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.
Roll a gasper
The guard said he could stay alive
But he has to shovel
And burn his friends to die, people to die
And the gate read:
"Arbeit Macht Frei"
In her rollers
And a gasper
She's leaning the steps in a mean street
Where no policeman walks the beat
Her old man
He don't like blacks or queers
Yet he's proud we beat the Nazis?
How queer
Arbeit Macht Frei
The guard said he could stay alive
But he has to shovel
And burn his friends to die, people to die
And the gate read:
"Arbeit Macht Frei"
In her rollers
And a gasper
She's leaning the steps in a mean street
Where no policeman walks the beat
Her old man
He don't like blacks or queers
Yet he's proud we beat the Nazis?
How queer
Arbeit Macht Frei
Lyrics submitted by on_a_plain_11
Arbeit Macht Frei Lyrics as written by Peter Doherty
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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ok this is not what this song means to me but in MY SUBJECTIVE OPINION, what they were trying to say, for the record i think some reasonalbe info has been posted but ur wrong/off the mark lolol ok im messing but here goes, its not about the holocaust, but uses it as a metephor or refrence point, somone already described the line "The guard said he could stay alive But he has to shovel And burn his people to die - even if you die" pretty well, basically at the time they had to burry their own once the unlucky few were gassed and those that were used in work and labour were told hard workers would be set free, hence quelling a riot and keeping work going with false hope. Hence arbeit macht frei, german nationalist phrase from a book written in the 19th century if im right...this is basically showing the dirty side (only side) of nazism. Then the song says "In her rollers And a gasper Cleaning the steps in a mean street Where no policeman walks the beat" i think this is simply giving a idea of a typical working class situation probably in london or manchester, urban area, very rough etc, but could be anywhere in uk if we are honest. then the final and most buetifully written verse "(her old man) he don't like blacks or queers (yet he's proud he beat the nazis? - how queer...) " showing the IRONICY, that the father, though proud of beating the nazi regeim is no better! and the middle verse is more to say that this is the situation in england, this song is simply playing on ironicy,. CIAO! if you agree or disagree or want to correct me then feel free, life is a learning curve, If im wrong i wanna know!