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.
Hey, oh
Sheets of empty canvas
Untouched sheets of clay
Were laid spread out before me
As her body once did
All five horizons
Revolved around her soul
As the earth to the sun
Now the air I tasted and breathed
Has taken a turn
Oh and all I taught her was everything
Oh I know she gave me all that she wore
And now my bitter hands
Chafe beneath the clouds
Of what was everything
Oh the pictures have
All been washed in black
Tattooed everything
I take a walk outside
I'm surrounded by
Some kids at play
I can feel their laughter
So why do I sear
Oh, and twisted thoughts that spin
Round my head
I'm spinning
Oh, I'm spinning
How quick the sun can, drop away
And now my bitter hands
Cradle broken glass
Of what was everything
All the pictures had
All been washed in black
Tattooed everything
All the love gone bad
Turned my world to black
Tattooed all I see
All that I am
All I'll be
Yeah
I know someday you'll have a beautiful life
I know you'll be a star
In somebody else's sky
But why
Why
Why can't it be
Why can't it be mine
Sheets of empty canvas
Untouched sheets of clay
Were laid spread out before me
As her body once did
All five horizons
Revolved around her soul
As the earth to the sun
Now the air I tasted and breathed
Has taken a turn
Oh and all I taught her was everything
Oh I know she gave me all that she wore
And now my bitter hands
Chafe beneath the clouds
Of what was everything
Oh the pictures have
All been washed in black
Tattooed everything
I take a walk outside
I'm surrounded by
Some kids at play
I can feel their laughter
So why do I sear
Oh, and twisted thoughts that spin
Round my head
I'm spinning
Oh, I'm spinning
How quick the sun can, drop away
And now my bitter hands
Cradle broken glass
Of what was everything
All the pictures had
All been washed in black
Tattooed everything
All the love gone bad
Turned my world to black
Tattooed all I see
All that I am
All I'll be
Yeah
I know someday you'll have a beautiful life
I know you'll be a star
In somebody else's sky
But why
Why
Why can't it be
Why can't it be mine
Lyrics submitted by mike, edited by moogs51, dasfixer, edwinceltic
Black Lyrics as written by Eddie Jerome Vedder Stone C. Gossard
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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@Jenilla Well said. The "greatest" breakup song of all time, if there is such a thing.
@Jenilla Lmao sorry! I hit add reply before commenting so it looks like my name is my comment. Oops!!<br /> <br /> I actually wanted to say that I completely agree with you. This is such a beautiful but haunting song. There is a live video of Eddie singing it and the passion he expresses when he sings is is breathtaking.
@Jenilla I don't know how to use this but I agree with all the thoughts here. And the first post was 15 years ago. But yes this is cool and I will have to watch a live video because it tears my heartstrings
@adam101541 Would have to say that Boston's "Long Time" is the best "breakup" song. This one's really about a guy who tried everything he could, and she left...<br />
@Adam101541 Excuse me but Heartbreak Hotel and Leader Of The Pack are the greatest breakup songs of all time.
@Jenilla damn 18 years ago??? This site goes back to 2002? Jen and Ang, meow my greatest love but happened more recently, time is relative isn't it my love??? Anywho I was gonna write about how the inspiration for this song is 'methed-out' biker legend about a L. A. tattoo shop owner who lost his GF to a meth O. D. and thus lost his lil mind and hallucinated she left him for another biker dude... <br /> <br /> Y'all need to understand the source of these songs, Eddie was living in L. A. where the band recorded Ten, and he related to Bikers, Surfers, and Newspaper clippings at the time. <br /> <br /> For years me cried privately about my Jen and Ang go missing, relate to this song, me makes easier on myself say dirty bikers have drug problems and thus the story, no?