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.
(doug) You told yourself something funny the other day
You said you can make you laugh
How can that be in your solid state
How can that be in your solid state
Don't say no
Just say you don't know
No don't say no
Just say you don't know
How can that be in your solid state
As you make it unreal
I'm reeling around the fountain
I'm reeling around the fountain
I still confide in you almost everyday
Even though you're not around
How can that be in your solid state
How can that be in your solid state
Don't say no
Just say you don't know
I'm reeling around the fountain
(calvin) Fill me up to the brim
And then learn to dance my hymn
Pull me apart limb by limb
Limb by limb
wrestle that bull heart from the grass
Pack my head and make it last
Do a little dance on the kitchen table
Rub your tummy and kill your navel
big city mouse with the factory wife
Do a little dance with the carving knife
Rub your tummy and stand apart
Negotiate a full service apple cart
All the others are cutting their hair
You keep it long and let them stare
Rub your tummy at the county fair
Innie, outie I don't care
Dosido to the head of the class
dosido to the head of the class
dosido to the head of the class
Virginia reel come around the mountain
Virginia reel around the mountain
Your savage
Your savage
Your savage cabbage leaf
Your savage cabbage leaf
Your savage
Your savage
Your savage cabbage leaf
Your savage
You're savage
riding in a steel rain (range?)
Simmering erasers in the passing lane
Shape of your navel is preordained
Antelope roaming through the bullet train
Throw a curve ball through my mask
...(?) black wooden Baseball bat
Here come the bunnies drinking sugar water
Do a little dance with the farmer's daughter
clear the room with a difficult task
Recite haiku Step on the gas
big city mouse with a hell of a mortgage
Wipe your tummy and crank up the orange
do a little dance with the carving knife
wipe up the floor with my Civil rights
Pull me apart make me pay
Innie, outie whatever you say
Virginia reel come around the mountain
Virginia reel around the fountain
Virginia reel as savage as you feel
You said you can make you laugh
How can that be in your solid state
How can that be in your solid state
Don't say no
Just say you don't know
No don't say no
Just say you don't know
How can that be in your solid state
As you make it unreal
I'm reeling around the fountain
I'm reeling around the fountain
I still confide in you almost everyday
Even though you're not around
How can that be in your solid state
How can that be in your solid state
Don't say no
Just say you don't know
I'm reeling around the fountain
(calvin) Fill me up to the brim
And then learn to dance my hymn
Pull me apart limb by limb
Limb by limb
wrestle that bull heart from the grass
Pack my head and make it last
Do a little dance on the kitchen table
Rub your tummy and kill your navel
big city mouse with the factory wife
Do a little dance with the carving knife
Rub your tummy and stand apart
Negotiate a full service apple cart
All the others are cutting their hair
You keep it long and let them stare
Rub your tummy at the county fair
Innie, outie I don't care
Dosido to the head of the class
dosido to the head of the class
dosido to the head of the class
Virginia reel come around the mountain
Virginia reel around the mountain
Your savage
Your savage
Your savage cabbage leaf
Your savage cabbage leaf
Your savage
Your savage
Your savage cabbage leaf
Your savage
You're savage
riding in a steel rain (range?)
Simmering erasers in the passing lane
Shape of your navel is preordained
Antelope roaming through the bullet train
Throw a curve ball through my mask
...(?) black wooden Baseball bat
Here come the bunnies drinking sugar water
Do a little dance with the farmer's daughter
clear the room with a difficult task
Recite haiku Step on the gas
big city mouse with a hell of a mortgage
Wipe your tummy and crank up the orange
do a little dance with the carving knife
wipe up the floor with my Civil rights
Pull me apart make me pay
Innie, outie whatever you say
Virginia reel come around the mountain
Virginia reel around the fountain
Virginia reel as savage as you feel
Lyrics submitted by killaimee
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just really pretty smartass play on words lyrics set to beautiful instrumentation. one of my all time favs
This is a very very good song.
So awesome how they both sing to form like one perfect song....awesome.....
this song is the coolest thing calvin johnson has ever done. a lot of the other halo benders songs are neat too but this is a classic.. one of my fav songs of all time.
The line "Do si do to the head of the class" is said in the song "Buttons To Push Buttons" by Modest Mouse.....
i just found this interesting cuz i love Modest Mouse and The Halo Benders...(and built to spill)
I love the fact that it is about belly buttons, yet I can still take it seriously.Lovely song.Can't really find a meaning in it though.
Do you think "How can that be in your solid state " is a question?
Are you sure it isn't "Fred Savage Cabbage Leaf?"
Pretty sure.