Standing Still
Tarkio Lyrics
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Is how I measure the length that I must go
To outrun you standing still
A soft light and such delight
A nervous gesture
That dropped me to my knees
Now I wonder where you are tonight
A hard fall and through it all
I never felt so callous
A cut sleeve and to believe
And once again I walked home alone
This old world, it counts for nothing
I did all I could do
Now I won't accept your blessing
On this, our final night
Won't live to see the light
Of morning
So I cling to apron strings
As I recall my father's dying words
"Some girls are sweet
Some girls are wicked"
From this tree comes out red seed
An ugly cloister of flat foot, bookish boys
Who'd as soon kick you as kiss you
And this old world, it counts for nothing
I did all I could do
Now I won't accept your blessing
On this, our final night
I won't live to see the light
Of morning
An eight ball and two and all
Is how I measure the length that I must go
To outrun you standing still
The song Standing Still by Tarkio is a poignant exploration of regret and missed opportunities. The opening lines, "An eight ball and two and all / Is how I measure the length that I must go / To outrun you standing still" sets the tone for the rest of the song. The use of an eight ball is a reference to the game of pool, where the aim is to direct a black ball into a pocket. Here, it is being used as a metaphor for the ever-increasing distance that the singer must travel to escape their feelings of entrapment.
The second verse shifts the focus to a relationship that has been lost. The lines "A soft light and such delight / A nervous gesture / That dropped me to my knees / Now I wonder where you are tonight" paint a picture of a moment in time that the singer holds dear, but is now powerless to change. The third verse introduces the idea of acceptance and moving on from the past. The lines "This old world, it counts for nothing / I did all I could do / Now I won't accept your blessing" suggest that the singer has come to terms with their situation, and is no longer seeking validation or approval from others.
The final verse ties together the themes of the song, as the singer reflects on their upbringing and how it has influenced their life choices. The line "From this tree comes out red seed / An ugly cloister of flat foot, bookish boys / Who'd as soon kick you as kiss you" reveals a tragic cycle of generational trauma and missed opportunities. The repetition of the opening lines at the end of the song brings the listener back to the present moment, where the singer is still running from their past.
Line by Line Meaning
An eight ball and two and all
I use drugs and alcohol to numb myself as a coping mechanism.
Is how I measure the length that I must go
The extent of my addiction is the distance I need to travel to escape my problems.
To outrun you standing still
Even though I'm doing nothing, I still feel like I'm running away from something, most likely my own inner demons.
A soft light and such delight
I found comfort and happiness in something or someone, but it was fleeting.
A nervous gesture
I was anxious and unsure of myself in that moment.
That dropped me to my knees
This experience overwhelmed me emotionally and left me feeling helpless.
Now I wonder where you are tonight
I'm still haunted by the memory of that person or thing that brought me happiness.
A hard fall and through it all
Despite my struggles and failures, I never gave up.
I never felt so callous
My heart became hardened to protect itself from further emotional pain.
A cut sleeve and to believe
I was misled by someone or something that I trusted.
And once again I walked home alone
I'm used to feeling isolated and unsupported in my struggles.
This old world, it counts for nothing
I've lost faith in the world and in external sources of comfort or hope.
I did all I could do
I tried my best to fix my problems, but it didn't work.
Now I won't accept your blessing
I don't believe a higher power or other people can offer me the solutions I need.
On this, our final night
Tonight is significant because it marks the end of something important.
Won't live to see the light
I don't expect to survive much longer.
Of morning
I don't expect to see another day.
So I cling to apron strings
I turn to my upbringing and familial relationships for comfort and guidance.
As I recall my father's dying words
The final message from someone I loved and respected deeply still echoes in my mind.
"Some girls are sweet
My father's words were about relationships and the uncertain nature of people.
Some girls are wicked"
He warned me that people can't always be trusted to act in our best interests.
From this tree comes out red seed
I come from a family or community with a history of suffering and hardship.
An ugly cloister of flat foot, bookish boys
I associate masculinity with isolation, emotional unavailability, and intellectual pursuits.
Who'd as soon kick you as kiss you
Men are often unpredictable and can cause both physical and emotional harm.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: COLIN MELOY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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