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.
People say I'm crazy
Doing what I'm doing
Well, they give me all kinds of warnings
To save me from ruin
When I say that I'm okay, well they look at me kinda strange
"Surely, you're not happy now, you no longer play the game"
People say I'm lazy
Dreaming my life away
Well they give me all kinds of advice
Designed to enlighten me
When I tell them that I'm doing fine watching shadows on the wall
"Don't you miss the big time boy, you're no longer on the ball?"
I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round
I really love to watch them roll
No longer riding on the merry-go-round
I just had to let it go
Ah, people asking questions
Lost in confusion
Well, I tell them there's no problem
Only solutions
Well, they shake their heads and they look at me, as if I've lost my mind
I tell them there's no hurry, I'm just sitting here doing time
I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round
I really love to watch them roll
No longer riding on the merry-go-round
I just had to let it go
I just had to let it go
I just had to let it go
Doing what I'm doing
Well, they give me all kinds of warnings
To save me from ruin
When I say that I'm okay, well they look at me kinda strange
"Surely, you're not happy now, you no longer play the game"
People say I'm lazy
Dreaming my life away
Well they give me all kinds of advice
Designed to enlighten me
When I tell them that I'm doing fine watching shadows on the wall
"Don't you miss the big time boy, you're no longer on the ball?"
I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round
I really love to watch them roll
No longer riding on the merry-go-round
I just had to let it go
Ah, people asking questions
Lost in confusion
Well, I tell them there's no problem
Only solutions
Well, they shake their heads and they look at me, as if I've lost my mind
I tell them there's no hurry, I'm just sitting here doing time
I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round
I really love to watch them roll
No longer riding on the merry-go-round
I just had to let it go
I just had to let it go
I just had to let it go
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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Plastic Bag
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“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
Every time I hear this song I can't help but tear up.
I was a photojournalist that worked my way up to a major newspaper in a highly competitive field. Eventually I became director of photography. I didn't like the person I had become. I had ulcers. My marriage and kids were suffering. So, "I just had to let it go."
I completely threw away my 15-year photojournalism career in a blink of an eye to become a wedding photographer, and stay-at-home Dad during the week. People DID say I was crazy. People did try to give me advice on why I should get back in the game. I lost my friends who could no longer relate to me. People judged me for "losing my ambition." I lost the identity I had my entire adult life.
One day, this song came on the radio and I realized every word of it could be the anthem for what I was going through. My eyes filled up with tears and I just started crying. It was as if I had finally gotten the opportunity to grieve over the loss of a loved one–my former identity.
Here was John Lennon telling me it was okay to make the choice I had made. That I wasn't crazy after all. That everybody else might not understand, but that is okay as long as I do.
Ever since that moment, this song has been the anthem for my life. The ultimate symbol for empowering yourself to take charge of your life, control your own destiny and let others think whatever they are going to think.
Thank you so much John Lennon.
Your comment gave me goosebumbs...
I created an account just to respond to your post. Reading it brought tears to my eyes. The power of music can change lifes. No doubt about it. Thanks for your post. Inspiring! "Just let It go"
@srkeegan Thanks for you comment. I had the same experience, but not before I lost my marriage, but that's ok because she was the one that was calling me crazy for resisting becoming somebody I didn't want to be.<br />
It is also about how the physical world is an illusion and that he is just doing his time before he moves on to a higher state of being. He figured out that blaming government, people, etc. doesnt work and that we are all just water from different rivers all on different stages of spiritual evolution so he cant blame someone for not understanding because he is blaming himself
I'm not sure if anyone's mentioned this already, but when Lennon wrote the "watching shadows on the wall" bit I'm sure he must be referring to Plato's "Allegory of the Cave". I've always liked that part.
I can see it as being more about people who are driven by materialism rather than religion. They see anyone who doesn't feel the need to succeed financially as being misguided.
You sir are correct!!! The industry and the people who run it and are part of it judge success by wealth. They worship money and the things it buys. They do not realize, or maybe even care, what they sacrificed in their lives to do so. Lennon and quite a few others did. Some would argue that he had so much money that it really didn't matter anymore. To the industry slaves, it can never be enough.
I think what "telengard" said about the music industry is very generally true, and sad as hell. Many of them worship money and don't care about people/relationships they've sacrificed in their lives. Would they care if the world actually found out just how scummy they are? I think they would. <br /> <br /> I also know there happen to be many good people in the music industry.
It's one of the greateste Lennon's songs and unfortunately, one of his last songs :(, the song talks about what people said to him when he was just having a rest with his son Sean and he was no longer on the music business.
i think the songs means he's taking a break from the world from fame and all the rest and he's relaxing watching the wheel of the world spin
@sham I was just wondering what kind of wheels he might be referring to. Thanks for your opinion
HaiZuKi is exactly right-It was about people trying to motivate him to re-enter the music business when he was perfectly content just staying at home raising his son.
I love this song because it kinda describes me and what I want. I really don't care about money, or a big job, or any of that. I don't feel the need to become rich. I also don't believe in god in the sense of a big being in the sky. Im not atheist but thats a different story. This song is really cool and sadly, it was one of John's last.
i wish he was still alive ..i think the world would be a better place if he was till here
@sweetkungfumaster I don’t think he would be the legend he is today had he not died. He was very political and a threat to the people in power. One scandal would have ruined everything he had worked for. And those seem to be happening quite frequently today.
As I grow older (41 at the moment), this song takes on deeper meaning. I see many people struggling and fighting so hard for the things they think they need, the things they believe will define and complete them, and yet I feel no need to struggle so hard for things that ultimately mean so little.
My hope is that with time, others will see that all we really need to pursue is inner happiness.