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.
You line them up
Look at your shoes
You hang names on your wall
Then you shoot them all
You fly around in planes
That bring you down
To meet me who loves you, like
Me crashing to the ground
Are you so lonely?
You don't even know me
But you'd like to stone me
Mr. Writer, why don't you tell it like it is?
Why don't you tell it like it really is?
Before you go on home
I used to treat you right
Give you my time
But when I'd turn my back on you
Then you do what you do
You've just enough, in my own view
Education to perform
I'd like to shoot you all
And then you go home
With you on your own
What do you really know?
Mr, Writer, why don't you tell it like it is?
Why don't you tell it like it really is?
Before you go on home
And then you go home
With you on your own
What do you even know?
Mr. Writer, why don't you tell it like it is?
Why don't you tell it like it really is?
Before you go on home
Mr. Writer, why don't you tell it like it is?
Why don't you tell it like it always is?
Before you go on home
Mr. Writer, why don't you tell it like it really is?
Why don't you tell it like it always is?
Before you go on home
Look at your shoes
You hang names on your wall
Then you shoot them all
You fly around in planes
That bring you down
To meet me who loves you, like
Me crashing to the ground
Are you so lonely?
You don't even know me
But you'd like to stone me
Mr. Writer, why don't you tell it like it is?
Why don't you tell it like it really is?
Before you go on home
I used to treat you right
Give you my time
But when I'd turn my back on you
Then you do what you do
You've just enough, in my own view
Education to perform
I'd like to shoot you all
And then you go home
With you on your own
What do you really know?
Mr, Writer, why don't you tell it like it is?
Why don't you tell it like it really is?
Before you go on home
And then you go home
With you on your own
What do you even know?
Mr. Writer, why don't you tell it like it is?
Why don't you tell it like it really is?
Before you go on home
Mr. Writer, why don't you tell it like it is?
Why don't you tell it like it always is?
Before you go on home
Mr. Writer, why don't you tell it like it really is?
Why don't you tell it like it always is?
Before you go on home
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."
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.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
This is a very creative way to criticize rock critics.
i dont think its rock critics as much as the english press in general... "dont even know me but u like to stone me..."- it seems its a journalits job to make up stories to sell papers
It must be so frustrating how journalists write crap about you that actually hurts. But it's their job, and they go on home without another thought about how it could upset a person.
Stupid world.
I like the really drugged up slurry sound to this song. The video is also cool, portraying the critics/media as Clowns (like Doyler said)
It's pretty obvious what the song means, however I don't exactly understand downwars pointing arrow
"You line them up Look at your shoes"
Right...i hate to say it, but you're all wrong lol.
It is actually about businessmen or reprters or workers in general who go away for work. It is actually a song about how they cheat on their wives with prostitutes or whatever, then they go home and pretend their perfect little life really is "perfect".
It's in an interview with Stereophonics, look it up =]
This song is about a journalist who was with Stereophonics on tour. He had fun, spend time and had launch with Stereophonics. After the tour, he left for work, he wrote a humiliating article about the band. A few days later Kelly Jones (lead singer) composed this song about him.
If you can read the lyrics again, it will be more clear.
You fly around in planes That bring you down To meet me who loves you, like Me crashing to the ground
Are you so lonely? You don't even know me But you'd like to stone me
Mr. Writer, why don't you tell it like it is? Why don't you tell it like it really is? Before you go on home
@zinzin<br /> <br /> glad someone knows here knows the correct meaning behind the song.
Nothing to say about the meaning, just thought I'd comment on how much this song rocks. It rocs my clock.
Very dark song, really...
Its about the critiscm the phonics were getting when they started. They tried to stop the phonics achieving sucsess cause they were so miserable in their own lives. Kelly used to appease them and give them his time, but now hes just like "Fuck off"
Its such a bitter and angry song. Brilliant In the video, the critic is a clown :)
I love the beginning! Ah tis so lush