...and I miss home, and I miss the closets, the windows, the hallways
And when we are gone, who will keep up the garden?
Like a mother calling her boy, I am, I am so unsafe
But she can't do it alone
but there's nothing stronger than her prayers.
Nothing stronger than the smell of reds.
My fathers reds

Under bridges waiting to look forward, waiting for rushes ends
Living in the moment is the homeless mantra, they know the busiest streets
All we have, all we have, all we have is letting a sleeping dog lay
All we have, all we have, all we have is letting a sleeping dog lay
Your face lit up and for once, i enjoyed where i was
The truth is jade plants die, the truth is muscles atrophy
Softening your skin and hardening mine

"I don't know where to begin
I've thought about this day so much and thought of so many things I've wanted to say
but now, now I can only look at you like the pictures I spend hours staring at
I don't think I've ever smiled so wide as when you were holding me up
I was given a picture the other day of a past birthday
We were together on our back deck

I remember.
You were covered in powdered sugar from the donuts you were eating
I've always loved watching you smile

Do you remember the mornings when we woke up early to ride bicycles to on the board walk or the night before my first homecoming when you taught me how to dance?

Yes I remember. I hope she appreciated all my hard work

I wish I had a different story to tell
I seem I have drifted fairly far away from what you taught me

You were always the (indecipherable)

I'll admit there hasn't been much to smile about since, since you left

I didn't leave, I fought for five years to stay at your side

What do you remember about that night?

I remember a family that loved their wife and mother very much.

How can you say that?
We were liars
We clung to those songs like we so desperately wanted to Cling to you.

Then I don't think you heard the same song I did

You had to know I was lying
You had to know how much I hated myself for smiling like a fool
For spending our last few minutes together deceiving you

Matthew, your smile in the face of your greatest fear was the greatest gift a mother has ever received from her child

I miss you

I know."

Everyone cares, every eye carelessly tiptoes around you, watching you,
They'll wear black ties, and as they applaud, I'll count claps
Like the old fig tree the master cursed
the arms that gave us life
take so much more.


Lyrics submitted by JahnnyDrew, edited by joshiselin

Houses We Die In song meanings
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11 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    Matthew, your smile on the face of your greatest fear was the greatest gift a mother has ever received from her child

    Inspector_71on October 20, 2009   Link
  • +2
    My Opinion

    "How can you say that? We were liars We clung to those songs like we so desperately wanted to Cling to you.

    Then I don't think you heard the same song I did"

    This part gets me harder than any other and I have no idea why.

    Vidalon November 28, 2010   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    This song is truly inspirational and really gets to me. My mother possibly has breast cancer and is as of yet unconfirmed. Supposedly she will be going to the doctors soon to get a confirmation. If she does have breast cancer and doesn't receive the proper treatment, she could die. She's the closest person to me and honestly the only person that I really have. I don't know what I'll do if she leaves...

    iSawHerFaceon June 28, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I didn't realize this song was about the mother dying until they posted lyrics of the dialogue. Since she sounds so young I thought it was just some bullshit between two lovers, aha. Shit made me cry, though. This song is beautiful and heartbreaking.

    littleganeshon April 09, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    brb crying jesus christ there's something so real about this band

    catievon October 20, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    My mother passed away 10 years ago and the dialogue of this song hits me every time. I miss her every day.

    riseriseon August 23, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    "Everyone cares, every eye carelessly tiptoes around you, watching you, They'll wear black ties, and as they applaud, i'll count claps "

    Oh my.

    IMABEARon September 21, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I made a small correction today, but I think it means a lot...

    JahnnyDrewon March 14, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I want to cry every time... If you've never seen this band live, I'd get on that.

    trevb0ton August 21, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Best song ever.

    Ocean Soulon June 21, 2010   Link

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