In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Brucie dreams life's a highway too many roads bypass my way
Or they never begin. innocence coming to grief
At the hands of life - stinkin' car thief, that's my concept of sin
Does heaven wait all heavenly over the next horizon '
But look at us now, quit driving, some things hurt more much more than cars and girls.
Just look at us now, start counting, what adds up the way it did when we were young '
Look at us now, quit driving, some things hurt much more than cars and girls.
Life's a drive through a dust bowl, what's it do, do to a young soul
We are deeply concerned, someone stops for directions,
Something responds deep in our engines, we have all been burned
Will heaven wait all heavenly over the next horizon '
But look at us now, quit driving, some things hurt more much more than cars and girls.
Just look at us now, start counting, what adds up the way it did when we were young '
Look at us now, quit driving, some things hurt much more than cars and girls.
Little boy got a hot rod, thinks it makes him some kind of new god
Well this is one race he won't win,
'cos life's no cruise with a cool chick
Too many folks feelin' car sick, but it never pulls in.
Brucie's thoughts - pretty streamers
- guess this world needs it's dreamers may they never wake up.
But look at us now, quit driving, some things hurt more much more than cars and girls.
Just look at us now, start counting, what adds up the way it did when we were young '
Look at us now, quit driving, some things hurt much more than cars and girls.
But look at us now, quit driving, some things hurt more much more than cars and girls.
Just look at us now, start counting, what adds up the way it did when we were young ''
Look at us now, quit driving, some things hurt much more than cars and girls.
Or they never begin. innocence coming to grief
At the hands of life - stinkin' car thief, that's my concept of sin
Does heaven wait all heavenly over the next horizon '
But look at us now, quit driving, some things hurt more much more than cars and girls.
Just look at us now, start counting, what adds up the way it did when we were young '
Look at us now, quit driving, some things hurt much more than cars and girls.
Life's a drive through a dust bowl, what's it do, do to a young soul
We are deeply concerned, someone stops for directions,
Something responds deep in our engines, we have all been burned
Will heaven wait all heavenly over the next horizon '
But look at us now, quit driving, some things hurt more much more than cars and girls.
Just look at us now, start counting, what adds up the way it did when we were young '
Look at us now, quit driving, some things hurt much more than cars and girls.
Little boy got a hot rod, thinks it makes him some kind of new god
Well this is one race he won't win,
'cos life's no cruise with a cool chick
Too many folks feelin' car sick, but it never pulls in.
Brucie's thoughts - pretty streamers
- guess this world needs it's dreamers may they never wake up.
But look at us now, quit driving, some things hurt more much more than cars and girls.
Just look at us now, start counting, what adds up the way it did when we were young '
Look at us now, quit driving, some things hurt much more than cars and girls.
But look at us now, quit driving, some things hurt more much more than cars and girls.
Just look at us now, start counting, what adds up the way it did when we were young ''
Look at us now, quit driving, some things hurt much more than cars and girls.
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I've heard this was a subtle dig at Springsteen, but I really think it goes a lot deeper than that. Basically, it's a story of ' life's a bitch ' . A story of how the fun things in life are far too often overshadowed by the bad. The writer tells how he is a realist, looking at life in terms of grim realities and harsh truths, and ends by suggesting that there are those who will ignore these regardless and hopefully they'll never see the truth ( Pretty streamers - guess this world needs its' dreamers, may they never wake up! ) Never fai to be moved to tears by the haunting last verse - Little boy got a hot rod.. etc. So close to the truth it's not funny. Young and indestructible, but ignorant to that harsh reality of life. Perhaps the greatest lyric ever in the history of popular music, by the greatest ever lyricist. Paddy McAloon is a genius.