Act of Contrition Lyrics
The ground opened up and swallowed all of the rain
And it swallowed you too, into distance unknown
As they sat down for dinner they waited for you to get home
Yeah, they set a place for you
And this nervousness, it isn't all your fault
It's just these shaking hands won't do what I want them to
And I've tried to guess what it is that you thought about
That act of contrition that rolled off our tongues as you wept
What are you crying for?
There are no fingers printed there
Just the untouched place that lies inside
Of every lonely boy tonight
On your new found hope for me

That is just because you do not appreciate his great lyrics. But that sucks for you, not the rest of us, we know good music.

I love the way he says "rolled", it really..erm.. rolls.
The idea of the dust and then the line: "and all of this open air has caused me to choke " Beautiful.
Every second of this song is beautiful.

This lyrics so amazing it hurts to read them...to me there is not one bright eyes song that surpasses another in value. They are all so perfect. Whether it be on an album, vinyl, live. Its not so much the music even but the words the emotions. "choke" anything he can not handel

I know exactly how he feels. I've thought about this subject before i even heard of Bright Eyes...

"just dust my heart and you will find there are no fingers printed there just the untouched place that lies inside of every lonely boy tonight. and all of this open air has caused me to choke on your new found hope for me."
gets me everytime

does anyone else think its about suicide? on her part...

i swear to god, this song was written to make me cry. personal connections to my take on this song just makes it top the charts.

Its a very emotional song makes me cry

this is so moving.. it makes me sad... he's so beautiful
south jersey is for lovers

this song makes my cry so much. especially when he says the part about the lonely boys. tears