We getup early just to start cranking the generator
Our limbs have been asleep we need to get the blood back in 'em
We're finding every day several ways that we could be friends

We keep on churning and the lights inside the house turned on
And in our native language we are chanting ancient songs
And when we quiet down the house chants on without us



Lyrics submitted by WinterLungs

Track duration: 03:08


Generator ^ First Floor song meanings
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  • 0
    Lyric Correction:When they sing this song live, after "chants on without us", they add more:
    With all the lights alive we figured what your heart was for,
    And did a painting of you lying on the first floor,
    And when those stop your heart burns out in love
    I don't really feel like analyzing this, but I figured somebody might appreciate the additional lyrics
    Flag ryuzaki14on November 03, 2012   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation:wow there are so many different interpretations of this!

    personally im trying to stick to the theory that this is all a concept album about a boy who is in love with his ghost companion, and so this is them working together on i like to think the windmill they live in (hence the turning and the house chanting on without them) and them working through their differences so they can work together, of course it is only later they realise there love.
    Flag razzamatazon July 30, 2011   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation:To me, this song is about the world.

    "We get up early just to start cranking the generator
    Our limbs have been asleep we need to get the blood back in 'em" :
    Everybody wakes up, everybody does something in the morning (school, work, etc.)

    "We're finding every day several ways that we could be friends" :
    Sounds like a matter of race; There are many ways we could be friends with anybody, could being the key word. A lot of people can't look past appearances, so they could be friends only in theory.

    "We keep on churning and the lights inside the house turned on":
    As the day goes on, the sun rises. (I'm seeing the house = earth)

    "And in our native language we are chanting ancient songs":
    Race again, we all speak different languages, we all have different backgrounds.

    "And when we quiet down the house chants on without us":
    Sleep or death: our backgrounds don't really matter. The world keeps turning while we're asleep, or even dead.

    My interpretation! I think this song is beautiful. Let me know if you disagree, I love hearing other people's interpretations.
    Flag redviolets23on June 30, 2011   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:Oddly, I think this song could be about early morning sex.

    Cranking the generator, waking up your limbs, several ways to be friends (positions), chanting ancient songs (moaning). It makes sense!

    I'm not trolling, by the way. I love Freelance and this song.
    Flag Firebreather01on June 19, 2011   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:Hey, check out there live version on Npr...theres more lyrics.
    Flag Nojocity12on June 14, 2011   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:
    I think the song is about diversity, and coming to ends with your differences.

    "Our limbs have been asleep we need to get the blood back in 'em"
    I think of our limbs as what we need to work, to get things done. They've been sitting in their positions for too long that they need to remember how to work, and in this case, work together (cranking the generator).

    "We're finding every day several ways that we could be friends"
    Pretty much how it sounds ;)

    "We keep on churning and the lights inside the house turned on
    And in our native language we are chanting ancient songs
    And when we quiet down the house chants on without us "

    I think of their ancient songs as their background, or cultures that they carry with them. As they begin working to power the house it begins to carry pieces of both sides in it, kind of how people put themselves into their work. When they quiet down the house continues on in song, it carries both of their hearts and their spirits along with it.

    I'm not so great at explaining what I feel, but I think the music takes care of the rest of that!
    That's just the way I look at it :) Songs can mean a lot of things to a lot of different people. In general I like to think of it as working together :) Beautiful song!
    Flag Tuscanon March 23, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The third verse is something like:

    With all the lights alive
    We figured what your heart was for
    And did a painting of you lying on the first floor
    And when those stop your heart moans out for more
    Flag RocketCaton July 12, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:any1 know the third verse?
    Flag habitv7on June 30, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:Awesome song, personally I get the images of an old barn-like house, along with fields and woods. Reminds me of nature and old mechanical things, like old steam engines too.

    I love the plethora of sounds in this song too, the chanting, xylophone, banjo, tambourine, and a bunch of other percussive instruments, along with the cranking like noise in the beginning that plays in the back throughout the song.
    Flag JakeXyloon June 22, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Amazing song, too. Isn't long enough. I have to listen to it like, 3 times in a row... Lol!
    Flag knocloo27on May 19, 2010   Link

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