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.
I'm writing this to you in reverse
Someone better call a hearse
I can see it all from here
From just a few glimpses
Now that lightbulb's gone off
And it's pulling my wince
And now the lightbulb's gone off
I've seen it in your eyes
I've seen you blankly stare
And I wanna show you how I love you
But there's nothing there
I'm not standin' here!
Oh I'm not standin' here!
And I'm writing in reverse
I know it could be worse
I'm not standing here, I'm not standing here
(I'm not standing here, I'm not standing here)
(And I'm writing in reverse, I know it could be worse)
And I hear that famous song
And I hear that can't be wrong
No nothin' was planned
You just can't help yourself
Some people are so easily shuffled and dealt
If there's only one of us you truly felt
We're gettin' you raw
And it feels real good
Although only briefly
Like high school poppers would
Will you lose a bit of yourself?
Will you lose a bit of yourself?
I'm not standin' here!
Oh I'm not standin' here!
And I'm writing in reverse
I know it could be worse
I hear that famous song
And I hear that can't be wrong
All I know, is all I know,
Yes, all I know, is all I know
Is all I know
I'm writing this to you in reverse
Someone better call a hearse (woo! )
I can see it all from here
From just a few glimpses
Now that lightbulb's gone off
And it's pulling my wince
And now the lightbulb's gone off
I've seen it in your eyes
And there's nothing there
There's nothing there
I wanna show you how I love you
I can see you blankly stare
Someone better call a hearse
I can see it all from here
From just a few glimpses
Now that lightbulb's gone off
And it's pulling my wince
And now the lightbulb's gone off
I've seen it in your eyes
I've seen you blankly stare
And I wanna show you how I love you
But there's nothing there
I'm not standin' here!
Oh I'm not standin' here!
And I'm writing in reverse
I know it could be worse
I'm not standing here, I'm not standing here
(I'm not standing here, I'm not standing here)
(And I'm writing in reverse, I know it could be worse)
And I hear that famous song
And I hear that can't be wrong
No nothin' was planned
You just can't help yourself
Some people are so easily shuffled and dealt
If there's only one of us you truly felt
We're gettin' you raw
And it feels real good
Although only briefly
Like high school poppers would
Will you lose a bit of yourself?
Will you lose a bit of yourself?
I'm not standin' here!
Oh I'm not standin' here!
And I'm writing in reverse
I know it could be worse
I hear that famous song
And I hear that can't be wrong
All I know, is all I know,
Yes, all I know, is all I know
Is all I know
I'm writing this to you in reverse
Someone better call a hearse (woo! )
I can see it all from here
From just a few glimpses
Now that lightbulb's gone off
And it's pulling my wince
And now the lightbulb's gone off
I've seen it in your eyes
And there's nothing there
There's nothing there
I wanna show you how I love you
I can see you blankly stare
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
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
No Surprises
Radiohead
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.
I like this new song a whole lot. I like the syncopated piano, the chorus and lyrics, but I haven't heard it enough to "get it" yet.
I think the first two lines are really witty: I'm writting this to you in reverse/Somebody better call a herse
I guess, to me, right now, it's about death, either the physical death of the singer "the lightbulb" being his lifeforce or the symbolic death of a love with the lightbulb being the love-light. But Hell, I don't know, I'm just getting aquainted with this song.
Don't know what it means... ;-)<br /> <br /> But my first post here is to thank 'LoserNo1' for pointing me to the way he plays the piano. Makes the song even better for me now... Great!
What the fuck is this song about?
...Seriously...
it´s about Britt and me.
Uh, guys, it's written in reverse. It makes more sense if the lines are read in reverse order.
I also read elsewhere that it's literally written in reverse, but it actually makes less sense to me that way.
First, here's a powerful song...partly 'cause it's ambiguous. It's a cliched interpretation but, it's hard not to see it as about the end of a relationship "hearse", light bulb going off and on. He's confused by the death of what he thought was a sure thing; betrayed 'cause he was left for another guy
To me the song is about losing a girl to another man. It becomes easy for him to see that he is losing her by her change in behavior. He still loves her but she does not feel the same so nothing is there. He knows she did not plan to leave him but it still hurts. It seems like the girl in the song lacks concern for the feelings of the author. She does not have the will power to control the temptation of being with the other guy. I agree with jtn191, the hearse line is signifying the end of the relationship. Possibly the line of "I'm not standing here," means that he is not going to waste his time with the girl any longer.
A kissoff to someone with Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD). In hindsight everything becomes so clear. The times she was being real were good, but only briefly - otherwise her guard is up - not able to be vulnerable and lose a bit of herself. She's messed up and now he sees it and he's not willing to stand there anymore. She probably still tries to text every couple of years.