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.
I'm coming into your town.
Night is falling to the ground,
But I can still see where you loved yourself
Before he tore it all down. April 12th,
With nobody else around; you were outside the house
(where's your mother)
When he put you in the car,
When he took you down the road.
And I can still see where it was open,
The door he slammed closed.
It was open, the door he slammed closed.
It was open, long ago.
But don't lose me now, don't lose me now.
Though I know that I'm not useful anyhow,
Just let me stick around while I tell you, like before,
You should say his name the way that he said yours.
But you don't want to say his name anymore.
Oh, Cynda Moore.
Baby daughter on the road,
You're wrapped up warm in daddy's coat.
And I can still see the cigarette's heat.
I can't believe all that you're telling me,
What is cutting like the smoke through your teeth as you're telling me â??forget it.â??
But if I could tear his throat,
And spill his blood between my jaws,
And erase his name out for good, don't you know that I would?
Don't you realize that I wouldn't pause,
That I would cut him down with my claws
If I could have somehow never let that happen?
Or I'd call, some black midnight,
Fuck up his new life where they don't know what he did,
Tell his brand-new wife and his second kid.
Though I tell you, like before,
That you should wreck his life the way that he wrecked yours,
You want no part of his life anymore.
Oh Cynda Moore.
Don't lose me now, let me help you out.
Though I know that I can't help anyhow,
When I watch you I'm proud.
When I tell you twice before
That you should wreck his life the way that he wrecked yours,
You want no part of his life anymore.
Oh Cyna Moore.
And it'll never be the way it was before,
But I wish that you would let me through that door.
Let me through that door.
Night is falling to the ground,
But I can still see where you loved yourself
Before he tore it all down. April 12th,
With nobody else around; you were outside the house
(where's your mother)
When he put you in the car,
When he took you down the road.
And I can still see where it was open,
The door he slammed closed.
It was open, the door he slammed closed.
It was open, long ago.
But don't lose me now, don't lose me now.
Though I know that I'm not useful anyhow,
Just let me stick around while I tell you, like before,
You should say his name the way that he said yours.
But you don't want to say his name anymore.
Oh, Cynda Moore.
Baby daughter on the road,
You're wrapped up warm in daddy's coat.
And I can still see the cigarette's heat.
I can't believe all that you're telling me,
What is cutting like the smoke through your teeth as you're telling me â??forget it.â??
But if I could tear his throat,
And spill his blood between my jaws,
And erase his name out for good, don't you know that I would?
Don't you realize that I wouldn't pause,
That I would cut him down with my claws
If I could have somehow never let that happen?
Or I'd call, some black midnight,
Fuck up his new life where they don't know what he did,
Tell his brand-new wife and his second kid.
Though I tell you, like before,
That you should wreck his life the way that he wrecked yours,
You want no part of his life anymore.
Oh Cynda Moore.
Don't lose me now, let me help you out.
Though I know that I can't help anyhow,
When I watch you I'm proud.
When I tell you twice before
That you should wreck his life the way that he wrecked yours,
You want no part of his life anymore.
Oh Cyna Moore.
And it'll never be the way it was before,
But I wish that you would let me through that door.
Let me through that door.
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jamisonlikewhat... what? not about molestation? are you in denial of the reality that fathers molest their children in general or just in this song? it points to molestion on almost every line of the song. first off, the entire first verse is alluding to one event, ONE EVENT on april 12th, that took place in a car (when NO ONE was around), one in which isn't named because perhaps it is too vulgar and disgusting to be named in the song. secondly, abandoning fathers are bad yes. it's a saddening and frustrating thing when a father leaves a mother to parent to raise a child, and truly that man IS a scumbag. but would that kind of behavior, do you honestly think, merit thoughts and wishes of a brutal and painful and graphic death? thirdly, yes it is almost criminal that they should allow this SCUM to foster another child, but it is ultimately the girl's decision over what to do here. and that's what makes this song's theme even more gut-wrenching.
I think there's even more to it than that. She isn't just saying "no forget it" she saying that she doesn't want to dignify what was done to her by responding to it. So while he's singing about making him pay for it, he's also proud that she won't let him get revenge.
Or, uh, something like that.
Probably my favourite Okkervil song. I think the meaning is that someone he cares for was sexually molested by her father and he wants to take revenge.
could this song be any more catchy? ya. i agree with that person. something like, his girlfriend's dad raped her and she's all "oh but just forget it" and hes like "FKJSFHKEUFID KIIILLL"
it's pretty average that everyone is like, "no gita, you are wrong" a man/woman is allowed to voice their opinions.
Every band has a Holland 1945, and this is Okkervil River's.
I really really like this song, regardless of the meaning of the lyrics it is so frickin catchy and fun to listen to. I agree that the song is about his girlfriend/someone else he cares about was sexually abused by their father and she just tells him to forget it, not to worry about it, but he wants to get the father back and can't let what happened to the girl go.
yes. amazing song...the theme is so so horrible yet the beat is so so upbeat and awesome...i love it.
I don't think the song is about sexual abuse. I see nothing to imply that. In fact, the fact that he has a new wife and another child and they still won't go get him in trouble speaks against this theory. It would be irresponsible, almost criminally so, to allow a child molester to foster another child.
I just think her dad was a scumbag and left. It's more a song about abandonment, in my mind. I could be off, though.
the truth is that life is not black and white....this is an issue that could cause real conflict in a relationship. Two parties with different ideas of how you should deal with abuse in your past. His GF wants to move on and not reopen that period of her life (whether its irresponsible or not...she doesn't want to walk back through that door and bring back those memories) where as Sheff seems to dwell on the idea of his GF/WIFE/Loved one being abused...and wants revenge.
This song is so awesome. It's angry, but not in a stupid way.