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.
Every scream went bleeding through these paper walls
And all the make-up in the world couldn't hide the scars
I leave today, I'm packing light: a suitcase, some toiletries
The rolling hills and willow trees of Carolina wait for me
You never learned, the rules have changed since we were nine
This isn't school, boys don't assault the girls they like
The taste of blood, the claim of love
these two will here on cease to be Sprouting from your fists and tongue 'cause Carolina waits for me
Fields of grain go whipping by from the window seat
I'm drifting in, I'm drifting out catching up on sleep
I couldn't get indentured since the very crest of 17
I left my keys and broken dreams 'cause Carolina waits for me
I will never forgive a single day
Mile markers seem to call my name and say,
"You're safer now through every town, we'll light your way in reflective green" All the way, the entire state of Carolina waits for me
And all the make-up in the world couldn't hide the scars
I leave today, I'm packing light: a suitcase, some toiletries
The rolling hills and willow trees of Carolina wait for me
You never learned, the rules have changed since we were nine
This isn't school, boys don't assault the girls they like
The taste of blood, the claim of love
these two will here on cease to be Sprouting from your fists and tongue 'cause Carolina waits for me
Fields of grain go whipping by from the window seat
I'm drifting in, I'm drifting out catching up on sleep
I couldn't get indentured since the very crest of 17
I left my keys and broken dreams 'cause Carolina waits for me
I will never forgive a single day
Mile markers seem to call my name and say,
"You're safer now through every town, we'll light your way in reflective green" All the way, the entire state of Carolina waits for me
Lyrics submitted by SavesTheNight
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Great version of a great song,
and i so love it when mr. gibbard does come to carolina.
very great song.
i think this song is about someone who he loves so much he is willing to change his whole life for them and they are so amazing that he compares them to the world, and the beauty of the world. there such great imagery here and it makes the meaning i get so much more real and great to me. this guy knows how to write.
this is definitely a catchy song, riff-wise. I think its rather upbeat melody disguises the fact that this song deals with domestic violence as indicated by the first two verses. This is a song of someone coming home after realizing their 'broken dreams'.
Good folk song. Seems to me, as opposed to nopoetic's opinion, that the song is about getting out of a relationship (the lyrics seem to allude to a female leaving an abusive relationship) and the looking forward to starting fresh in a new place.
Well said negatyve. That's exactly what it's about.
Well said negatyve. That's exactly what it's about.
also i didn't immediatly realize that ben is writing from the females perspective. though it seems so obvious now.
This song is amazing and I hope it comes out again, with full instrumentation.
he's movin' to carolina and his girlfriend is terrified and doesn't want him to go. that's kinda happenin' to me. my b/f is actually movin' to carolina soon... and i'm gonna miss him : /
this is a really, really good song.