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.
See the way he walks down the street
Watch the way he shuffles his feet
How he holds his head up high
When he goes walking by why, why, why, why, why
He's my guy
When he holds my hand I'm so proud
Cause he's not just one of the crowd
I bet he's always the one
To try the things I've never done
And just because of that they will say, Hey!
[Chorus]
He's a rebel and he'll never ever be, any good
He's a rebel cause he never ever does, what he should
And just because he doesn't do what, everybody else does
That's no reason why I can't give him all my love
He is always good to me, always treats me tenderly
He's not a rebel, no, no, no
He's not a rebel, no, no, no, to me
If they don't like him that way
They won't like me after today
I'll be standing right by his side, when they say
[Chorus]
He is always good to me, always treats me tenderly
He's not a rebel, no, no, no
He's not a rebel, no, no, no, to me
(He's not a rebel - no-no-no)
No-no-no
(he's not a rebel, no, no, no)
(he's not a rebel, no, no, no)
No-no-no
(He's not a rebel, no, no, no) [Repeats]
Watch the way he shuffles his feet
How he holds his head up high
When he goes walking by why, why, why, why, why
He's my guy
When he holds my hand I'm so proud
Cause he's not just one of the crowd
I bet he's always the one
To try the things I've never done
And just because of that they will say, Hey!
[Chorus]
He's a rebel and he'll never ever be, any good
He's a rebel cause he never ever does, what he should
And just because he doesn't do what, everybody else does
That's no reason why I can't give him all my love
He is always good to me, always treats me tenderly
He's not a rebel, no, no, no
He's not a rebel, no, no, no, to me
If they don't like him that way
They won't like me after today
I'll be standing right by his side, when they say
[Chorus]
He is always good to me, always treats me tenderly
He's not a rebel, no, no, no
He's not a rebel, no, no, no, to me
(He's not a rebel - no-no-no)
No-no-no
(he's not a rebel, no, no, no)
(he's not a rebel, no, no, no)
No-no-no
(He's not a rebel, no, no, no) [Repeats]
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