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.
Oh, it's a strange day
In such a lonely way
I saw some children dance
I watched my life in a trance
And the people around me
Seemed so glad to be here
Will my time pass so slowly
On the day that I fear?
And the noise that surrounds me
Pulls so loud in my head
From the promise that healed us
To the lies that I said
Oh, it's a strange day
In such a lonely way
Some people look down on me,
I know they like what they see
Strange day,
Such a strange day
Such a strange day
In such a lonely way
I saw some children dance
I watched my life in a trance
And the people around me
Seemed so glad to be here
Will my time pass so slowly
On the day that I fear?
And the noise that surrounds me
Pulls so loud in my head
From the promise that healed us
To the lies that I said
Oh, it's a strange day
In such a lonely way
Some people look down on me,
I know they like what they see
Strange day,
Such a strange day
Such a strange day
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I've always really liked this song.
Anyway, hmm, well, the lyrics seem quite purposefully vague, though there's the usual element of alienation - everyone around being happy, dancing but the narrator feeling lonely. I do like the somewhat defiant quality in "Some people look down on me, I hope they like what they see." (I am sure it's "hope", not "know")
yeah just seems to be generally moping about isolation and loneliness. gotta be one of the darkest songs that NO have ever done
"I saw some children dance I watched my life in a trance" "And the noise that surrounds me Pulls so loud in my head"
I know that feeling, like you need to step outside yourself and look at things because things in your life are going so horribly and you're enveloped in a mood of melancholy. It seems like when you're in that mood, there's this driving force, this "noise" in your head, that give you a sense of urgency to stop whatever's bothering you; I usually consider it pure desperation.
"From the promise that healed us To the lies that I said Oh, it's a strange day In such a lonely way Some people look down on me, I know they like what they see"
Sounds like he hates himself and he hates his life, but he's trying to comfort himself by saying that people in heaven still approve of him? Just a theory.
"I know they like what they see"/"I hope they like what they see" might be just as pessimistic as the rest of the song. It might be that the line is about people seeing the suffering of the singer and liking it, a bit like in Joy Division's Atrocity Exhibition or the ancient Romans enjoying seeing gladiators getting killed.
@lynxrattle or could be the angels looking down on fallen humankind...
This song sounds like someone channeling clinical depression. I like it but it is too dark for me.