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.
Well, you praise him, then you thank him
Until you reach the by-and-by
And I've won hundreds at the track
But I'm not betting on the afterlife
Then you kiss his lips; he forgives you for it
He forgives you for all you've done
But not me, I'm still angry
What have I done?
Why am I always messing with
The big guns?
First, I'll build a sword, get some words to explain
It's a plan, brother, at least
And I'll pretend that everybody here wants peace
Have mercy, have mercy
Have mercy on me
Because we're tired and lonely, and we're bloody
What have we done?
Why are we still running from our own failing bodies?
The big guns
The big guns
Sing mercy, sing mercy
Sing mercy on me
Let's pretend that everybody here wants peace
What have we done?
Why are we still chasing our own tails, and running
From the big guns?
The big guns
The big guns
Until you reach the by-and-by
And I've won hundreds at the track
But I'm not betting on the afterlife
Then you kiss his lips; he forgives you for it
He forgives you for all you've done
But not me, I'm still angry
What have I done?
Why am I always messing with
The big guns?
First, I'll build a sword, get some words to explain
It's a plan, brother, at least
And I'll pretend that everybody here wants peace
Have mercy, have mercy
Have mercy on me
Because we're tired and lonely, and we're bloody
What have we done?
Why are we still running from our own failing bodies?
The big guns
The big guns
Sing mercy, sing mercy
Sing mercy on me
Let's pretend that everybody here wants peace
What have we done?
Why are we still chasing our own tails, and running
From the big guns?
The big guns
The big guns
Lyrics submitted by lessadventurous, edited by terrysalt
The Big Guns Lyrics as written by Jenny Lewis
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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Great version of a great song,
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How does this song not have any comments?
It's actually, "why am I always messing with the bug guns," not "missing the big guns."
Aaaanyway...
"Well, you praise him Then you thank him 'Til you reach the by-and-by And I've won hundreds at the track But I'm not betting on the afterlife
Then you kiss his lips He forgives you for it He forgives you for all you've done But not me I'm still angry"
Now, you'd think that was about God, but it could easily be about a lover. Or maybe both, in the way that some particularly fanatical religious sects view him (e.g., the idea that Catholic nuns are 'married' to God, to the extent that nuns would wear wedding dresses and gold bands). Meh.
i think "big guns" could represent anything that is bigger than yourself or something your afraid of.
i think that she compares god to herself when she says "you kiss his lips he forgives you it he forgives you for all you've done but not me i'm still angry" yes, people say that god forgives everyone but people can't always do that. or she is saying that a woman who made her husband mad kisses him and gets forgiven, well that doesn't work for everyone. then she goes on to say that that she has a plan, no matter how good or bad a plan it is, at least she has one. she wants to pretend that everyone wants the same thing as her, peace because theyre tired lonely and bloody. its just so well written.
I think it's clearly anti-religious in it's overtones although it could be allegorised into something else.
I think it's definitely about religion, though I agree that it could also apply to a person or relationship.
Then you kiss his lips; he forgives you for it He forgives you for all you've done But not me, I'm still angry
To me, it sounds like she's saying even if someone's actions are harmful or hateful they can be either be justified by or forgiven by religion. It seems like it frustrates her that they may feel comfort in this "abstract" forgiveness, even though the real world aftermath remains.
First, I'll build a sword, get some words to explain It's a plan, brother, at least And I'll pretend that everybody here wants peace
That sounds like an indictment of organized religion. People give lip service to peace, but that's not the means or goal.
The whole album Rabbit Fur Coat is heavily steeped in subversive religious themes, and this song fits right in.
I always thought this was anti-war until I really read the lyrics and I think it's actually anti-religious extremist.