It's Not What They Said lyrics

This song is inspiring on so many levels. I can't get enough of this band!

this song is awesome!!! i love framing hanley...
i love it all

It's about a person taking the blame for another. That's where the
"If I could be the man on your shoulder
A God as you grow older.
I'd sleep so much easier tonight."
They wish that they could have helped their friend/child/significant other with their problems before it was too late.

Now they can only advise them to wait it out until they make it through.
"Close your eyes, they'll tell a story,
Of happy endings.
Close your eyes, re-write the story,
A new beginning."

The trouble seems to have come from someone lying to their friend.
"It's not what they said, and it's not what we read
And all the promises they made us,
Are all shattered on the ground.
It's not what they said, and it's not what we read
And all the promises they made us,
Are all shattered on the ground."

They are shocked that their friend had been misled so easily.
"Your defense,
You've done no wrong
And live life in innocence,
So how could they have looked you in the eye"

The friend fell for it when the others lied to them and told them to go one way.
"It's on the ground.
And when the cards are down,
Well it's time to play, it's hard to say.
So bet all call."

The friend finds out about the lies and being misled at the end.
"Everything they told us
Has always been so wrong,
So wrong, so wrong.
So wrong"