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 gonna clear my head
I'm gonna drink that sun
The saddest sight my eyes can see
Is that big ball of orange sinkin' slyly down the trees
Sittin' in a broken circle
While you rest upon my knee
This perfect moments will soon be leavin' me
Suzanne calls from Boston
The coffee's hot the corn is high
And that same sun that warms your heart
Will suck the good earth dry
With everything it's opposite enough to keep you cryin'
Or keep this old world spinnin' with a twinkle in its eye
Get out the map
Get out the map and lay your finger anywhere down
We'll leave the figurin' to those we pass on our way out of town
Don't drink the water
There seems to be somethin' ailin' everyone
I'm gonna clear my head
I'm gonna drink that sun
I'm gonna love you good and strong
While our love is good and young
Joni left for South Africa a few years ago
And then Beth took a job
All the way over on the West Coast
And me, I'm still tryin' to live half a life on the road
Seems I'm heavier by the year (heavier by the year)
And heavier by the load (heavier by the load)
Why do we hurtle ourselves
Through every inch of time and space?
I must say around some corner
I can sense a restin' place
With every lesson learned
A line upon your beautiful face
We'll amuse ourselves one day
With these memories we'll trace
Get out the map
Get out the map and lay your finger anywhere down
We'll leave the figurin' to those we pass on our way out of town
Don't drink the water
There seems to be somethin' ailin' everyone
I'm gonna clear my head (I'm gonna clear my head)
I'm gonna drink that sun (I'm gonna drink that sun)
I'm gonna love you good and strong
While our love is good and young
I'm gonna clear my head
I'm gonna drink that sun
I'm gonna love you good and strong
While our love is good and young
I'm gonna drink that sun
The saddest sight my eyes can see
Is that big ball of orange sinkin' slyly down the trees
Sittin' in a broken circle
While you rest upon my knee
This perfect moments will soon be leavin' me
Suzanne calls from Boston
The coffee's hot the corn is high
And that same sun that warms your heart
Will suck the good earth dry
With everything it's opposite enough to keep you cryin'
Or keep this old world spinnin' with a twinkle in its eye
Get out the map
Get out the map and lay your finger anywhere down
We'll leave the figurin' to those we pass on our way out of town
Don't drink the water
There seems to be somethin' ailin' everyone
I'm gonna clear my head
I'm gonna drink that sun
I'm gonna love you good and strong
While our love is good and young
Joni left for South Africa a few years ago
And then Beth took a job
All the way over on the West Coast
And me, I'm still tryin' to live half a life on the road
Seems I'm heavier by the year (heavier by the year)
And heavier by the load (heavier by the load)
Why do we hurtle ourselves
Through every inch of time and space?
I must say around some corner
I can sense a restin' place
With every lesson learned
A line upon your beautiful face
We'll amuse ourselves one day
With these memories we'll trace
Get out the map
Get out the map and lay your finger anywhere down
We'll leave the figurin' to those we pass on our way out of town
Don't drink the water
There seems to be somethin' ailin' everyone
I'm gonna clear my head (I'm gonna clear my head)
I'm gonna drink that sun (I'm gonna drink that sun)
I'm gonna love you good and strong
While our love is good and young
I'm gonna clear my head
I'm gonna drink that sun
I'm gonna love you good and strong
While our love is good and young
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
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
What a fun song =) peace out
This song is about how people move in and out of your circle amd how life is a journey.It is about living life in the present