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.
Early Morning
As the day is dawning
You're street gutter crawling
When the sun comes up
Baby crying
Says today she's dying
But she's always lying
And that's a ball'n'chain
You got the ball'n'chain
You're in the ball'n'chain gang
'Cos you're the ball'n'chain man
Bruises for breakfast
Ain't nobody's business
But pain's a lonely mistress
And you can't give up
(That's a ball'n'chain)
Flame burning
Money that you're earning
And you will be returning
With a ball'n'chain
(chorus)
Why do you love me
When you don't need me
Why do you want me all of the time ?
In my whole life, didn't get no peacetime
And I don't care if I live or die
You got the ball'n'chain
You got the ball'n'chain
You got the ball'n'chain
You got the ball'n'chain
You got the ball'n'chain
You got the ball'n'chain
You got the ball'n'chain
You got the ball'n'chain
You're the one to blame
You got to love that pain
As the day is dawning
You're street gutter crawling
When the sun comes up
Baby crying
Says today she's dying
But she's always lying
And that's a ball'n'chain
You got the ball'n'chain
You're in the ball'n'chain gang
'Cos you're the ball'n'chain man
Bruises for breakfast
Ain't nobody's business
But pain's a lonely mistress
And you can't give up
(That's a ball'n'chain)
Flame burning
Money that you're earning
And you will be returning
With a ball'n'chain
(chorus)
Why do you love me
When you don't need me
Why do you want me all of the time ?
In my whole life, didn't get no peacetime
And I don't care if I live or die
You got the ball'n'chain
You got the ball'n'chain
You got the ball'n'chain
You got the ball'n'chain
You got the ball'n'chain
You got the ball'n'chain
You got the ball'n'chain
You got the ball'n'chain
You're the one to blame
You got to love that pain
Lyrics submitted by Canada
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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Did Simon write this? I was wondering. It sounds more like something that John would write because he was going through a messy divorce right about when this song was written, I think.