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.
Van Tango had a mean old scene, Van Tango!
(Mean old scene, Van Tango)
Van Tango had a mean old scene, Van Tango!
(Mean old scene, Van Tango)
He worked night-shift at the opera
(Mean old scene, Van Tango)
Watching the girls go by
(Girls go by, Van Tango)
He's singled out tonight
(Singled out, Van Tango)
He's singled out every night
(Singled out, Van Tango)
Caretaker of the night
He's the king of the night
Caretaker of the night
He's the king of the night
Van Tango had a mean old scene, Van Tango!
(Mean old scene, Van Tango)
Van Tango had a mean old scene, Van Tango!
(Mean old scene, Van Tango)
He wore his quiff Venetian style
(Venetian style, Van Tango)
His fags were cheap, but with a filter
(Really cheap, Van Tango)
He don't suck up to no-one tonight
(Don't suck up, Van Tango)
He don't suck up to no-one at all
(Don't suck up, Van Tango)
Van Tango, Van Tango
Van Tango, Van Tan-Tan-Tan-Tan-Tango
Caretaker of the night
He's the king of the night
Caretaker of the night
He's the king of the night
Van Tango, Van Tango, Van Tan-Tan-Tan-Tan-Tango
Van Tango, Van Tango, Van Tan-Tan-Tan-Tan-Tango
(Mean old scene, Van Tango)
Van Tango had a mean old scene, Van Tango!
(Mean old scene, Van Tango)
He worked night-shift at the opera
(Mean old scene, Van Tango)
Watching the girls go by
(Girls go by, Van Tango)
He's singled out tonight
(Singled out, Van Tango)
He's singled out every night
(Singled out, Van Tango)
Caretaker of the night
He's the king of the night
Caretaker of the night
He's the king of the night
Van Tango had a mean old scene, Van Tango!
(Mean old scene, Van Tango)
Van Tango had a mean old scene, Van Tango!
(Mean old scene, Van Tango)
He wore his quiff Venetian style
(Venetian style, Van Tango)
His fags were cheap, but with a filter
(Really cheap, Van Tango)
He don't suck up to no-one tonight
(Don't suck up, Van Tango)
He don't suck up to no-one at all
(Don't suck up, Van Tango)
Van Tango, Van Tango
Van Tango, Van Tan-Tan-Tan-Tan-Tango
Caretaker of the night
He's the king of the night
Caretaker of the night
He's the king of the night
Van Tango, Van Tango, Van Tan-Tan-Tan-Tan-Tango
Van Tango, Van Tango, Van Tan-Tan-Tan-Tan-Tango
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w00t!