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.
You were
Modern girls always have to go (right on time)
Old-fashioned men always want a mistress (you were right)
Modern girls always get their way (I was wrong)
Modern men dream of what they can't say (that's alright)
Right? Right? Right? Right? Right?
I don't belong (I don't belong)
Why you gotta say it if you know it's something wrong? (Why're you sitting over there?)
Says that he'll apologize and it won't take too long
Well, you don't wanna trust nobody else (always thinking 'bout yourself)
(Time)
There's a few things that are gonna have to change (I'm your son)
Everyone has the same opinion (won't you please?)
Your time is almost over (don't be mean)
We won't get the chance to do this over (that's alright)
Right? Right? Right? Right? Right?
I don't belong (I don't belong)
I don't want the imprint of your key upon my nose (why're you sitting over there?)
You don't have to tell no one 'cause no one wants to know
That you don't have no happiness at all (always thinking 'bout yourself)
Oh yes, we're falling down
Oh yes, we're falling down
Oh yes, we're falling down
Oh yes, we're falling down
Oh yes, we're falling down
Oh yes, we're falling down
Oh yes, we're falling down
So fucking help me up
Always thinking 'bout yourself (you don't love me)
Always thinking 'bout yourself (I am an animal)
Always thinking 'bout yourself (I am not practical)
Was I?
Modern girls always have to go (right on time)
Old-fashioned men always want a mistress (you were right)
Modern girls always get their way (I was wrong)
Modern men dream of what they can't say (that's alright)
Right? Right? Right? Right? Right?
I don't belong (I don't belong)
Why you gotta say it if you know it's something wrong? (Why're you sitting over there?)
Says that he'll apologize and it won't take too long
Well, you don't wanna trust nobody else (always thinking 'bout yourself)
(Time)
There's a few things that are gonna have to change (I'm your son)
Everyone has the same opinion (won't you please?)
Your time is almost over (don't be mean)
We won't get the chance to do this over (that's alright)
Right? Right? Right? Right? Right?
I don't belong (I don't belong)
I don't want the imprint of your key upon my nose (why're you sitting over there?)
You don't have to tell no one 'cause no one wants to know
That you don't have no happiness at all (always thinking 'bout yourself)
Oh yes, we're falling down
Oh yes, we're falling down
Oh yes, we're falling down
Oh yes, we're falling down
Oh yes, we're falling down
Oh yes, we're falling down
Oh yes, we're falling down
So fucking help me up
Always thinking 'bout yourself (you don't love me)
Always thinking 'bout yourself (I am an animal)
Always thinking 'bout yourself (I am not practical)
Was I?
Lyrics submitted by geekusa, edited by therefore1
Modern Girls & Old Fashion Men Lyrics as written by Julian Casablancas
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Well this is my guess about this song's lyric.
"You were right Right on time You were right I was wrong That's alright I don't belong"
First she says that he was right on time, and that she wasnt, though, it is alright because she doesnt belong to his 'old fashioned world'(mind), but neither does he to her 'modern world" (mind)
"Modern girls always have to go Old-fashioned men always want a mistress Modern girls always get their way Modern men dream of what they can't say"
Maybe here he is saying that guys are old fashioned because they are searching for 'romance' and girls are modern because nowadays they are more expontaneous about showing their feelings and sexuality. but when guys get bored, modern girls have to go because they notice that what they really need is an old-fashioned girl like them. to take care of them, and not just for fun. But maybe they fell in love with some of this women and they cant say how they're feeling because they cant deal with it, and so they keep sending them away...
"Why you sitting over there?"
He tends to ignore her just due to the fact that he 'doesnt belong'.
"Why you gotta say it If you know it's sounding wrong Says that he'll apologize And it won't take too long"
he likes her, but he also ignores her and she knows that, so she hopes that he'll apologize, soon, because he likes her.
"Always thinking about yourself"
He "doesnt care" about her feelings.
"Why you sitting over there? I don't want the imprint of your key on my nose We don't have to tell no one Cause no one wants to know Always thinking about yourself You don't have no happiness at home"
She wants keep seeing him but he doesnt, he wants to leave her behind. He thinks that she is making a big deal out of the thing but she keeps saying that really likes him, but he only thinks about himself and ignores her.
"You don't love me I am an animal I am not practical"
here she is more like obssessed with him. she keeps saying that she loves him, and thinking to herself how much she wants him (being wild, sexual, crazy, inconscious...) and that she is more than what he knows about her. she is complicated and he might not understand her completly.
In the end both keep saying: "Always thinking about yourself" and then: "Was I?"
Because they realise that maybe thet should have paid more attention to each other's situations and thoughts, than just saying how they felt.
not really sure about the 'im your son' thing... son of his land? his own blood? :S