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.
Don’t often open up this floor
Since I handed in my gun
What all these keys are for
Now my tour of duty’s done
You got to know the switches
Now you got your turn
Watch and learn, junior
Watch and learn
Now you will get your
Trouble spots
Here’s one from
Down voodoo way
Bragged he had me
By the you-know-whats
Very funny, you don’t say
The big enchilada
Stealing elections
Had to go down there
Trash collection
Got his cojones
On my desk in there
Made into a souvenir
Set of cufflinks, nice pair
The rest of him’s
Someplace up here
Sometimes you got to
Put a shoulder to the door
Not so fast, junior
Listen to your pa
Here, son
I’m handing over to you
Don’t crash the ambulance
Whatever you do
What we have here’s
A dung hole place
Thought it was fly shit
On the map
Fat bastard, ugly face
And the personal crap
You can’t move the barriers
You can’t mess with oil and gas
Had to go down there
Stick a couple
Aircraft carriers
In his ass
Fancy dress
Medals chest
It’s all in here
For all the gigs
Gas mask
Bullet-proof vest
All the usual rigs
There’ll be things they missed
They didn’t mention
You’ve even
Got a whistle in there
For attracting attention
Well, I think you’re gonna
Be okay, son
You’ve had the tour, I guess
These two buttons
By the way
This one I hope
You never press
Some holy fool, just watch
Who’s not like you or me
That one’s the whole
Shooting match
Right there
It’s the whole shitaree
We don’t forget
Who put us here, jack
That’s page one
We talk soft
But carry a big stick
And pack the biggest gun
We don’t like accidents
Major or minor
You don’t want yourself
An incident
Don’t ever invade China
Here, son
I’m handing over to you
Don’t crash the ambulance
Here, son
I’m handing over to you
Don’t crash the ambulance
Whatever you do
Since I handed in my gun
What all these keys are for
Now my tour of duty’s done
You got to know the switches
Now you got your turn
Watch and learn, junior
Watch and learn
Now you will get your
Trouble spots
Here’s one from
Down voodoo way
Bragged he had me
By the you-know-whats
Very funny, you don’t say
The big enchilada
Stealing elections
Had to go down there
Trash collection
Got his cojones
On my desk in there
Made into a souvenir
Set of cufflinks, nice pair
The rest of him’s
Someplace up here
Sometimes you got to
Put a shoulder to the door
Not so fast, junior
Listen to your pa
Here, son
I’m handing over to you
Don’t crash the ambulance
Whatever you do
What we have here’s
A dung hole place
Thought it was fly shit
On the map
Fat bastard, ugly face
And the personal crap
You can’t move the barriers
You can’t mess with oil and gas
Had to go down there
Stick a couple
Aircraft carriers
In his ass
Fancy dress
Medals chest
It’s all in here
For all the gigs
Gas mask
Bullet-proof vest
All the usual rigs
There’ll be things they missed
They didn’t mention
You’ve even
Got a whistle in there
For attracting attention
Well, I think you’re gonna
Be okay, son
You’ve had the tour, I guess
These two buttons
By the way
This one I hope
You never press
Some holy fool, just watch
Who’s not like you or me
That one’s the whole
Shooting match
Right there
It’s the whole shitaree
We don’t forget
Who put us here, jack
That’s page one
We talk soft
But carry a big stick
And pack the biggest gun
We don’t like accidents
Major or minor
You don’t want yourself
An incident
Don’t ever invade China
Here, son
I’m handing over to you
Don’t crash the ambulance
Here, son
I’m handing over to you
Don’t crash the ambulance
Whatever you do
Lyrics submitted by redmax
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This is a very witty, well-thought out song. However you feel about the Bush administration, the idea of a sort of nepotistic "handing-over"
going on between father and son is rather hilarious. The lyrics are spot-on - just this side of caustic, so no real offence would, I imagine, ever be taken. Nice groove with a Latino-feel riff. Very cool, just right.
I always thought of this song as Bush 1 handing over the reigns to Clinton…
This is a really great song. I see there are no comments currently describing this song, so I'll give my opinion.
Through the song, it seems to be describing the presidency of George Bush Sr. and George Bush Jr. As the song progresses, it has parts that in my opinion suggest GB Sr. is basically showing GB Jr. the 'ropes' and all the basic do's and don't's.
The "ambulance" in my opinion represents the United States around the 9/11 timeframe.
There is some humour in this song, which I find funny and quite delightful.
If you still aren't sure this is about the two Georges, look at the two verses:
"Here's one from down voodoo way ... Big enchilada, stealing elections" - this is clearly a reference to Manuel Noriega, who nullified the Panamanian election in May 1989.
"Fat bastard, Ugly Face ... You can't move the barriers, You can't mess with oil and gas, Had to go down there stick a couple aircraft carriers in his ass" - is clearly the Iraq invasion of Kuwait and Saddam Hussein in 1990.
While the advice could apply to any president handing over the reins to his successor ("Don't ever invade China."), I tend to agree with the people who interpret it to mean GHW Bush showing GW Bush the ropes ("...listen to your pa..."). Of course, GW didn't pick up the presidency from his dad (there was that other guy in between), but I think that's the best explanation.
If anyone's still reading this thread, I'm certain the title of the song refers to a quote from " Bush 41", Pres. George H. W. Bush when asked by an interviewer from Time Magazine on what advice he would give his son who had been just elected president of the U.S. His reply, of course, was for him to "not crash the ambulance." Which of course Bush 43 did, at least in regard to Iraq. In that light the song references an imaginary conversation between father and son, citing some events of Bush 41's presidency, Noriega especially is obvious here; and some of his observations of life and poltics. By far my favorite song on the album by the way, and I really liked nearly every song on it.
yes, i agree with bush senior and junior thing. he's comparing the bushes to the mafia.
I don't see the mafia comparison.. but I can see the Bush thing. (BTW .. it's not senior and junior, though.. given that there is George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush.. but people tend to forget this).
I agree with most of the comments. The only item I would offer is that I believe this is more about one US Prez passing the reigns of power to the next one. Senior to Junior. "Tour of duty is done, now its your turn, watch and learn junior, watch and learn"
It's seemingly obvious that it's about a US president handing down the torch to his successor. However, there are some interesting things pointing towards it being a General or otherwise, such as the reference to a "whistle - for attracting attention". What's a president needing a whistle (as in whistle-blower) for?
The life jackets on planes has 'a whistle for attracting attention' after you survive a sea landing. I would guess that air force one has such a standard item too. And it probably falls in the category "things they didn't mention", for being one of the least important things in the presidential toolkit.