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.
I still remember that night, It was the fourth of July.
It's still engraved in my mind and I'm not suprised.
Gang wars, no guns, hand to hand.
You're black. I'm white, he's purple.
But I still don't understand.
I'm going to be alright. I'm going to be okay
Everything is going to be fine
Back off. I want to be alone
I want to think it out and
I'm thinking that I want to go home.
Look who's laughing now. I'll pull it off somehow.
As I passed her by, I could see her cry.
And I'll never forget the look that was in her eye
And the music you know it played on and on and on
So won't somebody tap her on the shoulder tell her life goes on.
Three years, two months, one week, four days
I'm always counting down because there ain't no easier way.
Trust me you know that I tried
and if I said it was easy then you know that I told a lie.
I'm going to be alright. I'm going to be just fine.
One down, five billion to go. Am I the next in line,
And do I really want to know?
Look who's laughing now. I'll pull it off somehow.
As I passed her by, I could see her cry.
And I'll never forget the look that was in her eye
And the music you know it played on & and on & on
So won't somebody tap her on the shoulder tell her life goes on.
I still remember that night, It was the fourth of July.
It's still engraved in my mind and I'm not suprised.
Gang wars, no guns, hand to hand.
You're black. I'm white, he's purple.
But I still don't understand.
I'm going to be alright. I'm going to be okay
Everything is going to be fine
Back off. I want to be alone
I want to think it out and
I'm thinking that I want to go
Three years, two months, one week, four days
I'm always counting down because there ain't no easier way.
Trust me you know that I tried
and if I said it was easy then you know that I told a lie.
I'm going to be alright. I'm going to be just fine.
One down, five billion to go. Am I the next in line,
And do I really want to know?
Look who's laughing now. I'll pull it off somehow.
As I passed her by, I could see her cry.
And I'll never forget the look that was in her eye
And the music you know it played on & and on & on
So won't somebody tap her on the shoulder tell her life goes on.
It's still engraved in my mind and I'm not suprised.
Gang wars, no guns, hand to hand.
You're black. I'm white, he's purple.
But I still don't understand.
I'm going to be alright. I'm going to be okay
Everything is going to be fine
Back off. I want to be alone
I want to think it out and
I'm thinking that I want to go home.
Look who's laughing now. I'll pull it off somehow.
As I passed her by, I could see her cry.
And I'll never forget the look that was in her eye
And the music you know it played on and on and on
So won't somebody tap her on the shoulder tell her life goes on.
Three years, two months, one week, four days
I'm always counting down because there ain't no easier way.
Trust me you know that I tried
and if I said it was easy then you know that I told a lie.
I'm going to be alright. I'm going to be just fine.
One down, five billion to go. Am I the next in line,
And do I really want to know?
Look who's laughing now. I'll pull it off somehow.
As I passed her by, I could see her cry.
And I'll never forget the look that was in her eye
And the music you know it played on & and on & on
So won't somebody tap her on the shoulder tell her life goes on.
I still remember that night, It was the fourth of July.
It's still engraved in my mind and I'm not suprised.
Gang wars, no guns, hand to hand.
You're black. I'm white, he's purple.
But I still don't understand.
I'm going to be alright. I'm going to be okay
Everything is going to be fine
Back off. I want to be alone
I want to think it out and
I'm thinking that I want to go
Three years, two months, one week, four days
I'm always counting down because there ain't no easier way.
Trust me you know that I tried
and if I said it was easy then you know that I told a lie.
I'm going to be alright. I'm going to be just fine.
One down, five billion to go. Am I the next in line,
And do I really want to know?
Look who's laughing now. I'll pull it off somehow.
As I passed her by, I could see her cry.
And I'll never forget the look that was in her eye
And the music you know it played on & and on & on
So won't somebody tap her on the shoulder tell her life goes on.
Lyrics submitted by KeasbyKnights
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Tomas says "Your black I'm white he's purple" so incredibly fast...
this is my 3rd favorite song by streetlight manifesto but its my favorite to sing. its fun trying to keep up with the words and everytime the "you're black, im white, and he's purple but i still dont understand" part comes on i just mumble but some times i actually try to sing it but i think its impossible unless your tomas hahaha
I think the song is about a gang related death that either he witnessed or happened to someone he knew (I'm not sure if it's a real experience though or just one made up for the song). Basically I think he's coping with the incident and he's having trouble shaking it off and he doesn't really understand why it needed to happen (the black white and purple line meaning it was an incident based on race and he's saying it was an unnecessary death). He also says: "Three years, two months, one week, four days I'm always counting down because there ain't no easier way. Trust me you know that I tried and if I said it was easy then you know that I told a lie. I'm going to be alright. I'm going to be just fine. One down, five billion to go. Am I the next in line, And do I really want to know?" meaning he can't stop thinking about death and whether or not his time is going to come soon. As for the girl part, I'm not sure if this is what he was saying, but I like to think it's referring to the funeral, and when the music plays and the girl he sees at the funeral is crying he's basically coming to terms with death and saying we can't dwell on it cause life just continues
The little Pachelbel's Canon homage just really combines with the lyrics to really make me feel good when I listen to this song.
Even though it's really about coping with horrible shit going down, musically it's uplifting.
Noticed that too quite recently (been listening to the song for ages) , i think that its a reference to the fact that even though now is shit it'll be better and there'll be a wedding (or another joyous occasion). He's essentially expressing the lyrics in music form
I know ~exactly~ what you mean, Pac. It's overwhelming and utterly beautiful. You can just sit back and listen to the beat, or you can put more effort into it and follow the words, but either way you get a rush of emotion.
I never really fully understood the beginning, I was kind of surprised when I actually read it and found out it was about gang wars. Part of the song is about getting over the bad things and being able to get away and the other part is about getting over a newly lost love and to keep moving on.
I always thought he was just saying black, white, and purple. He says shit so fast sometimes it's hard to follow.
I don't thing it's "gang wars" in the normal sense.
There were no guns. hand to hand, makes much more sence,
if you lsint close enough theres no possible way he says "You're black. I'm white, he's purple"
They're black and white and purple but they still dont understand
listn to the catch 22 version