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.
Reviewed, it seemed
As if someone were watching over it
Before it was
As if response were based on fact
Providing, deciding, it was soon there
Squared to it, faced to it, it was not there
Renewed, it fought
As if it had a cause to live for
Denied, it learned
As if it had sooner been destroyed
Providing, deciding, it was soon there
Squared to it, faced to it, it was not there
Reviewed, it fought
As if someone were watching over it
Before it had sooner been denied
Renewed, it seemed
As if it had a cause to live for
Destroyed, it was later based on fact
As if someone were watching over it
Before it was
As if response were based on fact
Providing, deciding, it was soon there
Squared to it, faced to it, it was not there
Renewed, it fought
As if it had a cause to live for
Denied, it learned
As if it had sooner been destroyed
Providing, deciding, it was soon there
Squared to it, faced to it, it was not there
Reviewed, it fought
As if someone were watching over it
Before it had sooner been denied
Renewed, it seemed
As if it had a cause to live for
Destroyed, it was later based on fact
Lyrics submitted by Chinup, edited by rockaction
The 15th Lyrics as written by Colin John Newman
Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Unlike "Kidney Bingos", which does indeed have a rather pointed meaning, this song, possibly quite literally, is about nothing, as has been attested to by Colin Newman various times; the title refers to how it was the fifteenth song written and demo-ed for 154. Still, it sounds oddly meaningful, especially considering that the title sounds suspiciously like a military regiment...
Why this song wasn't chosen for a single, I have no idea. It's superbly constructed, insanely catchy, and despite not being quite the masterpiece that "Map Ref. 41ºN 93ºW" is, it has a much easier-to-remember title (in the conventional sense) and even simpler (if ultimately weirder) lyrics.
I'm sure it has a meaning - it's not just a random selection of words, is it? It always seemed to me to be about the creative process. The title the 15th may have been specific to the recording but the lyrics, to me, apppear to be about the nebulous nature of ideas and creativity. The act of taking an idea (or theme) and trying to make it concrete in the form of a song, for example; also the way in which an idea plants itself like a seed, grows organically in the mind and when it is scrutinised and rationalised it loses something and in a way is there and is not there.
It is about an idea. Any idea.
I'm pretty sure this is about the commercialisation -- lack of meaning -- in the punk scene towards its end.
The only intuition on the so-called meaning of this track that made any sense was DemonicBaggie's: "It is about an idea. Any idea."
Only even this has to be generalized: why limit ourselves to the idea and not go immediately for the thing, ideas included? (Or, if you prefer, for the fact or even for the process. It is not a matter of terminology: pick your elementary ontological unit and roll with it.)
The lyrics correspond to this level of abstraction. This, in a way, makes it more approachable than other Wire tracks.
always love this song
mike watt's cover is totally amazing
Love this song too, but have no idea what the lyrics mean. I think it may be like other Wire songs such as "Kidney Bingos" where the words really have no meaning, but fit the melody extremely well.
words make perfect sense, you just haven't had that experience, sorry, i wont spoil it for you... it hurts and you just have to go thru it to understand it ;)
eh?!
I really hope you're not alluding to what I think you are.
@damitdamn yep
Isn't the song supposed to be about abortion? "The 15th" allegedly referred to the 15th week of pregnancy which at the time was the latest date for aborting.
"As if it had no cause to live for", "As if it had sooner been destroyed" , "It was not there".....the lyrics definitely fit.
It's about human life, "Providing, deciding" = materialism and free will, the essence of modern life; "Squared to it, faced to it, it was not there" : these are just ideas, they are illusions that promote our self-worth.
The subject -- or mankind -- turns to faith "as if someone were watching over it" but ultimately becomes real only as a collective memory, however factual.