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.
What can you do
When the curtain falls
What will you do
When the curtain falls
You'll
Left, right
When the curtain falls
What will you do
When the curtain falls
You'll
Left, right
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@[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.
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Does he say, "Left, Right" AND, "That's Right?" Also, isn't his mumbling reminiscent of Rufus Wainwright and Thom Yorke?
I think of it as a song about the inevitable, and our inevitable decisions. If you think about it this way, when the curtain falls, there are only two things you can do--you can either exit left or exit right. It's sort of like a "what path will you take?" question, or the fork in the road. You are faced with a timely decision and you have to decide right then and there. whichever you choose will bring you somewhere different for the moment, but ultimately the same--you will have exited and it will have been your choice which way to go.
the best part is when the applause comes in, and then the synth or whatever that is, up high - it's striking somehow. euphoric is what comes to mind when i hear this song. also, i really like the cold war interpretation, although it seems that a whooole lot is assumed there. good, though.
this song is soooooooooooo magical!!!!!!
i think taht this song is so pretty! i don't rely know what it means tho... it could mean nothing i dont know... but it makes me happy as do most of their songs.
To me. Given Beirut's fascination with Easter European music, there many references to Europe and the cold war the curtain mentioned is deffinatley the iron curtain seperating the east and the west during the cold war.
To me it's asking questions about the state of the world after the supposed end of the cold war. It deffinatley is a very broad question. However this makes me think of the way that all governments use fear as the catalyst to drive their policies. During the cold war they had the fear created by the soviet union. Now they have the fear created by terrorism.
If I was saying these lines I would be asking whether we will ever change. Wether we will stop reacting fearfully and choose rather to risk some of our own self rightious pride and have a more open and embracing foreign policy.
And will the Eastern Europe ever become something more than the left side of the iron curtain? Will the right side overcome the stereotype?
Ah...Cold War, interesting explanation.
The feeling of pure elation and ecstasy present in this song suggests the fall of the curtain is not only a new begining, but the beginning of something magical.
Go to Berlin and you can see the results written on the walls.
So does anyone else see the correlation between this song and Scenic World, not only in music arrangement but lryics to??