Golden
Red House Painters Lyrics
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There's a golden place
Where the angels crash and die
You can jab and poke
But what did you ever give?
I don't hear your voice
Resonate like his
You were endless fuel
Burning fast and burning free
Not a wide eyed fool
That fell into the sea
That vanished in the sea
You're alive and good St. John
As the AM waves the horn [unverified]
You belong as much to me
As as the ships do to the sea
As as the ships do to the sea
You're the corner stone
Filled my room with sun
When the polished vinyl spun
I will see your face
Crashing down against the wind
And it's a sadder place
When that crackling vinyl spins
When the crackling vinyl spins
You still living good St. John
High up in the yellow sun
We can find your vacant grin
In every thread store bin
You're a dime-a-dozen man
You're a dime-a-dozen man
And you're far beyond me
But your dreams touch so soon
And you're life was big and for
Like your words so beautiful
Dumb de dumb de dumb
Always echo across the world
The lyrics to Red House Painters' "Golden" are a poignant and melancholic reflection on the beauty and fragility of life. The song starts with the image of the singer's sister waking him up as someone falls out of the sky. This mysterious figure is referred to as "him" and is described as having a voice that resonates. The chorus speaks of a golden place where angels crash and die, a place where life is fragile and prone to sudden endings. The singer contrasts this with the endless fuel of the fallen figure, someone who burned fast and free.
The song is also a tribute to the memory of a man named St. John. He is described as being like a corner stone, filling the singer's room with sun, and his presence is evoked by the sound of vinyl spinning. The singer expresses a kinship with St. John, believing that he belongs to him as much as the ships belong to the sea. In the final stanza, the singer reflects on St. John's life and how it was big and beautiful, like his words. Though St. John is far beyond the singer, his dreams still touch him and his words echo across the world.
The beauty of "Golden" lies in its vivid imagery and the emotional weight that each line carries. The song's themes of life and death, memory and loss, and the enduring impact of those we leave behind are universal and timeless. Red House Painters' masterful use of language and poetic metaphor creates a powerful and evocative portrait of a life lived and remembered.
Line by Line Meaning
Sister woke me up as he fell out of the sky
I was awakened by the news of my friend's sudden death.
There's a golden place
Where the angels crash and die
There's a special place where people who are highly regarded and respected meet a tragic end.
You can jab and poke
But what did you ever give?
You can criticize and find fault in others, but what have you ever done yourself to make a positive impact?
I don't hear your voice
Resonate like his
Hear it resonate like his
I don't hear your voice carry the same weight and impact as his did.
You were endless fuel
Burning fast and burning free
Not a wide eyed fool
That fell into the sea
That vanished in the sea
You had boundless energy and passion, but you weren't naive enough to fall for anything and everything that came your way.
You're alive and good St. John
As the AM waves the horn [unverified]
You belong as much to me
As as the ships do to the sea
As as the ships do to the sea
Even though you're gone, your memory still lives on and holds a special place in my heart.
You're the corner stone
Filled my room with sun
When the polished vinyl spun
I will see your face
You were an integral part of my life and brought light and joy into my world.
Crashing down against the wind
And it's a sadder place
When that crackling vinyl spins
When the crackling vinyl spins
Life feels empty and bleak without you, and even listening to music that we used to share isn't the same.
You still living good St. John
High up in the yellow sun
We can find your vacant grin
In every thread store bin
You're a dime-a-dozen man
You're a dime-a-dozen man
Your presence may no longer be with us, but the memories and traces of you still remain in the everyday things around us, reminding us that you were just as special and unique as anyone else.
And you're far beyond me
But your dreams touch so soon
And you're life was big and for
Like your words so beautiful
Dumb de dumb de dumb
Always echo across the world
You may have accomplished more than I ever could, but your aspirations and ideas still inspire and impact the world, and your legacy lives on.
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Mark Edward Kozelek
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind