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.
Laid here
With your advertising sliding past my eyes
Like cartoons from other people's lives
I start to wonder
What it takes to be a Man
Well, I learned to drink
And I learned to smoke
And I learned to tell
A dirty joke
Oh, if that's all there is then there's no point for me, oh
So please can I ask just why we're alive
'Cause all that you do seems such a waste of time?
And if you hang around too long you'll be a ma-a-a-a-a-a-a-an
Tell me about it
Your car can get up to a hundred and ten
You've nowhere to go but you'll go there again
And nothing ever makes no difference to a ma-a-a-a-a-a-a-an
So you stumble into town with your stomach in
Show 'em what you've got (though they've seen everything)
Yeah, you're a beauty, but they've seen your type before, oh
You've got no need
But still you want
To go and book
That restaurant
The wine will flow
And then you'll just fly away, yeah
So please can I ask just why we're alive?
'Cause all that you do seems such a waste of time
And if you hang around too long you'll be a ma-a-a-a-a-a-a-an
Tell me about it
Your car can go up to a hundred and ten
You've nowhere to go but you'll go there again
And nothing ever makes no difference to a ma-a-a-a-a-a-a-an
Oh, tell me 'bout it
Please can I ask just why we're alive?
'Cause all that you do seems such a waste of time
And if you hang around too long you'll be a ma-a-a-a-a-a-a-an
Oh tell, c'mon, tell me about it
Your car can get up to a hundred and ten
You've nowhere to go but you'll go there again
And nothing ever makes no difference to a ma-a-a-a-a-a-a-an
To a ma-a-a-a-a-a-a-an
To a ma-a-a-a-a-a-a-an
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
To a man, that's what I am
With your advertising sliding past my eyes
Like cartoons from other people's lives
I start to wonder
What it takes to be a Man
Well, I learned to drink
And I learned to smoke
And I learned to tell
A dirty joke
Oh, if that's all there is then there's no point for me, oh
So please can I ask just why we're alive
'Cause all that you do seems such a waste of time?
And if you hang around too long you'll be a ma-a-a-a-a-a-a-an
Tell me about it
Your car can get up to a hundred and ten
You've nowhere to go but you'll go there again
And nothing ever makes no difference to a ma-a-a-a-a-a-a-an
So you stumble into town with your stomach in
Show 'em what you've got (though they've seen everything)
Yeah, you're a beauty, but they've seen your type before, oh
You've got no need
But still you want
To go and book
That restaurant
The wine will flow
And then you'll just fly away, yeah
So please can I ask just why we're alive?
'Cause all that you do seems such a waste of time
And if you hang around too long you'll be a ma-a-a-a-a-a-a-an
Tell me about it
Your car can go up to a hundred and ten
You've nowhere to go but you'll go there again
And nothing ever makes no difference to a ma-a-a-a-a-a-a-an
Oh, tell me 'bout it
Please can I ask just why we're alive?
'Cause all that you do seems such a waste of time
And if you hang around too long you'll be a ma-a-a-a-a-a-a-an
Oh tell, c'mon, tell me about it
Your car can get up to a hundred and ten
You've nowhere to go but you'll go there again
And nothing ever makes no difference to a ma-a-a-a-a-a-a-an
To a ma-a-a-a-a-a-a-an
To a ma-a-a-a-a-a-a-an
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
To a man, that's what I am
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