What is the song "A Lifetime" by Better Than Era about?

Question

What does it mean?

Answer 1

Judging by the lyrics, I would say a guy's girlfriend died in a car crash. He went to the wake and stole her ashes and poured them into the sea. Part of the song is him remembering the times they spent together. Another part is the parent's of the girl going to the guy's house to "talk" to him, I guess?.. The 3 and a half minutes is about the REM song.

Answer 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJIMUh0TU6Q

Allie woke up 8AM, Graduation day
Got into a car, crashed along the way

We arrived late to the wake, stole the urn while they looked away
And drove to the beach
'cause I knew you'd want it that way

And you were standing
On the hood of the car
Singing out loud
When the sun came up

And I know I wasn't right
But it felt so good
And your mother didn't mind
Like I thought she would
And that REM song was playing in my mind
And three and a half minutes
Felt like a lifetime

Felt like a lifetime

And you move like water
I could drown in you
And I fell so deep once
'Till you pulled me through

You would tell me, "No one is allowed to be so proud, they never reach out, when they're giving up"

And I know I wasn't right
But it felt so good
And your mother didn't mind
Like I thought she would
And that REM song was playing in my mind
And three and a half minutes
Felt like a lifetime

Are you sitting in the lights?
Or combing your hair again?
And talking in rhymes?
Are you standing in the lights?

When I got home, heard the phone, your parents had arrived
And your dad set his jaw, your mom just smiled and sighed

(And you move like water)
But they left soon, and I went to my room
Played that disc that you'd given me
And I shut my eyes
Swear I could hear the sea

And we were standing
On the hood of your car
Singing out loud when the sun came up

And I know I wasn't right,
But it felt so good.
And your mother didn't mind,
Like I thought she would.
And that REM song was playing in my mind
And three and a half minutes
Three and a half minutes

Felt like a lifetime