This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
I spent a week drinking the sunlight of Winnetka, California
Where they understand the weight of human hearts
You see, sorrow gets too heavy and joy it tends to hold you
With the fear that it eventually departs
And the truth is I've been dreaming of some tired tranquil place
Where the weather won't get trapped inside my bones
And if all the years of searching find one sympathetic face
Then it's there I will plant these seeds and make my home
I spent a day dreaming of dying in Mesa, Arizona
Where all the green of life had turned to ash
And I felt I was on fire, with the things I could have told you
I guess I just assumed that you eventually would ask
And I wouldn't have to bring up my so badly broken heart
And all those months I just wanted to sleep
And though spring, it did come slowly, I guess it did it's part
My heart has thawed and continues to beat
I visited my brother on the outskirts of Olympia
Where the forest and the water become one
And we talked about our childhood, like a dream we were convinced of
That perfect peaceful street where we came from
And I know he heard me strumming all those sad and simple chords
As I sat inside my room so long ago
And it hurts that he's still shaking from those secrets that were told
By a car closed up too tight and a heart turned cold
And I went to San Diego, the birthplace of the summer
And watched the ocean dance under the moon
And there was a girl I knew there, one more potential lover
I guess that something's got to happen soon
Because I know I can't keep living in this dead or dying dream
And as I walked along the beach and drank with her
I thought about my true love, the one I really need
With eyes that burn so bright, they make me pure
They make me pure
They make me pure
I long to be with you
Where they understand the weight of human hearts
You see, sorrow gets too heavy and joy it tends to hold you
With the fear that it eventually departs
And the truth is I've been dreaming of some tired tranquil place
Where the weather won't get trapped inside my bones
And if all the years of searching find one sympathetic face
Then it's there I will plant these seeds and make my home
I spent a day dreaming of dying in Mesa, Arizona
Where all the green of life had turned to ash
And I felt I was on fire, with the things I could have told you
I guess I just assumed that you eventually would ask
And I wouldn't have to bring up my so badly broken heart
And all those months I just wanted to sleep
And though spring, it did come slowly, I guess it did it's part
My heart has thawed and continues to beat
I visited my brother on the outskirts of Olympia
Where the forest and the water become one
And we talked about our childhood, like a dream we were convinced of
That perfect peaceful street where we came from
And I know he heard me strumming all those sad and simple chords
As I sat inside my room so long ago
And it hurts that he's still shaking from those secrets that were told
By a car closed up too tight and a heart turned cold
And I went to San Diego, the birthplace of the summer
And watched the ocean dance under the moon
And there was a girl I knew there, one more potential lover
I guess that something's got to happen soon
Because I know I can't keep living in this dead or dying dream
And as I walked along the beach and drank with her
I thought about my true love, the one I really need
With eyes that burn so bright, they make me pure
They make me pure
They make me pure
I long to be with you
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
and i felt i was on fire, with the things i could have told you i guess i just assumed that you eventually would ask and i wouldn’t have to bring up my so badly broken heart and all those months i just wanted to sleep and though spring, it did come slowly, i guess it did its part my heart has thawed and continues to beat.. ^^very nice :) spring time always makes things better
I like to shun bright eyes because of how embarrassing it would be to be caught listening to them, but damn, whose lonely soul do these lyrics not capture? every single line is absolutely spot on, and captures a very unique sentiment of loneliness. nostalgic in the most painful way possible, you know? and nostalgic of the future as well, in the most painful way possible.
and "And if all the years of searching find one sympathetic face Then it's there I will plant these seeds and make my home" I also wonder sometimes how it is that there are so many beautiful, kind, loving people on the earth and not one of them has entered my life. Not even passed through it, or having showed that side to me, even by accident. they all have love maybe, for specific types of people, but not people like me... and I just wonder how it is. and I think this is my favorite line: "And I felt I was on fire, with the things I could have told you. I guess I just assumed that you eventually would ask" ... story of my life...
How can a person not love this song? This is sooooo beautiful. My second favorite song ever. "I went to Sandiego, the birthplace of the summer and I watched the ocean dance under the moon, and there was a girl I knew there, one more potential lover, I guess that something's gotta happen soon, 'cause I know that I can't keep living in this dead or dying dream and as I walked along the beach and drank with her, I thougt about my true love, the one I really need with eyes that burn so bright, they make me pure, they make me pure, they make me pure, I long to be with you..." Perfect. How does Connor Oberst do it? Such a friggin good song. The meaning is pretty obvious. Just trying to escape everything I suppose and just looking back and reflecting and realizing that you aren't really over that one person.
honestly . this song is one of the greatest . plus my bf sings the last part to me all the time . xxx
beautiful song. one of my favorites of the great conner oberst. it's obvious what the song is about so no need to explain
so plain and beautiful
it reminds me of summer. i love bright eyes.
This song is awesome. When he sings, "And I know he heard me strumming all those sad and simple chords as I sat inside my room so long ago," I just get this beautiful picture in my head where day is approaching the evening and Conor's head is down while he plays an outline of something great.
As most people in a lot of his songs he talks about seasonal depression. Where people just cannot stand winters and love summers. It is as if the seasons are the people's mood. Thank god (not litteraly seeming he isn't real) for christmas. At least we have little bit of cheer in the winter. Where we can give and recieve over our fake Christanity. Keep singing Conor. And get another performace on Letterman. It doesn't get much better then Letterman and Bright Eyes!
to free fall - i think the last verse is talking about a girl that he wants to have back who is not the girl from san diego. i think the girl from san diego is like a second choice, (one more potential lover), i think that hes just really lonely and cant take it any longer waiting for this other girl(cant keep living in this dead and dying dream), so he might have to settle for the san diego girl even though she is not the one he really wants. Anyone else agree with me?