A gifted multi-instrumentalist, La Grand plays guitar, dobro, lap steel, banjo and percussion. La Grand's former band, Bunkbed Nights, shared bills with - among others - Broken Social Scene and Crooked Fingers. Backed by his extensive studio experience, La Grand was a founding member of Dynamite Sound Project in Grand Rapids (MI), working on a number of recordings there. Currently based in Vancouver, B.C., La Grand will spend the next year playing concerts throughout the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia in support of his album. He is currently based and performs in Vancouver, B.C.
Face Value
Peter La Grand Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Seems like a stranger has taken my mind for his own
Come over here pinch me I must be dreaming
The air is so cold I see no friends in sight
I never thought they were lies
Listen to me I have a story of my own
Like Jesus Christ with just one kiss I was shown
There must have been signs that were clear from the start
But I was blind, I was blind, I was blind
I took your words at face value
I never thought they were lies
Eye for an eye just makes the whole world blind
But I understand how Cain could risk all that he had
Go be a saint if you think you can live that way
But it makes me choke to see you fake that righteousness
I didn't know you were only joking
I took all your lies for truth
The lyrics of Peter La Grand's song Face Value capture the feeling of betrayal when someone the singer trusted and believed in turns out to be deceitful. The opening line, "Stepping out in cold rain falling down," sets the tone for a somber and introspective mood. The singer feels lost and alone in the rain, as if a stranger has stolen their identity. They address the person who has hurt them directly, asking to be pinched to confirm that this isn't a dream. Despite the cold and isolation, the singer still looks for friends but finds none.
The chorus repeats the phrase "I took your words at face value; I never thought they were lies." This line emphasizes the singer's trust in the other person, highlighting how surprised and hurt they were by the deception. The second half of the chorus departs from this theme, drawing on religious imagery to suggest that the singer has learned a lesson from the experience. By referencing the story of Judas betraying Jesus with a kiss, the singer suggests that they were similarly betrayed by someone they considered a friend.
The bridge of the song is more confrontational, calling out the hypocrisy of the person who hurt the singer. The line "Go be a saint if you think you can live that way, but it makes me choke to see you fake that righteousness" highlights the frustration and anger the singer feels towards someone who may pretend to be morally righteous but is ultimately untrustworthy. The last line of the song, "I didn't know you were only joking, I took all your lies for truth," is a final condemnation of the person who deceived the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
Stepping out in cold rain falling down
I am stepping out into the cold and rainy weather.
Seems like a stranger has taken my mind for his own
I feel like I am not in control of my thoughts and actions anymore.
Come over here pinch me I must be dreaming
I can hardly believe what is happening to me and I feel like I must be dreaming.
The air is so cold I see no friends in sight
It is so cold outside that there is nobody around who I know.
I took your words at face value
I believed everything you told me without questioning it.
I never thought they were lies
I never imagined that what you said could be untrue.
Listen to me I have a story of my own
I have my own tale to tell.
Like Jesus Christ with just one kiss I was shown
I had an epiphany, a revelation that changed my perspective significantly.
There must have been signs that were clear from the start
I should have been able to see the warning signs from the beginning.
But I was blind, I was blind, I was blind
I was unaware of the truth despite the signs being clear and obvious.
Eye for an eye just makes the whole world blind
Retaliation only leads to more conflict and worsens the situation for everyone involved.
But I understand how Cain could risk all that he had
I empathize with people who take extreme actions and put everything at stake for their beliefs.
Go be a saint if you think you can live that way
If you believe you can be righteous and perfect, go ahead and try to live up to that standard.
But it makes me choke to see you fake that righteousness
But it repulses me to see someone pretending to be righteous when they are not.
I didn't know you were only joking
I did not realize that what you said was not serious.
I took all your lies for truth
I believed all your false statements, taking them as true.
Contributed by Adam P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.