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.
Forty thousand headmen couldn't make me change my mind
If I had to take the choice between the deaf man and the blind
I know just where my feet should go and that's enough for me
I turned around and knocked them down and walked across the sea
Hadn't traveled very far, when suddenly I saw
Three small ships are sailing out towards a distant shore
So lighting up a cigarette, I followed in pursuit
And found a secret cave, where they obviously stashed their loot
Filling up my pockets, even stuffed it up my nose
I must have weighed a hundred tons between my head and toes
I ventured forth before the dawn, had time to change its mind
And soaring high above the clouds, I found a golden shrine
Laying down my treasure before the iron gate
Quickly rang the bell hoping I hadn't come too late
But someone came along and told me not to waste my time
And when I asked him, who he was, he said, "Just look behind"
So I turned around and forty thousand headmen hit the dirt
Firing twenty shotguns each and man it really hurt
But luckily for me they had to stop and then reload
And by the time they'd done that I was heading down the road
Heading down the road, forty thousand headmen
Going around the lane, going around the lane, around, around the lane
Forty thousand headmen on my trail, oh
If I had to take the choice between the deaf man and the blind
I know just where my feet should go and that's enough for me
I turned around and knocked them down and walked across the sea
Hadn't traveled very far, when suddenly I saw
Three small ships are sailing out towards a distant shore
So lighting up a cigarette, I followed in pursuit
And found a secret cave, where they obviously stashed their loot
Filling up my pockets, even stuffed it up my nose
I must have weighed a hundred tons between my head and toes
I ventured forth before the dawn, had time to change its mind
And soaring high above the clouds, I found a golden shrine
Laying down my treasure before the iron gate
Quickly rang the bell hoping I hadn't come too late
But someone came along and told me not to waste my time
And when I asked him, who he was, he said, "Just look behind"
So I turned around and forty thousand headmen hit the dirt
Firing twenty shotguns each and man it really hurt
But luckily for me they had to stop and then reload
And by the time they'd done that I was heading down the road
Heading down the road, forty thousand headmen
Going around the lane, going around the lane, around, around the lane
Forty thousand headmen on my trail, oh
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awesome song