Enough For Now Lyrics
He's not longer with us but he left this dusty room
In your name and it's an honor, it's a shame but it's your honor
Take it on your shoulder 'til you can find another
He should've held you, things your father never could do
That's enough for now, he would've never left you broken
He would've held you, things your father never told you
Years and years he waited just watching for a son
For someone to go ahead, take the name he said
Years and years he waited and a daughter came instead
He should've held you, things your father never could do
That's enough for now, he would've never left you broken
He would've held you, things your father never told you
Except for twice
One begins and one's goodbye
Left my mothers mother without so much as a kiss
He would've held you, things your father never told you
That's enough for now, I would've never left you broken
I would've held you, things your father never could do
Words your father never told you
Left my mother's mother without so much as a kiss
That's enough for now, he should've never left you broken He should've held you, things your father never could do That's enough for now, he would've never left you broken He would've held you, things your father never told you
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I think this song is written from Isaac's perspective, to his mother. This song has been quoted as being about his grandfather's death. I believe there's a hint of bitterness here. It doesn't sound like he was the most self-actualized or emotionally generous person.
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The century before you never could turn 21 Years and years he waited just watching for a son For someone to go ahead, take the name he said Years and years he waited and a daughter came instead
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This is heartbreaking. If his grandson could've observed that he wanted a son and not a daughter (His mother), his prejudice and/or bitterness must have been so overwhelmingly obvious. It's heartbreaking to think about. Truly.
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But that's enough for now, he should've never left you broken He should've held you, things your father never could do That's enough for now, he would've never left you broken He would've held you, things your father never told you
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I think this is supposed to be comforting to his mother. The pain is over now; he should've done things differently, he owed you so much more than he was capable of, he was an incapable father, but it's over now...
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Sixty years of sorrow he got five or six of bliss Left my mothers mother without so much as a kiss
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To his grandma, he realizes she was a victim of his "abuse" as well, though it doesn't specifically state how far it stems. How can this man have not kissed his wife goodbye?
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But that's enough for now, he never wanted to leave you broken He would've held you, things your father never told you That's enough for now, I would've never left you broken I would've held you, things your father never could do Words your father never told you
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Oh Jesus. The poor guy starts blaming himself, perhaps some sort of self awareness made him realize he's abandoned his own family. It seems as though he realizes that his grandfather would have wanted things done differently. Isaac wants to believe that his grandfather had better intentions, that he was truly a feeling being deep down.
This song really strikes a chord with my because my own father inspires the same feelings in me. His callousness is really inexcusable, but nothing I say or do will make my little brother and sister feel less pain. I moved to a different state for a few years and I do continually blame myself for not being there for them. I can save them. I can fix them. I can look after them. It's not too late for me; but it sounds too late for Isaac. For that? I can't imagine how he must feel.
Wow. That's a truly wonderful interpritation. Good job!
Wow. That's a truly wonderful interpritation. Good job!
Your general interpretation is basically how I see it too. I had initially thought he was talking about his great-grandfather (father) and his grandmother daughter). But it makes perfect sense that it's his grandfather and mother.
Your general interpretation is basically how I see it too. I had initially thought he was talking about his great-grandfather (father) and his grandmother daughter). But it makes perfect sense that it's his grandfather and mother.
I think this song is actually to his grandmother. When it says "left my mother's mother without so much as a kiss" it's saying he died without ever showing his daughter -not wife- or giving any signs that he loved her. The whole song is about the dads daughter, not about his wife so i don't think at the bridge of the song he would've suddenly brought in his wife.
I think this song is actually to his grandmother. When it says "left my mother's mother without so much as a kiss" it's saying he died without ever showing his daughter -not wife- or giving any signs that he loved her. The whole song is about the dads daughter, not about his wife so i don't think at the bridge of the song he would've suddenly brought in his wife.
It doesn't really seem like it would make sense anyways. Because obviously he loved his wife or else he wouldn't have stayed with her for all those years...
It doesn't really seem like it would make sense anyways. Because obviously he loved his wife or else he wouldn't have stayed with her for all those years when he wanted a son. And he died. He loved his wife at some point at least, and obviously kissed her at sometime.
omg i am in love with this song. so much emotion....
it makes sense that it's about his grandfather... but I interpret it as being about a girl who has a troubled relationship with her father, and this guy is there to fill in the gaps in her life. but then the father dies and she feels guilty ("He's not longer with us but he left this dusty room, In your name and it's an honor, it's a shame but it's your honor, Take it on your shoulder 'til you can find another").
Another good interpritation. It could be either one, depending on how you look at it. Songs mean different things to different people.
Another good interpritation. It could be either one, depending on how you look at it. Songs mean different things to different people.
The only part of the song that would make that confusing is the "left my mother's mother"
The only part of the song that would make that confusing is the "left my mother's mother"
But the concept you're implying is actually really interesting not to mention powerful.
But the concept you're implying is actually really interesting not to mention powerful.
i took my fathers last name when i was born (in your name and it's an honor) now he's gone and i have a lot of anger towards him (it's a shame but its your honor) i have to deal with it (take it on your shoulder) until i get married and i can change my last name (til you can find another)
breathing comes in pairs (you inhale and then you exhale) except for twice one begins and ones goodbye (exhale when your born....you never finish your last breath when you die you inhale and you're gone)
i love your interpretation. i never thought of it like that, its amazing.
i love your interpretation. i never thought of it like that, its amazing.
yeah! i always wondered about the "breathing comes in pairs, except for twice" thing, but that makes sense.
yeah! i always wondered about the "breathing comes in pairs, except for twice" thing, but that makes sense.
The first post by zombiemoxie is absolutely dead on. I agree 100%. There's nothing more that needs to be said on the song's meaning.
The first post by zombiemoxie is absolutely dead on. I agree 100%. There's nothing more that needs to be said on the song's meaning.
Personally, I'm the father of a six month old daughter and the thought that anybody could be displeased by a daughter really hurts me. It strikes me in the most visceral way as being so incredibly sad. She just lights up my life and it makes me sad that somebody would willingly choose to miss that. The author's grandfather missed out on so much in raising his daughter, and doubly so in losing out...
Personally, I'm the father of a six month old daughter and the thought that anybody could be displeased by a daughter really hurts me. It strikes me in the most visceral way as being so incredibly sad. She just lights up my life and it makes me sad that somebody would willingly choose to miss that. The author's grandfather missed out on so much in raising his daughter, and doubly so in losing out on having a terrific musician as a grandson.
I presume this song is grounded in truth because you can really hear his heart as he sings. If it isn't true then I'm even more impressed with the Fray for creating this amazing fiction that solicits such an emotional reaction from me.
I love this song cause it can mean so many different things to people. One of the things i thought it may be about is:
A man fell in love with a woman and they were together for 5-6 years and had a young daughter but then the woman fell in love with another man but when he found out about the other man he left without so much as a kiss, while the other man and the woman got married and carrired on in life. I also this fits in with this verse
The century before you never could turn 21 Years and years he waited just watching for a son For someone to go ahead, take the name he said Years and years he waited and a daughter came instead
First of all i always thought 'son' to be 'sun' as i believe it changes the whole verse. I think the first two lines are about how the man waited so long to fall in love and have a child but when he did, the child probably took the other mans name which fits in with the 2nd and 3rd line, or maybe this could be about the fact that the other man took is child or his girlfriend. And i think the fourth means that after this he waited so long to fall in love again or have is woman back but then his daughter grown up turns up instead.
Last but not least i think this is about birth and death and is the verse that also maybe lead me to think that the father had died at the begining and that actualy fits the song to, but it always fits dying at the end.
Breathing comes in pairs Except for twice One begins and one's goodbye
I think the lines are about birth and death, ow you always breath in and breath out except for your first breath and your last, so it could be about of you're going with the man dying at the start how his daughter was born as he died or maybe how his duaghter life is now starting in this new house while his ends.
This brings me to the chorus
That's enough for now, he should've never left you broken He should've held you, things your father never could do That's enough for now, he would've never left you broken He would've held you, things your father never told you
I think the first bit is how the father should of stayed in touch with his daughter despite the break up, but because he wasnt they were things that he could never do. The second verse is about the fact that if the father was given the chance to stay with his child he would of but he never got the chance to tell his daughter this before he died. But i think that's enough for now is saying that he didnt do that the fact that he would of is enough.
The daughter's father watches, quietly we assume He's not longer with us but he left this dusty room In your name and it's an honor, it's a shame but it's your honor Take it on your shoulder 'til you can find another
The last verse i think actualy fits the end of the story, how after the daughter found her father while much older maybe she had a son, but her father now old died, which i think think is what the first line fits her father his still watching looking over his daughter and son and he left them his house in her name to honour and show the fact that he did care about his daughter, and i think he saying to the daughter to take this house until she can move on and find another.
But that's enough for now, he never wanted to leave you broken He would've held you, things your father never told you That's enough for now, I would've never left you broken I would've held you, things your father never could do Words your father never told you
I think this verse is telling the daughter that he never actualy wanted to leave his daughter wihtout a father and how presumable the grandson (the story teller in this song 'left my mothers mother')is telling his mum that.
Anyway this is just one of the million interpritations of the song going thru ma head and i believe this is going to be one of the songs that mean different things to different people as i said i love this song and sorry for the spelling.
sorry i just relizedthat i actualy wrote the last but not least bit halfway thru sorry lool pretend its at the end i messed up a bit
sorry i just relizedthat i actualy wrote the last but not least bit halfway thru sorry lool pretend its at the end i messed up a bit
Both of your comments make sense. It seems like there's more toward the mother approach, but the girl taking a new name also is good. Such a terribly tragic song.
I agree partially with the first poster's comments... But I think that his grandfather had chronic depression: "Sixty years of sorrow he got five or six of bliss Left my mothers mother without so much as a kiss"
I think this partially led to abuse from his end leading to him not being the best father to his mother.
That makes sense.
That makes sense.
In an interview, about this song, Isaac says:
"I felt lost [dealing with the fallout from the death of his beloved grandfather], all these emotions and these songs came out. But then 12 months ago, I was talking to a friend of mine who gave me some perspective on it and some books to read. I realised I was seeing only the pure realism of it all and there is good in life still, even if people die or jave miscarriages, whatever. And i began to have hope again"
some of these lyrics are at the very end of Where The Story Ends. does anyone know why?
I've noticed that too, and I don't know why it's there. Good question.
I've noticed that too, and I don't know why it's there. Good question.
I think its just part of the emotion to the song... The way that part is played and sang, it has a lot of emotion in it and it makes you feel that its grounded in truth.
I think its just part of the emotion to the song... The way that part is played and sang, it has a lot of emotion in it and it makes you feel that its grounded in truth.
The lyrics at the end of "Where the Story Ends" are not exactly the same as any in "Enough for Now." From what I could tell, there is a line about "looking out a window as if he was watching his own son." I wonder if this is his grandfather looking at the narrator (grandson) as though he was the son he never got though he waited "for years and years...and a daughter came instead." If that is the case that could be the "5 or 6 [years] of bliss" (i.e., his grandfather died when he was 5 or 6...
The lyrics at the end of "Where the Story Ends" are not exactly the same as any in "Enough for Now." From what I could tell, there is a line about "looking out a window as if he was watching his own son." I wonder if this is his grandfather looking at the narrator (grandson) as though he was the son he never got though he waited "for years and years...and a daughter came instead." If that is the case that could be the "5 or 6 [years] of bliss" (i.e., his grandfather died when he was 5 or 6 years old)...but that might be a stretch.
This is a great song. He seems to be talking to his mother in this, and refers to his grandfather (her father). It's very heartfelt. I love it. My favorite Fray song.
If you listen the whole CD through, you notice that there's the little Intro to this song at the end of "Where the Story Ends". To me that adds to the song, it gives so much passion and heartfelt emotion to this song... And i think its something that Isaac feels very emotionally about in his heart and its definitely a song written out of personal experiances. And I like both explanations for the song, and i kind of can relate to both the grandfather and the girl friend's father instances. An all around well written song.