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The unknown distance to the great beyond
Stares back at my grieving frame
To cast my shadow by the holy sun
My spirit moans with a sacred pain
And it's quiet now
The universe is standing still
[Chorus]
There's nothing I can say
There's nothing we can do now
There's nothing I can say
There's nothing we can do now
And all that stands between the souls release
This temporary flesh and bone
We know that it's over now
I feel my faded mind begin to roam
Every time you fall
And every time you try
Every foolish dream
And every compromise
Every word you spoke
And everything you said
Everything you left me, rambles in my head
[Chorus]
Up above the world so high
And everything you loved
And every time you try
Everybody's watching
Everybody cry
Stay, don't leave me
The stars can't for your sign
Don't signal now
[Chorus]
Goodnight, travel well
Goodnight, travel well
And there's nothing I can say
There's nothing I can do now
Stares back at my grieving frame
To cast my shadow by the holy sun
My spirit moans with a sacred pain
And it's quiet now
The universe is standing still
[Chorus]
There's nothing I can say
There's nothing we can do now
There's nothing I can say
There's nothing we can do now
And all that stands between the souls release
This temporary flesh and bone
We know that it's over now
I feel my faded mind begin to roam
Every time you fall
And every time you try
Every foolish dream
And every compromise
Every word you spoke
And everything you said
Everything you left me, rambles in my head
[Chorus]
Up above the world so high
And everything you loved
And every time you try
Everybody's watching
Everybody cry
Stay, don't leave me
The stars can't for your sign
Don't signal now
[Chorus]
Goodnight, travel well
Goodnight, travel well
And there's nothing I can say
There's nothing I can do now
Lyrics submitted by jeremygrim
Track duration: 06:51
"Goodnight, Travel Well" as written by Brandon Flowers, Dave Brent Keuning, Mark August Stoermer, Ronnie Jr. Vannucci
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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The unknown distance to the great beyond
Stares back at my grieving frame
(The unknown distance is heaven- he is looking up at the sky and heaven stares back at him. He is going through he initial stages of grief- he is in shock, he is upset, he is still waiting for his mother to return.)
To cast my shadow by the holy sun
My spirit moans with a sacred pain
(The holy sun and the shadow all has to do with religion, heaven. The spirit and the sacred pain is technically saying that he is in an indescribable pain)
And it's quiet now
The universe is standing still
(The quiet is from his mother being gone, without her everything just stops. He is coming to the realization that she is gone, and he is discovering how different it is without her)
[Chorus]
There's nothing I can say
There's nothing we can do now
There's nothing I can say
There's nothing we can do now
(This is another stage of grief. He knows that she is gone- he is angry and frustrated with himself and the situation. It is too late to change anything now- neither of them can do anything about it)
And all that stands between the souls release
This temporary flesh and bone
(He begins to question life and what it really is. He understands the not much stands between life and death, and we are all temporary here on earth)
We know that it's over now
I feel my faded mind begin to roam
(He is speaking to himself and his mother- trying to convince himself that everything they had is done- but he can't help but think of the past)
Every time you fall
And every time you try
Every foolish dream
And every compromise
Every word you spoke
And everything you said
Everything you left me, rambles in my head
(He is at yet another stage of grief. Getting angry and realizing that none of that shit means anything anymore. Every time his mother tried to do something, every time she had a dream, every time she spoke a word- he is pretty much saying that it was all a waste of time because she no longer exists. However, he can't stop thinking of everything she taught him and did for him and told him- the memories kill him)
[Chorus]
Up above the world so high
(This has various meanings. Of course it is a line from "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star", which could have been a song she said to him, or just a song that reminds him of childhood and innocent. He knows that now his mother actually is up above the world so high. He can't take the intense pain)
And everything you loved
And every time you try
Everybody's watching
Everybody cry
(He is still thinking and grieving. Talking about how his mother was a real person- a woman who loved and a woman who had passion and a woman who did so much. He can't wrap his head around that in such a quick moment that can all be over. He is surrounded by family and friends who grieve along with him. He is extremely sad and he doesn't know what to do)
Stay, don't leave me
The stars can wait for your sign
Don't signal now
(Know he is past the stage of shock and confusion and anger and frustration. He is sad. Just extremely sad. He becomes a child and he gets on his knees and he begs- please please don't leave me here alone. He tells the stars or God or the grim reaper or whoever takes someone when they die, that they can wait- he will do anything- just do not take her from me.
[Chorus]
Goodnight, travel well
Goodnight, travel well
(He has reached the final stage. The stars have ignored his pleadings, he accepts that his mother is gone. He is the saddest, most frustrated and confused man on the face of the earth. But he fights through it and finds peace. He knows that he can't change anything. He says his final farewells to his mother- and he pretty much wishes her luck in heaven. He hopes she is safe and okay. Tears are streaming down his face but he smiles because he thinks of the life he shared with his mother- the good times. He knows that she can hear him- and he feels at peace.
And there's nothing I can say
There's nothing I can do now
(He revisits the thoughts of any grieving man.There is nothing I can do. There is nothing I can say. It is what it is. I can't change it. It ail be okay and we will move one. It will be okay.
Stay don't leave me
The stars can wait for your sign don't signal now...
My grandmother died alone during the night. I knew how sick she was but did not realize that the end was so close. I wish she could have not "signaled" so that I could have had one last visit with her. I would have given anything to have been holding her hand when she passed.
Every word you spoke
Everything you said
Everything you left me rambles in my head...
I try desperately to remember everything she taught me and the times we shared together. You see, I was born on her birthday and we shared a special bond like no other bond I have ever experienced or will ever experience in this lifetime. I have the last roll of film from her camera in my purse. On that roll of film there is the last picture ever taken of her with my, at the time 2 1/2 month old, son. I guess I am not developing it because once I see the pictures there will be no more.
Every time you fought
Every time you tried...
My grandmother battled thyroid cancer since 1991 and was successful for 18 years. We traveled regularly to a hospital over an hour away and she fought the disease with everything she had until, I think, she got too week and tired to fight. She had a true love of life.
As the song picks up toward the end I think it is expressing the feelings of those left behind. Helpless and realizing that all they can do is wish the departed well as they begin their journey into the unknown.
The end of the song reminds me of a heartbeat slowly fading into nothing.
After this song I have an even greater appreciation of the band. This song had to have been written by someone who has gone through the same experience as I have. For those of you who disagree maybe you have not lost that special someone. If so, I am truly happy for you and my advice to you is enjoy every second that their flesh and bone is still here to enjoy. May God Bless!
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Everytime when I listen to this song I look at this picture, it makes me feel so happy, full of emitions...
Imagine travelling home... through the beautiful universe to a place where everything is bright an shining and magical. I don't believe in God, but I think, that there is something bigger...
this is what this song sounds like to me.
this temporary flesh and bone"
I had never thought about death like that...
Sorry :)
I haven's really gotten to have a look at all the comments so I don't know if someone has already said this but this is what I think:
If this song is about losing someone, I think it kind of goes through the stages of your reaction. At first it sounds like the person is empty inside, the universe truly becomes a vast and lonely place and even your own voice echoes in the solitude. Then you realise how hopeless you are to the situation, there is nothing you can do. You're angey and upset, it's a really intense grief. All the emotion is building up until you finally let go and say goodbye. You hope they're in a better place. I think the ending has something of hope in it.
All the while you can hear the clock ticking in the background and you realise your own mortality.
It's either the death of a person or the person dying and leaving this world behind no matter how much they want to stay.
One of the most beautiful songs I will hear in my life.