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.
He wakes up in the morning
Does his teeth bite to eat and he's rolling
Never changes a thing
The week ends the week begins
She thinks, we look at each other
Wondering what the other is thinking
But we never say a thing
And these crimes between us grow deeper
Take these chances
Place them in a box until a quieter time
Lights down, you up and die
Goes to visit his mommy
She feeds him well his concerns
He forgets them
And remembers being small
Playing under the table and dreaming
Take these chances
Place them in a box until a quieter time
Lights down, you up and die
Driving in on this highway
All these cars and upon the sidewalk
People in every direction
No words exchanged
No time to exchange
And all the little ants are marching
Red and black antennae waving
They all do it the same
They all do it the same way
Candyman tempting the thoughts of a
Sweet tooth tortured by the weight loss
Program cutting the corners
Loose end, loose end, cut, cut
On the fence, could not to offend
Cut, cut, cut, cut
Take these chances
Place them in a box until a quieter time
Lights down, you up and die
Lights down, you up and die
Does his teeth bite to eat and he's rolling
Never changes a thing
The week ends the week begins
She thinks, we look at each other
Wondering what the other is thinking
But we never say a thing
And these crimes between us grow deeper
Take these chances
Place them in a box until a quieter time
Lights down, you up and die
Goes to visit his mommy
She feeds him well his concerns
He forgets them
And remembers being small
Playing under the table and dreaming
Take these chances
Place them in a box until a quieter time
Lights down, you up and die
Driving in on this highway
All these cars and upon the sidewalk
People in every direction
No words exchanged
No time to exchange
And all the little ants are marching
Red and black antennae waving
They all do it the same
They all do it the same way
Candyman tempting the thoughts of a
Sweet tooth tortured by the weight loss
Program cutting the corners
Loose end, loose end, cut, cut
On the fence, could not to offend
Cut, cut, cut, cut
Take these chances
Place them in a box until a quieter time
Lights down, you up and die
Lights down, you up and die
Lyrics submitted by kevin, edited by pavelkomarov
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A song merely about how each day we all live our lives like ants. We do the same thing everyday without really thinking about why and for whom we are doing it for. no complaints. just doing what we have to do.
@antifox64 I think " Playing under the table and dreaming" is a nod that Dave is an INFJ personality type. <br /> INFJ's are dreamers and doers. Taylor, Billie, Olivia and the 2024 Grammys. All INFJ's. <br />
I saw an interview w/Dave Matthews on tv and he told what inspired him to write this song. He was on a safari in africa and his friend showed him this tree. The tree only had one purpose, and that was to feed these ants. And all the different types of ants marched along the tree feeding off the sap. And if any other bug tried to get on the tree, the ants would kill it. Thats not really what the song is about, but its what inspired Dave to write it. I just thought that was kinda interesting...
I agree with antifox64, this song is about how we go about our lives without thinking of why we are doing things. I think Dave is also trying to say that we should take more time to tell those that we love that we do indeed love them.
The first part means that we get used to the same routine everyday and we never change and lead uneventful lives. Then that we never tell the people that mean something to us what they mean to us and its a "crime" because we dont. The "Goes to visit his mommy" is about how we hear our parents but we never listen and take their advice to heart. "Being small" part is about how we think we had it better before and waste our time doin that. "Take these chances" is about how we always have these things we truly want to do but we never do it cuz its never the right time so we wait and end up never doin it. the "highway" part is how life goes so fast that we never take the time to get to know new people or get to know the ones we already know better. Then we are compared to ants, just mindless drones doin what we doin the same thing over and over and not changin our mistakes or tryin to make our lives better. the "candyman" part im not too sure about but i think he sayin that we need to not worry about life and just have fun.
the meaning of the candyman is ambiguous. he could be talking about the way we destroy ourselves with addictions to deal with the weight of becoming anthood. he could be advocating drug use as a means to and end, not being an ant. it's hard to say. either way it's great songwriting. if anything it's very tongue in cheek which is why it's so cool. he's definitely saying a lot of things that he can't say straight up in a public forum. that's why music is essential to our survival. he might be saying, hey if you all were more like me the world would be a better place. i don't give a shit. i just make music because it makes me happy.
back to that loving man and loving God thingy..the first verse speaks of two people..a man and a woman..not taking the chance of loving one another.. and the second verse speaks of the man under the table and dreaming..this is symbolic for a man desiring to understand himself and his God (loving God).. who is he? and what is to become of him?..by the way the dreaming (table) tree is a symbol for the tree of life..the tree of life is the image of all men as one and it is seen as a "tree".. (the tree of knowledge, and the tree of life are one tree) "your brain is the branches and leaves ,and your spinal column is the trunk". all men seen as one" all men receiving visions or dreaming together with God. loving man and loving God.
great insight. i am finally understanding this song after 13 years. i never liked it as a teenager, but i am much wiser now. i hope there is more enlightenment along the way!
antifox hits it to a point, that is exactly what it means, and even though we all would love to live our lives freely, most of us live it by rule and order, unfortunatley.
GLEZ1000..you are soo right...and this is a great song...last summer i went to a dmb concert and the whole show he didnt play ants marching..but after they ended the show...they came out and did it as an encore and it was, i think, the best song he played that night..the crowd was going completely crazy..these guys that were sittin next to me were about to leave until they heard the intro..and everyone just went nuts!!!i couldnt here myself think it was awesome!!! that really doesnt have anything to do with the meaning of the song but i thought i'd share lol we're all dave lovers here right??? lol :P
I agree with you guys totally. We spend our whole lives like ants, going to work coming home, and going to work. Theres no difference between when the week ends and begins. People should learn from this song, that there are more important things in life than your job. You should have fun and enjoy life and let those you love know it rather than being a monotonous ant.
@MrMojoRisin5552
I love this song. It's just easy to listen to and get stuck in your head. The acoustic version is also very good. My favorite is the Live At Red Rocks version with the long instrumental.
this song is about the daily grind that we all go through day after day after day. How boring it is and how repetitive it is. Its easy listening and fun to listen to.