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.
Looking all around the room I see the clutter in the gloom
I'm not only back, I'm not only numb
Changing shades within the evening
In a day then I'll be leaving
I'm not only back, I'm not only numb
When the air at home is thin
Getting out then looking in
Yeah she knows, she knows, she knows
It ain't awful hard to tell
What it's like, my little hell
Yeah she knows, she knows, she knows
I'm now familiar with the tone I hear in bed when I'm alone
I'm not only back, I'm not only numb
In the shade below the eaves
Think I could chain smoke anything
I'm not only back, I'm not only numb
When the air at home is thin
Getting out, then looking in
Yeah she knows, she knows, she knows
It ain't awful hard to tell
What it's like, my little hell
Yeah she knows, she knows, she knows
She knows, she knows, she knows
She sees all the cars around the parking lots of bars we've played and stayed
Started laughing, looking down upon the bed that we've made
We've made, we've made, we've made
She sees all the cars around the parking lots of bars we've played and stayed
Started laughing, looking falling down across the bed that we've made
We've made, we've made, we've made
The air at home is thin
When getting out, then looking in
I'm not only back, I'm not only numb
Changing shades within the evening
In a day, then I'll be leaving
I'm not only back, I'm not only numb.
I'm not only back, I'm not only numb
Changing shades within the evening
In a day then I'll be leaving
I'm not only back, I'm not only numb
When the air at home is thin
Getting out then looking in
Yeah she knows, she knows, she knows
It ain't awful hard to tell
What it's like, my little hell
Yeah she knows, she knows, she knows
I'm now familiar with the tone I hear in bed when I'm alone
I'm not only back, I'm not only numb
In the shade below the eaves
Think I could chain smoke anything
I'm not only back, I'm not only numb
When the air at home is thin
Getting out, then looking in
Yeah she knows, she knows, she knows
It ain't awful hard to tell
What it's like, my little hell
Yeah she knows, she knows, she knows
She knows, she knows, she knows
She sees all the cars around the parking lots of bars we've played and stayed
Started laughing, looking down upon the bed that we've made
We've made, we've made, we've made
She sees all the cars around the parking lots of bars we've played and stayed
Started laughing, looking falling down across the bed that we've made
We've made, we've made, we've made
The air at home is thin
When getting out, then looking in
I'm not only back, I'm not only numb
Changing shades within the evening
In a day, then I'll be leaving
I'm not only back, I'm not only numb.
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i can't believe no one has commented on this song! its not well known, but definitely one of their most beautiful. this guy comes back home after taking off after a breakup with this girl he's in love with.. when he returns, he feels how different everything's become. she knows he's back, and she knows he's feeling upset, but she doesn't see or talk to him. such a sad song..
FAVORITE PART: "it ain't awful hard to tell what its like, my little hell, yeah she knows, she knows, she knows.."
@starlightfading - Yeh, it's good writing. Simple, to the point and sad like you said. Some of their songs remind me a little of Jackson Brown or early Eagles stuff. I think it's harder sometimes to write about a personal feeling point of view than writing about observations. That's probably why I play Heavy Metal when I'm pissed off. LOL Good old raw aggression and primal lyrics.
This is my favorite GBs song. I learned this one on guitar.
I think this is a great song.
It seems to me that it's about returning to an old haunt. Maybe a town he spent his adolescent years in.
And now he's back but only for a little while and he's sharing it with someone who meant something to him, someone who really understood him, before he turns around and leaves again.
I don't know why but it seems that every time i hear this song i get teary eyed. It is so fantastic and moving.
this song not only has the power to make you cry, but when you connect with the lyrics it has the power to really move you. the kind of song that sends shivers down your spine. its a truly beautiful song.
This is quite possibly my favorite Gin Blossoms song and I never even heard it until I got their greatest hits cd. This guy has such a great voice and their lyrics are really good, they don't get enough credit.
"I'm now familiar with the tone I hear in bed when I'm alone- I'm not only back, I'm not only numb. In the shade below the eaves, think I could chain smoke anything. I'm not only back, I'm not only numb"
is very poetic, among other lines. But those might be my favorite in the whole song because it shows more than it tells which is a great benefit.
"I'm now familiar with the tone I hear in bed when I'm alone"
He's been playing loud music for too long, now he's got that constant ringing in his ears. You hear it best in bed at night.
Every GB song is a masterpiece. Not Only Numb would have done well as the follow-up single to Follow You Down.
This song reminds me a lot of the movie "Garden State." Like someone else said, it feels like he's someone returning to a place he hasn't been since a devastating thing happened, and he still feels numb about it. The most significant thing to me is the use of the words "home" and "familiar." It sounds more like he's saying he's returning to a place where he was in a relationship with a girl, but now is "familiar with the sound [he] hears in bed when [he's] alone." This girl has "thinned the air" of the place he considers his home, and turned it into a Hell, and "she knows."
Oh and also to add, he gets nostalgic about seeing bars he used to play shows at with his band, mainly because she was always with him.
My favorite song from one of my favorite bands..a simple rendering of a complex relationship. Robin Wilson's soulful voice certainly adds weight to the lyrics.