~~~Present Tense~~~

aNiMaLaNiMaL Posts: 7,117
Do you see the way that tree bends?
Does it inspire?
Leaning out to catch the sun's rays
A lesson to be applied
Are you getting something out of this all-encompassing trip?

You can spend your time alone, re-digesting past regrets, oh
Or you can come to terms and realize
You're the only one who can't forgive yourself, oh
Makes much more sense, to live in the present tense

Have you ideas on how this life ends?
Checked your hands and studied the lines
Have you the belief that the road ahead, ascends off into the light?
Seems that needlessly it's getting harder
To find an approach and a way to live
Are we getting something out of this all-encompassing trip?

You can spend your time alone re-digesting past regrets, oh
Or you can come to terms and realize
You're the only one who cannot forgive yourself, oh
Makes much more sense, to live in the present tense
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • aNiMaLaNiMaL Posts: 7,117
    I have been really "feeling" this song recently. It speaks volumes, don't it?
  • dcfaithfuldcfaithful Posts: 13,076
    I really really love this song, but it meant so much more to me after I saw it live.

    Truly and amazing song.
    7/2/06 - Denver, CO
    6/12/08 - Tampa, FL
    8/23/09 - Chicago, IL
    9/28/09 - Salt Lake City, UT (11 years too long!!!)
    9/03/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 1
    9/04/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 2
  • aNiMaLaNiMaL Posts: 7,117
    dcfaithful wrote:
    I really really love this song, but it meant so much more to me after I saw it live.

    Truly and amazing song.
    When they played it on Live on Letterman last year I about died! And I was just watching on the webcast.
  • prayed to hear this one...
    I was heard at Wembley (L)
    Speaking as a child of the 90's
  • slightofjeffslightofjeff Posts: 7,762
    Have you ideas on how this life ends?
    Checked your hands and studied the lines
    Have you the belief that the road ahead, ascends off into the light?

    Some of my favorite ed lyrics ever ...
    everybody wants the most they can possibly get
    for the least they could possibly do
  • i like matt.ci like matt.c Posts: 1,122
    aNiMaL wrote:
    Have you the belief that the road ahead, ascends off into the light?
    Yes I do. What amazing lyrics. I love the whole Ed wasn't inspired and he thought of Pete Townshend and that's how he thought of Present Tense.
  • whispering handswhispering hands Posts: 13,527
    this song is my grounding song.. when ever I get too ahead of myself, I'll listen to this song and reground me self.. it's got some of the most powerful lyrics to it I love this song.. thanks for making me remember it.. now I'm gonna go listen to it
  • whispering handswhispering hands Posts: 13,527
    you're the only one who cannot forgive yourself............ yep that's me!! later all
  • PiCTuReKePTPiCTuReKePT Posts: 311
    it touches deeply to any person who listens to it for the first time.especially the ones who hear it by chance in places like bars etc. have their eyes stuck into a point until the song ends.
  • EraserheadEraserhead Posts: 2,937
    After hearing this at Wembley last week, it's now become my fave PJ song.

    No Code > YOU
    Manchester 04.06.00, Leeds 25.08.06, Wembley 18.06.07, Dusseldorf 21.06.07, Shepherds Bush 11.08.09, Manchester 17.08.09, Adelaide 17.11.09, Melbourne 20.11.09, Sydney 22.11.09, Brisbane 25.11.09, MSG1 20.05.10, MSG2 21.05.10, Dublin 22.06.10, Belfast 23.06.10, London 25.06.10, Long Beach 06.07.11 (EV), Los Angeles 08.07.11 (EV), Toronto 11.09.11, Toronto 12.09.11, Ottawa 14.09.11, Hamilton 14.09.11, Manchester 20.06.12, Manchester 21.06.12, Amsterdam 26.06.2012, Amsterdam 27.06.2012, Berlin 04.07.12, Berlin 05.07.12, Stockholm 07.07.12, Oslo 09.07.12, Copenhagen 10.07.12, Manchester 28.07.12 (EV), Brooklyn 18.10.13, Brooklyn 19.10.13, Philly 21.10.13, Philly 22.10.13, San Diego 21.11.13, LA 23.11.13, LA 24.11.13, Oakland 26.11.13, Portland 29.11.13, Spokane 30.11.13, Calgary 02.12.13, Vancouver 04.12.13, Seattle 06.12.13, Trieste 22.06.14, Vienna 25.06.14, Berlin 26.06.14, Stockholm 28.06.14, Leeds 08.07.14, Philly 28.04.16, Philly 28.04.16, MSG1 01.05.16, MSG2 02.05.16
  • prodacakeprodacake Posts: 319
    one of my favourite songs

    "Have you the belief that the road ahead, ascends off into the light"

    i wish i did
  • IGotShit76IGotShit76 Posts: 768
    The lyrics are just amazing.
    I do live with past regrets and re-digest them quite often and this songs reminds me that I need to move forward.
    I heard it live at Wembley for the first time and I just hope for a bootleg ! This version was pure magic.
  • dannydanny Posts: 2,279
    aNiMaL wrote:
    Do you see the way that tree bends?
    Does it inspire?
    Leaning out to catch the sun's rays
    A lesson to be applied
    Are you getting something out of this all-encompassing trip?

    You can spend your time alone, re-digesting past regrets, oh
    Or you can come to terms and realize
    You're the only one who can't forgive yourself, oh
    Makes much more sense, to live in the present tense

    Have you ideas on how this life ends?
    Checked your hands and studied the lines
    Have you the belief that the road ahead, ascends off into the light?
    Seems that needlessly it's getting harder
    To find an approach and a way to live
    Are we getting something out of this all-encompassing trip?

    You can spend your time alone re-digesting past regrets, oh
    Or you can come to terms and realize
    You're the only one who cannot forgive yourself, oh
    Makes much more sense, to live in the present tense
    ah fucking love it
    danny d
  • Love this song its one of their best for sure.
  • RyeGuyRyeGuy Posts: 215
    Ed's lyrics are just so increadible and tangible sometimes.
    "Makes much more sense to live in the present tense." Ed Ved

    "No one cares about climbing stairs, Nothing at the top no more." Chris Cornell
  • CornishManCornishMan Posts: 447
    My favourite PJ song changes all the time, but this is the song that is my favourite the most often. Awesome version at Wembley a couple weeks ago, and it is the only No Code song I have ever heard live in three shows!
    London #1 2000, Reading 2006, London 2007, London 2009, London 2010, Manchester #1 2012, Manchester #2 2012, Manchester 2012 (EV), Milton Keynes 2014, London #2 2017 (EV), London #1 2018, London #2 2018, London #1 2022, London #2 2022, Manchester 2024.
  • Ms. HaikuMs. Haiku Posts: 7,265
    I haven't had a chance to look at the lyrics, but if I'm running a short distance then I skip it. If I'm running a long distance I stick through it as the final part is the energetic part musically. That part doesn't occur fast enough for a short run. When I'm running a longer distance I really like it as a running song, though.
    There is no such thing as leftover pizza. There is now pizza and later pizza. - anonymous
    The risk I took was calculated, but man, am I bad at math - The Mincing Mockingbird
  • eldermanelderman Posts: 180
    They dont play it enough live. I still remember the first time I heard it on No Code all of 11 years ago, just an amazing track off an amazing album.
  • romybianromybian Posts: 1,644
    this song has (gently) slapped me in the face so many times!. It's like that good friend that'll tell you what you don't wanna hear cause no matter what, you need to hear it.
    Have cried to it at least 2 or 3 times....
    Amazing.
    "The joke in your language won't come out the same" (Tom Petty)
    I'm no dude! Dudette!
  • danielheyesdanielheyes Posts: 362
    this is the song id most like to see done live,sadly i dont think that day will come,thought i might have had it at nijmegen but it wasnt to be.

    one the pj moments that still chokes me everytime.........
    When I was born, the doctor came out to the waiting room and said to my father, I'm very sorry. We did everything we could. But he pulled through......
  • PJSEMPREPJSEMPRE Posts: 687
    Amazing song!
    The final part always give me goosebumps.
    Let's say knowledge is a tree, yeah.
    It's growing up just like me.
  • MLB5150MLB5150 Posts: 70
    Their best song, nuff said.

    They need to play it with a clean guitar live though, with a lot of reverb just like YL.
    "Who did you say you were, replacing might for miracles?" - ajc
  • slightofjeffslightofjeff Posts: 7,762
    elderman wrote:
    They dont play it enough live. I still remember the first time I heard it on No Code all of 11 years ago, just an amazing track off an amazing album.

    they've been playing the hell out of it of late. I heard it three times in five shows on the '06 tour.
    everybody wants the most they can possibly get
    for the least they could possibly do
  • I saw it live at Wembley... cried like a bitch! studio version and live is amazing.... nuff said.
    Been to this many PJ shows: Reading 2006 London 2007 Manchester & London 2009 Dublin, Belfast, London, Nijmegen & Berlin 2010 Manchester 1 & Manchester 2 2012...

    ... and I still think Drive-By Truckers are better.
  • markymark550markymark550 Posts: 5,154
    I love this song and it was one of the best moments during my first ever PJ concert back in 2000.
  • One of PJ's best songs. The lyrics are just so damn meaningful.
    "Strangers passing in the street, by chance two seperate glances meet, and I am you and what I see is me."
Sign In or Register to comment.