking for God" = This is referring to Moses leading the Jews out of Egypt. Not sure how this fits in with Joseph, considering he would have been born yet...
"Better you than me Joseph" = This is obviously a hard situation to be in so the singers are saying they couldnt handle this much responsibility, and 'good for you Joseph' kind of thing
Great song....at least thats how i take this song.
I think the line "Bad at dealin with the fame" could also be referring to how his whole community would be talking about Mary and her pre-marital pregnancy, as well as his role in it. He has a tough decision to make at it is, and all of the rumors and staring eyes wouldn't help.
Read my review on this song and let me know your thoughts..
beta.www.associatedcontent.com/article/1297166/joseph_better_you_than_me_by_the_killers.html
lol u were a bit mean to elton :p
idk, this at certain points i am willing to bet isnt brandon... is someone else singing with him?
AHAHA scratch that last comment...
40 years in the desert is about the isrealites going across the desert it fits because it's comparing his and the isrealites expirences and saying God taught them both stuff (least I take it in that way)......and also maybe more theologically they they meant it. The isrealights were gods chosen people and were carrying forth his plan by crossing the desert to reach the promised land, J+M were crossing the desert for Jesus to be born in beth (and fufill the prophets) so they were also carrying forth God's plan
i thought moses was involved with the crossing of irsaletes? who's joseph? it doesn't fit with the joseph sold in egypt? I don't get the song.
@charliepop500 what is an irsalete?