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.
And Aubrey was her name,
A not so very ordinary girl or name
But who's to blame?
For a love that wouldn't bloom
For the hearts that never played in tune
Like a lovely melody that everyone can sing,
Take away the words that rhyme it doesn't mean a thing
And Aubrey was her name
We tripped the light and danced together to the moon,
But where was June
No it never came around
If it did it never made a sound,
Maybe I was absent or was listening too fast,
Catching all the words, but then the meaning going past,
But God I miss the girl,
And I'd go a thousand times around the world just to be
Closer to her than to me
And Aubrey was her name,
I never knew her, but I loved her just the same,
I loved her name
Wish that I had found the way
And the reasons that would make her stay
I have learned to lead a life apart from all the rest
If I can't have the one I want, I'll do without the best
But how I miss the girl
And I'd go a million times around the world just to say
She had been mine for a day
A not so very ordinary girl or name
But who's to blame?
For a love that wouldn't bloom
For the hearts that never played in tune
Like a lovely melody that everyone can sing,
Take away the words that rhyme it doesn't mean a thing
And Aubrey was her name
We tripped the light and danced together to the moon,
But where was June
No it never came around
If it did it never made a sound,
Maybe I was absent or was listening too fast,
Catching all the words, but then the meaning going past,
But God I miss the girl,
And I'd go a thousand times around the world just to be
Closer to her than to me
And Aubrey was her name,
I never knew her, but I loved her just the same,
I loved her name
Wish that I had found the way
And the reasons that would make her stay
I have learned to lead a life apart from all the rest
If I can't have the one I want, I'll do without the best
But how I miss the girl
And I'd go a million times around the world just to say
She had been mine for a day
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i was named after this song and was tortured with it through all my formative years.
it's still a pretty song though
I have read about this song in every place possible. I was always lead to believe it was about a miscarriage.
But where was June. No it never came around. If it did it never made a sound
(June being her expected date, but it never came)
I never knew her, but I loved her just the same, I loved her name
(they had chosen her name and created a life for her in their minds, he never new her but he loved her).
@moochoo That’s a very sensitive meaning to this song. <br /> “For a love that never bloomed. For the hearts that never <br /> played in tune.” But where was June? It never came around. <br /> But God I miss girl. I never knew her, but I loved her just<br /> the same.” Very sad. Only someone who has had this loss<br /> knows the pain.
beautiful song, but most Bread songs are. It's an odd thing about humans that we relish ache of loss when expressed in songs like this. No matter how great the day is going, if a song like this comes up in shuffle, I find myself replaying it multiple times, causing a tear or two...it so completely takes me back to a time in my life when I lost one that I love...maybe that's the recipe...you have to still love the one that was lost, for it to still hurt. Oftentimes, I find upon further reflection, that the one lost was the me that I was at the period the song takes me back to.
well said. when you lose someone... you also lose the person that you were when with them.
@sonoken One of the most insightful, heartfelt comments I've ever read. Your response has made me stop and reflect much upon the nature of reminiscense and loss.
gates is one of the best ballad writers ever...the one that got away..thet'll hurt forever...that you wont get over til "forever is thru".....
why dont they write them like this anymore.......david is telling just as much about him, as he is her...
This song is reminds one the first love or the "real" one love each of us have had. The part; "If I can't have the one I want, I'll do without the best.", is powerful. Mr.David Gates had a way with words.
This song makes me think of "the one that got away", an unrequited love. Lines like "We tripped the light and danced together to the moon" and "I never knew her, but I loved her just the same, I loved her name" and the fact that it's written in past tense also makes me think it's about a kid in love... or at least that they were very young at the time. The first verse tells you right away that his feelings weren't returned: "But who's to blame? For a love that wouldn't bloom For the hearts that never played in tune" I think the lines "Like a lovely melody that everyone can sing, Take away the words that rhyme it doesn't mean a thing" are a metaphor for love. Anyone can fall in love, but if the person doesn't feel the same way about you, then it doesn't mean anything. So, "words that rhyme" would be a metaphor for that "connection" that two people have between each other. I don't really understand the second verse, starting from "But where was June". I agree with agentelibre; the line "If I can't have the one I want, I'll do without the best" is very powerful. It shows how much he deeply loved this woman, to set her apart from every other person and put her above anyone else despite the fact he can't have her. If you read the last two lines of every verse, I think they are the best and put the most meaning into the song. Well, that's my take. It's a bit long, but there aren't that many comments on here anyway. :P
@HausMaus I love your reply and interpretation of<br /> the lyrics. You said you didn’t understand “But where was June?” I think that means the free and easy months of summer, the fun and laughter after a relationship becomes secure and safe. They never reached that part. It all fell apart to soon.
There are some great comments posted about this song. I know for me, that I cry everytime I hear it and listen to the lyrics. It reminds me of a girl that I actually bonded well with for a little while about 2 and 1/2 years ago. While almost being established in my profession at the time, she was young and still trying to get through college. One day she came to me with tears in her eyes and told me that she could no longer have a relationship due to moving further away for school."And I'd go a thousand times around the world just to be closer to her than to me" to me means that I'd rather live in her world, than live without her in mine.
I was going to be named after this song and after i heard i knew in my mind if my first child is a girl this will be her name. Beautiful song!
I have always loved this song and the name. After we lost our first baby, I couldn't listen to it for several months, it reminded me too much of her. After I got pregnant a second time and found out it was a girl, I knew this was her name...both to honor the baby that was lost and to remind me of how precious each moment with my Aubrey is...
Normally, I don't really like songs with sad lyrics, even if I can connect with them. But there's something about this song that I love, even if the lyrics are sad. It gives me the feeling that even if he has lost his love, he's learned a lot about love itself.
My name actually is Aubrey, my mom and dad both liked the song and named me after it. My mom still cries when she hears it. I love it though :D
Plaza?
My daughter is named Aubrey. I loved the song, and the name, the first time I heard it, knowing that I wanted such a beautiful name for my little girl if I ever had one. I still cry when I hear it too....it brings back wonderful memories of me singing it to her while she was still inside me!