Neverland- I always felt like musicians live in a Peter Pan world, no one ever has to grow up (at least no one wants to, and no one wants them to).
White lines (coke) & black tar (heroin)
Death by Misadventure (Research Brian Jones)
Lexington (From the song ‘I’m Waiting for my Man’, a Velvet Underground reference)
Fashion statement suicide- cigarettes
Chelsea Hotel- Sid & Nancy
Godspeed
Anberlin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
White lines, black tar, the matches
Is this another dead by misadventure?
Tell me what you got, what you really got, hey, hey
We'll rest in our graves
Lexington, course your veins
Sleepers can't just wake the dead
Fall asleep
Don't fall asleep
Don't fall asleep
They lied when they said that the good die young
They lied when they said the good die young, whoa, oh, oh, oh
They lied when they said the good die young
Stay with me, stay with me tonight
Burning down bridges now, scatter the ashes
Godspeed to all you're after
Is this a life left just to remember?
Tell them who you were, who you really were, hey, hey
Kill yourself slowly over time
Fashion statement suicide
She's still asleep in the Chelsea hotel
Bad turns to worse and the worse turns into hell
Fall asleep
Don't fall asleep
Don't fall asleep
God saved the eyes that are dim tonight
They lied when they said the good die young, whoa, oh, oh, oh
They lied when they said the good die young
Stay with me, stay with me tonight
Whoa, oh, oh, oh
They lied when they said the good die young, whoa, oh, oh, oh
They lied when they said the good die young
Stay with me, stay with me tonight
They lied when they said the good die young, whoa, oh, oh, oh
They lied when they said the good die young
Stay with me, stay with me tonight
The lyrics of Anberlin’s “Godspeed” are a poignant exploration of life, death, and the disillusionment that can come with both. The song begins with the image of burning down Neverland and scattering the ashes, a reference to Peter Pan and the idea of never growing up. This is juxtaposed with the use of white lines of cocaine and black tar heroin, and the question is raised of whether this will be another tragic death by misadventure. The singer then asks what the person truly has in their life, what is it that they’re really holding onto.
In the chorus, the band rejects the notion that good people die young, urging the person to stay with them tonight. The bridge takes a dark turn, describing a suicide that’s been stretched out over time, that has become a fashion statement. The imagery of the Chelsea Hotel (where Sid Vicious infamously killed his girlfriend) adds to the mood of melancholy and decay. The song ends with a plea for someone to stay, recognizing the fragility of life and the desire to keep them close.
Overall, the lyrics of “Godspeed” paint a picture of disillusionment and desperation. The singer is grappling with the idea of death and what it means to truly live. They reject the notion that good people die young, but acknowledge the reality of suicide and the way it has become normalized.
Line by Line Meaning
Burning down Neverland, scatter the ashes
Destroying a place of fantasy and childhood dreams, leaving nothing but remnants behind.
White lines, black tar, the matches
Drugs and their paraphernalia that ignite the addiction.
Is this another dead by misadventure?
A life that ends tragically as a result of a reckless or foolish act.
Tell me what you got, what you really got, hey, hey
Be honest and reveal your true self to me.
We'll rest in our graves
Death is inevitable, and one day we will lay in our final resting place.
Lexington, course your veins
Drugs have taken control of your body and mind.
Sleepers can't just wake the dead
Even the most profound slumber cannot revive the deceased.
When needles and lovers collapse on guilty beds
When drug users and lovers succumb to their vices, leading to unfavorable outcomes.
Fall asleep
Giving in to the blissful oblivion of sleep.
Don't fall asleep
Resisting sleep, perhaps to avoid nightmares or unwanted thoughts.
They lied when they said that the good die young
The idea that morally upright individuals have shorter lifespans proven false.
Stay with me, stay with me tonight
Enduring companionship and comfort in the present moment.
Burning down bridges now, scatter the ashes
Destroying relationships, leaving nothing but ashes behind.
Godspeed to all you're after
Wishing the best of luck for one's pursuits and aspirations.
Is this a life left just to remember?
Is existence merely an accumulation of memories?
Tell them who you were, who you really were, hey, hey
Be unapologetically yourself, leaving behind an accurate representation of who you truly were.
Kill yourself slowly over time
Indulging in self-destructive behavior that ultimately leads to one's demise.
Fashion statement suicide
Making an outward display of one's death, seemingly for the sake of style.
She's still asleep in the Chelsea hotel
The aftermath of a tragic event, leaving someone to rest eternally.
Bad turns to worse and the worse turns into hell
A downward spiral, leading to a state of utter despair.
God saved the eyes that are dim tonight
A plea for divine intervention to illuminate a path through darkness.
They lied when they said the good die young
Reiterating the false notion that good people have shorter lifespans.
Stay with me, stay with me tonight
The desire for someone to remain close, bringing comfort and solace.
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, DistroKid, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: DEON REXROAT (16581), JOSEPH MILLIGAN (16580), NATHAN YOUNG (16578), STEVEN ARNOLD (16579)
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@andreb4266
I was looking for this song since 2010 and today I finally found it. 😭😭😭❤️
@ChrisandTaraCA
I’ve been looking for this song for years too and just fucking found it. My heart is pounding! Loved anberlin since 2007❤
@dontwanadisplaynameonutube2951
Yass! Happy for you! Can’t go wrong with some Anberlin and Alexisonfire.
@Moon-if3rc
this song was wayyyyyy too good for its time
@SpiritMission
I saw Anberlin live tonight at their Switchfoot and Anberlin Fall Tour 2011 at the Boulder Theater!!!! It was the BEST concert of my life!!!!!
@krispyy325
These guys have been a part of my life for 12 years, from age 13 to now, and I'm so sad to hear that they're going their separate ways. Luckily, I got to catch their last show in Portland and they killed it! Gonna really miss them. ❤️
@7horns
:(
@benschell2630
***** they live on in my heart.
@marylfutterer8448
Really im 13 and there about of my life
@abintra8690
This didn’t age well