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.
I was born secular and inconsolable
I heard that he walked, he walked the earth
God goes where he wants
And who knows where he is not
Not in me
It's the way mothers greet their sons
When it's a moment too late
It's the law of the land
That sometimes the dam just breaks
God works in mysterious ways
And God gives and then he takes
From me
I heard that he walked, he walked the earth
God goes where he wants
And who knows where he is not
Not in me
It's the way mothers greet their sons
When it's a moment too late
It's the law of the land
That sometimes the dam just breaks
God works in mysterious ways
And God gives and then he takes
From me
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
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
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,
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“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.
I think the song is a bit more about loss then religion. ABsence, not god. It's hard to explain. It's like all she does is think "Why?" And the only answer she could think of that is even close to possible, is blame god, the thing that is already to late, and is already to corrupt for her to believe whole heartedly, especially because if this is true, all he's done is hurt her. No one wants to beleive in cruelty to that degree.
@thembraincells I completely agree. In the first part she refers to God from an agnostic point of view: he’s a myth, she’s cynical. <br /> <br /> But in the second part: <br /> <br /> It's the way mothers greet their sons<br /> When it's a moment too late.<br /> <br /> The immediate image that jumps to mind is that of a mother over a casket. Perhaps maybe the most unabidable shriek imaginable — of a parent losing a child? The heartbreak, the horror. And below that, crying :<br /> <br /> It's the law of the land<br /> That sometimes the dam just breaks.<br /> <br /> And then:<br /> <br /> And God gives and then he takes.<br /> From me.<br /> <br /> She starts off “inconsolable” and a bit jaded, but when she’s encounters that unsatisfactory situation/reality, it’s so tragic and desperate and unfathomable, that in an almost sick way, imaging a “God” is a comfort. Even if it’s a negative-coded comfort, it’s still better to channel that anger to something you’re not comitted to, than to accept that the dice just roll that way sometimes. It seems so personal and painful, that she would rather have an angel of some kind of accountability than total chance and bad luck.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br />
Stunning.
Absolutely beautiful.
probably the most interesting thing about this album is that it sounds so overtly christian/religious, but if you actually listen to the lyrics closely, its all about agnosticism and doubt. i didnt really realize this until i heard this song, then all the other songs took on a whole new meaning. i really like that jenny explores her faith or lack thereof instead of just blindly singing songs of praise and worship.
i havent listened to another cd since i got this a month ago. 4 songs are already in my top 50 most played songs on itunes.... its so funny to me because i never listen to country and before only knew rilo kiley for portions for foxes
this song is great simply because of the Watson twins presence
gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. easily the best song from the album! i love it.
I love the line "who knows where he is not." The word "not" coming at the end of the line just opens up a whole new meaning - I found it so arresting the first time I heard it. I mean, if you're looking for god, you want to know where he is. But if you're trying to escape from god, you want to know where he is not. It's like she's saying there's no point in trying to escape god because we're completely powerless. Yeah I agree with lilstacyQ this is a really honest song about faith.
i always thought she sang where he is now, not in me, to me that makes more sense on her faith or whatnot... but idk...
i think it's about how she wants to believe in God, and how he gives her blessings, but then she doubts him as Job did, because He takes away from her, like family and friends passing away, or lovers lost interest... idk... i'm not a very good analyzer... not aloud anyways!!
This song is so touchy. What really gets me is how people sometimes think when they are christains you're not allow to be mad or upset with God or have doubt with him. EVERYONE goes with that.
"God works in mysterious ways And God gives and then he takes From me "
Really gets me.. just because you love god and sometimes, you just don't know what to do anymore when things get hard. So she feels frustrated. very understanding and moving song. Love it.
I think the theme of the entire album is Honesty.
In this song, she's just being honest with her insecurities about her belief in God and just going through her thoughts about her life in relation to God.
At some point, everybody, whether a believer or not, goes through this and either reaches a conclusion or doesn't. From the shortness of the poem, it seems she can't reach a conclusion about whether He is present in her life and just lets the music continue with her possibly running her thoughts in her head whether than singing them out loud.
Or, she is explaining how she has a love-hate relationship with God. She feels God exists when she is given great things, but when something bad happens or taken away from her, she feels God is not apart of her. Again, I think it's all about being honest with her thoughts.