I get that leaving feeling
this time it's here to stay
I've been weighing up the pulling
and pushing me away.
the past is so heavy
but it's something I can't leave
and this future is so certain
it just pushes me to my knees.

Lhasa :
Is that your heart talking
or just that befuddled mind?
the people that you love
they change when you leave them behind.

stuart staples :
But this rope that is pulling
is whittled down to a thread
and if I don't start climbing
pretty soon it'll be over my head

Lhasa :
we all have dreams of leaving
we all want to make a new start,
go and pack a little suitcase
with the pieces of our hearts.
all those worries and those sorrows
we can just toss them away,
buy a coffee and a paper
and those step on to a train.

Stuart Staples :
But I've been too long wandering
limping around this town
with everything that's pulling me
is pulling me further down.

Lhasa :
Go make all your excuses,
go say all you goodbyes
but take a look in the mirror
it's the hardest one you'll ever find.
all those worries and those sorrows
you can just toss them away.
go find a new tomorrow
and forget about your yesterdays.
so go and pat your kids
and kiss your dog goodbye,
leave your keys on the nail
with the sadness that's in your eyes.

Stuart Staples :
Maybe tomorrow, today looks like it's bringing rain
and I'll leave everything in order
I don't want nothing standing in my way
there are jobs that need tending
and the logs that are waiting to stack
and I'll leave everything in order
I don't want nothing that's going to hold me back


Lyrics submitted by movingpangea, edited by sarachic

That Leaving Feeling (ft. Lhasa De Sela) Lyrics as written by Stuart Staples

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

That Leaving Feeling song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

1 Comment

sort form View by:
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    In short, my personal interpretation is that Stuart is considering suicide, absolutely overwhelmed by depression. Lhasa is the voice in his head of what he would leave behind, “The people that you love”, what is keeping him alive, but not because he loves them, he does, but because of the effect his death would have in them. Not going to analyze line per line, so, in the end, Lhasa convinces him and he decides that he needs to give closure to some elements of his life before he “leaves”, so his death would have as little impact as possible on his loved ones

    rodrigo104on July 04, 2018   Link

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

Album art
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
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.
Album art
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988. "'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it." "There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Album art
Gentle Hour
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,
Album art
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Album art
No Surprises
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.