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.
A wishbone hangs between your breasts
I hope you haven't pulled it yet
And if this little finger doesn't have the strength
Then I'm scared that this bird's back bone breaks
It's only hope that springs eternal
And that's the reason why
This dripping from my broken heart
Is never running dry
I wear a ring of your lipstick
Round the knuckle of my 4th digit, it
Reminds me what our bodies sowed
It will do until we are betrothed
It's only hope that springs eternal
And that's the reason why
This dripping from my broken heart
Is never running dry
Never running dry
The space between your naval
And your waistband was the ice
Where two fingers pirouette, but
Now these hang nails they just slice
It's only hope that springs eternal
And that's the reason why
This dripping from my broken heart
Is never running dry
Never running dry
Your tongue the tide
Your lips the shore
I am the jetsam overboard
Goodbye courage
I christen all the ships that sailed
On your little kisses' saliva trails
Goodbye courage
Hello sadness again
Little kisses come to pass
Then
Goodbye courage
Hello sadness
It's only hope that springs eternal
And that's the reason why
This dripping from my broken heart
Is never running dry
Now that those 4 fingers gone
You leave me only with my thumb
That constantly is pointing down
The emperor bears teeth not frown
It's only hope that springs eternal
And that's the reason why
This dripping from my broken heart
Is never running dry
Never running dry
I hope you haven't pulled it yet
And if this little finger doesn't have the strength
Then I'm scared that this bird's back bone breaks
It's only hope that springs eternal
And that's the reason why
This dripping from my broken heart
Is never running dry
I wear a ring of your lipstick
Round the knuckle of my 4th digit, it
Reminds me what our bodies sowed
It will do until we are betrothed
It's only hope that springs eternal
And that's the reason why
This dripping from my broken heart
Is never running dry
Never running dry
The space between your naval
And your waistband was the ice
Where two fingers pirouette, but
Now these hang nails they just slice
It's only hope that springs eternal
And that's the reason why
This dripping from my broken heart
Is never running dry
Never running dry
Your tongue the tide
Your lips the shore
I am the jetsam overboard
Goodbye courage
I christen all the ships that sailed
On your little kisses' saliva trails
Goodbye courage
Hello sadness again
Little kisses come to pass
Then
Goodbye courage
Hello sadness
It's only hope that springs eternal
And that's the reason why
This dripping from my broken heart
Is never running dry
Now that those 4 fingers gone
You leave me only with my thumb
That constantly is pointing down
The emperor bears teeth not frown
It's only hope that springs eternal
And that's the reason why
This dripping from my broken heart
Is never running dry
Never running dry
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gareth just gets better and better, this is incredible. god i love sadness
Agreed! As an album 'Hello Sadness' has really impressed me, wasn't quite so sure at first but it's definitely a grower.
Love some of the imagery in this song, the motif of the fingers throughout is awesome, as well as all the aquatic imagery.
This song is deeply moving to me and there is a lot of sadly beautiful imagery in this song. This is what it means to me:
The wishbone means that the girl is faced with a choice, between the protagonist and another person. The protagonist fears that if she chooses the other person “if this little finger (his own) doesn’t have the strength,” the protagonist will be destroyed (his back bone breaks). He wants to marry the girl, a ring on the fourth digit that "will do until we are betrothed." Something happens, she chooses the other, and his heart is broken. He is with her another time, but this time he is upset with her for choosing the other and “now these hang nails they just slice.” Yet, he is eternally optimistic. If he was a pessimist, his heart would be stone. But he is an optimist, so his broken heart keeps dripping and is never running dry. He is holding out hope that she will return to him. Of course he knows deep down she will let him down. Hello sadness. This song might be referring to the same person and situation as "By Your Hand." In my view it matches up very nicely.
Unlike hornsofarabbit, I don't think it's about G losing her to another guy but to time.
" your tongue the tide your lips the shore i am the jetsam overboard
goodbye courage
i christen all the ships that sailed on your little kisses' saliva trails
goodbye courage hello sadness again"
The way that's broken up suggests one night stands to me. He ends up in bed with her and when it comes time to kiss each other goodbye he loses the courage to speak up and suggest they give some sort of relationship another try.
I see the same thing in the lipstick ring. He sees it as a sign of their devotion, where it's actually a mark of passion; a lipstick stain from the girl who just took the walk of shame back home on a Sunday morning.
I find it's all paraphrased in the wishbone verse. He's worried about taking what he wants because it might destroy everything he has, while at the same time fearing that if he remains inactive that she'll find another.
Hello sadness again.
Such power when he sings it I just feel overwhelmed.
Los Campesinos have a song for absolutely everything
As a whole, this album is their best work ever. No argument. From the instrumental work to his clever lyrical work. The best. I wish I could pat LC on the back just for this album.
The wishbone is actually a tattoo that the girl he was going out had. She had a wishbone tattoo on her chest. My friend knows the girl its written about.