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.
Well how's your view of thing today
Got up young to fade away
The sinners sin but aren't aware
Our fables take us everywhere
I can't keep up with you
I can't keep up
I can't compete with history
We'll film it live but dub our tale
The mystery must stay inside
Look at our homes, look at our lives
In control of the morning
In control of the sea
You are creating all the bubbles at night
I'm chasing round trying to pop them all the time
We don't need to trust a single word they say
You are creating all the bubbles at play
There's a girl, there's a girl
There's a girl, there's a girl
And she's down by the river
In her own creepy world
There's a girl, there's a girl
And she's down by the river
It's time to consider
That baby is a sinner
She'll wash away your sins
And go home
I only once upset my kin
Accused him of a moral slip
Well he came back and claimed a change
I know his life's the same again
I can't ask him again
I should let it go
You are creating all the bubbles at night
I'm chasing round trying to pop them all the time
We don't need to trust a single word they say
You are creating all the bubbles at play
There's a girl, there's a girl
There's a girl, there's a girl
And she's down by the river
In her own creepy world
There's a girl, there's a girl
And she's down by the river
It's time to consider
That baby is a sinner
There's a girl, there's a girl
There's a girl, there's a girl (She'll wash away your sins)
She's face down in the river (She'll wash away your sins and go home)
Got up young to fade away
The sinners sin but aren't aware
Our fables take us everywhere
I can't keep up with you
I can't keep up
I can't compete with history
We'll film it live but dub our tale
The mystery must stay inside
Look at our homes, look at our lives
In control of the morning
In control of the sea
You are creating all the bubbles at night
I'm chasing round trying to pop them all the time
We don't need to trust a single word they say
You are creating all the bubbles at play
There's a girl, there's a girl
There's a girl, there's a girl
And she's down by the river
In her own creepy world
There's a girl, there's a girl
And she's down by the river
It's time to consider
That baby is a sinner
She'll wash away your sins
And go home
I only once upset my kin
Accused him of a moral slip
Well he came back and claimed a change
I know his life's the same again
I can't ask him again
I should let it go
You are creating all the bubbles at night
I'm chasing round trying to pop them all the time
We don't need to trust a single word they say
You are creating all the bubbles at play
There's a girl, there's a girl
There's a girl, there's a girl
And she's down by the river
In her own creepy world
There's a girl, there's a girl
And she's down by the river
It's time to consider
That baby is a sinner
There's a girl, there's a girl
There's a girl, there's a girl (She'll wash away your sins)
She's face down in the river (She'll wash away your sins and go home)
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I think this is about a girl who, yes, is high maintenance - 'I can't keep up with you'.
But I think the bubbles refer to the girl crying - 'You are creating all the bubbles at night'.
I think the bubbles are perhaps due to rumours or speculation about another girl that she is hearing. The songwriter is trying to quash these with the girl - 'We Don't need to trust a single word they say'
'It's time to consider this baby is a sinner' I think this refers to the other girl, that she is perhaps spreading the rumours to try and break the couple up and keep the guy for himself.
That's how I read it.
The last line is "And she's down by the river," not "She's face down in the river." If you think it ends with a girl face down in a river it changes the whole song.
@flubflub not to come back here and say youre wrong 13 years later, but according to the Biffy Clyro official website, the last line is indeed "She's face down in the river." Hope this helps! biffyclyro.com/lyrics/bubbles/
amazing song =]
I think the song is about a guy that is in a relationship with a depressed/suicidal girl. The bubbles are all of her self doubts and issues. He's trying to pop the bubbles by reassuring her and trying to make her feel better, but he can't keep up. The first couple of lines imply that the other persons mood changes day by day and even from morning til night. I think one of the best lines is "We'll film it live but dub our tale." In other words, whatever is seen on the surface needs further insight added to it. "It's time to consider, baby is a sinner." Suicide is a sin but that's why she is at the river. Unfortunately, there was nothing the guy could do because she ends up "face down in the river." I just discovered this band and this whole album is great.
"God, i'm young to fade away" maybe?
and, "Well feeling live but dub our tale" sounds a little right, though it doesn't make much sense...
is it meant to be about someone who's got a "girl" who is a bit bad news and after trying to show this to them they still ended up back with her. thats what i can take from it reading through the lyrics that or the girl could be symbolic of a drug addiction rather than literally meaning a girl
oops sorry new to the site clicked on wrong bit sorry
is it meant to be about someone who's got a "girl" who is a bit bad news and after trying to show this to them they still ended up back with her. thats what i can take from it reading through the lyrics that or the girl could be symbolic of a drug addiction rather than literally meaning a girl
I think it's about a prostitute. Listening to it that's the only sense I can make of it. Saying that though, Simon Neil doesn't seem to commentate the point or emotion of the song with the lyrics very often.
Popping the bubbles. All the time. I can't help but pop the bloody bubbles.
Like a moth to the flame.
I love popping bubbles tho, so that's ok î„î‰
i kinda agree with dolittle, the girl he's with keeps making things difficult so he's constatly cleaning it up (popping bubbles) but he cant help it - (moth to the flame) She's bad for him (baby is a sinner) but he loves her and cant keep away. thats what i got on the first few listens anyway!!
There is a great deal of Christian imagery in this song and I think that is the subject.
He is competing with religion to win the heart of a girl.
Aye, Is it? 'She's down by the river' getting baptised and aw that!!<br /> <br /> Away read yer bible and play with yourself!