Countdown

"Do you remember when twenty-one years was old?"

What a great, heartbreaking line.

This song, 1901, Lasso, and Armistice are incredible songs off their new album. I listen to them everyday. I seriously think these guys need a run at the Grammys.

i think the "countdown" is to die. Its like a song about a person who is growing up, already past the prime of their life and is counting down to death.

the first line, its saying unless you're before the prime, you're not dying. and the song is basically reviewing over your life, and preparing to die, because the best of your life gone. my favorite line is "do you remember when 21 years was old" its saying remember when 21 was all grown up, when we were in high school, looking foward to growing up, and now past 21 you realize that its still young and the real phase growing up isnt as great as people may think. or simply remember when we were younger than 21 and we thought it was old, and now at (age) we wish we could go back to 21.

And to me the song is just filled with metaphors and ambiguity, and is up to interpretation

by the way, from the phoenix website these are the real lyrics

Countdown unless you’re juvenile let’s go God bless your miss somewhere We’re sick for the big sun It doesn’t matter what you did and if you did it like you been told

True and everlasting that’s what you want True and everlasting that’s what you want

Don’t say no your breakfast tears are gone Resist or let go, you’re borderline withdrawn Down, unlit from the bottom there is a misfit Better than it looks better than it looks Better than it looks better than it looks

We’re sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick We’re sick for the big sun We rumble and trip trip trip trip trip trip I realize that too

Hear the lonesome bell, Is this knowledge ? Ask forgiveness you know somewhere You’re fixed to an atom It doesn’t matter what you did and if you did it right let’s go

Cruel and everlasting that’s what you want Cruel and everlasting that’s what you want

Don’t say no your breakfast tears are wrong Do you remember when 21 years was old? Down unlit does it matters that you care the less ? Better than it looks better than it looks Better than it looks better than it looks

We’re sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick We’re sick for the big sun We rumble and trip trip trip trip trip trip I realize that too

True and everlasting, It didn’t last that long… We’re the lonesome, we’re the lonesome yell True and everlasting, It didn’t last that long…

i think it talks about how when we were young and how you think youre true and everlasting but things move on and how when you get older you look behind on your past and mistakes i just think overall its about reminiscing.

To me the big sun symbolizes the zenith of life, the height of youth, if you will. If you see the day cycle as the life cycle, it makes sense. Sunrise=Birth. Noon (big sun)= youth. Sunset=Declining years. Night=Death.

"Countdown unless you're juvenile let's go God bless your miss somewhere We're sick for the big sun It doesn't matter what you did and if you did it like you been told

True and everlasting that's what you want True and everlasting that's what you want

Don't say no your breakfast tears are gone Resist or let go, you're borderline withdrawn Down, unlit from the bottom there is a misfit Better than it looks, better than it looks Better than it looks, better than it looks

We're sick We're sick for the big sun We rumble and trip I realize that too"

I believe this to be an unapologetic paean to youth.

"Hear the lonesome bell, is this knowledge? Ask forgiveness you know somewhere You're fixed to an atom It doesn't matter what you did And if you did it right let's go

Cruel and everlasting that's what you want Cruel and everlasting that's what you want"

I sense a hint of regret. The writer recognizes the mistakes that were made and the people that may have been hurt.

"Don't say no your breakfast tears are wrong Do you remember when 21 years was old? Down unlit does it matters that you care the less? Better than it looks, better than it looks Better than it looks, better than it looks

We're sick We're sick for the big sun We rumble and trip I realize that too

True and everlasting, it didn't last that long... We're the lonesome, we're the lonesome yell True and everlasting, it didn't last that long..."

Time has past and the long life you thought you had ahead of you really isn't as long. You're old and lonesome.

In summary, I think this song is about the disappointment of adulthood as it is a reflection on youth.

Now I'm not religious so don't ridicule me if I'm wrong and I'm not sure about Phoenix's religious preference, but I found this to be a christian song... Someone that is near death... Here's my interpretation:

Countdown unless you're juvenile let's go (countdown unless you're young) God bless your miss somewhere (self-explanatory) We're sick for the big sun (We're ready to die) (Big Sun - "the light") It doesn't matter what you did (Doesn't matter if you've sinned) and if you did it like you been told (if you've accepted Jesus....)

True and everlasting that's what you want (...You'll live for eternity, if that's what you want) True and everlasting that's what you want (...You'll live for eternity, if that's what you want)

Don't say no your breakfast tears are gone (Don't give up) Resist or let go, you're borderline withdrawn (Either fight or give up) Down, unlit from the bottom there is a misfit (Depressed, withdrawn, there's something wrong) Better than it looks, better than it looks (Life is better than this) Better than it looks, better than it looks (Life is better than this)

We're sick (We're dying) We're sick for the big sun (We're ready to die) We rumble and trip I realize that too

Hear the lonesome bell, is this knowledge? (Not sure about this line, besides again alluding to loneliness) Ask forgiveness you know somewhere (Ask for forgiveness (from Jesus)) You're fixed to an atom (You're only an immortal) It doesn't matter what you did (same) And if you did it right let's go (If you asked for forgiveness, let's go (die))

Cruel and everlasting that's what you want (This line seems to say... Hell is what you want) Cruel and everlasting that's what you want (Hell is what you want)

Don't say no your breakfast tears are wrong Do you remember when 21 years was old? Down unlit does it matters that you care the less? Better than it looks, better than it looks Better than it looks, better than it looks

We're sick We're sick for the big sun We rumble and trip I realize that too

True and everlasting, it didn't last that long We're the lonesome, we're the lonesome yell True and everlasting, it didn't last that long

• These last lines confuse me a bit and make me question my own theories to this song now... But my GUESS is that The person killed themselves.... only to realize they were still lonely.

Now even if I'm completely wrong on the lyrics... I'm pretty positive on the theme... Which is to just go through life, cause it's tough... have faith and love those around you and don't live in the past.

We're sick could also just be referring to sick of being depressed... They want to see a brighter future so they are sick for the big sun.

Favorite song off the new album.

f'ing love this band.

The correct lyrics are (taken from the CD sheet):

Countdown unless you're juvenile let's go God bless your miss somewhere We're sick for the big sun It doesn't matter what you did and if you did it like you been told

True and everlasting that's what you want True and everlasting that's what you want

Don't say no your breakfast tears are gone Resist or let go, you're borderline withdrawn Down, unlit from the bottom there is a misfit Better than it looks, better than it looks Better than it looks, better than it looks

We're sick We're sick for the big sun We rumble and trip I realize that too

Hear the lonesome bell, is this knowledge? Ask forgiveness you know somewhere You're fixed to an atom It doesn't matter what you did And if you did it right let's go

Cruel and everlasting that's what you want Cruel and everlasting that's what you want

Don't say no your breakfast tears are wrong Do you remember when 21 years was old? Down unlit does it mattersthat you care the less? Better than it looks, better than it looks Better than it looks, better than it looks

We're sick We're sick for the big sun We rumble and trip I realize that too

True and everlasting, it didn't last that long... We're the lonesome, we're the lonesome yell True and everlasting, it didn't last that long...

what exactly is the "big sun"?

My favorite song. Sick for the big sun.. no idea what it means but it makes so much sense.