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.
People flocked like cattle to Seattle
After Kurt Cobain
And before him the rain
Hendrix played guitar just like an animal
Who's trapped inside a cage
And one day he escaped
Do you want to pay for this in cash?
Viva! Seattle Tacoma, viva viva Sea-Tac
Viva! Seattle Tacoma, viva viva Sea-Tac
Viva viva viva viva viva Sea-Tac
They've got the best computers and coffee and smack
Coming and going it has to be Boeing
The best form of defence is blow them up
In a regular cup
Have an espresso. You will? Oh I guess so
I feel my heart is gonna start to jump
'Cause it's wired to a pump
And the Space Needle points to the sky
The Space Needle's such a nice guy
But he never knows...
Viva Seattle Tacoma, viva viva Sea-Tac
Viva Seattle Tacoma, viva viva Sea-Tac
All the Norwegians, man, you should see them
Out in Ballard looking soulful at the pines;
And also the swedes
All of the groovers came from Vancouver
And some of them came up from Oregon
In case you don't know
But the Space Needle points to the sky
The Space Needle's such a nice guy
But you never know...
Viva Seattle Tacoma, viva viva Sea-Tac
Viva Seattle Tacoma, viva viva Sea-Tac
Viva viva viva viva viva Sea-Tac
They've got the best computers and coffee and smack
Viva Seattle Tacoma, viva viva Sea-Tac
Viva Seattle Tacoma, viva viva Sea-Tac
Viva Seattle Tacoma, viva viva Sea-Tac
Viva Seattle Tacoma, viva viva Sea-Tac
Long live everything in Washington state
Including everybody
May they live to a million years
May they reproduce until there's no room to go anywhere
Clustered under the Space Needle
Like walking eggs with arms and legs
Alright, we can probably stop
Then one day he got out 6a
Ruby Montana's can sell a banana 25.1a
That counts up to one hundred and turns pink 25.2a
In less time than you think 25.3a
But he never gets... 20,31a
Do you want to pay for this in cash? 29a
Well, do you want to pay for this at all? 30-31a
After Kurt Cobain
And before him the rain
Hendrix played guitar just like an animal
Who's trapped inside a cage
And one day he escaped
Do you want to pay for this in cash?
Viva! Seattle Tacoma, viva viva Sea-Tac
Viva! Seattle Tacoma, viva viva Sea-Tac
Viva viva viva viva viva Sea-Tac
They've got the best computers and coffee and smack
Coming and going it has to be Boeing
The best form of defence is blow them up
In a regular cup
Have an espresso. You will? Oh I guess so
I feel my heart is gonna start to jump
'Cause it's wired to a pump
And the Space Needle points to the sky
The Space Needle's such a nice guy
But he never knows...
Viva Seattle Tacoma, viva viva Sea-Tac
Viva Seattle Tacoma, viva viva Sea-Tac
All the Norwegians, man, you should see them
Out in Ballard looking soulful at the pines;
And also the swedes
All of the groovers came from Vancouver
And some of them came up from Oregon
In case you don't know
But the Space Needle points to the sky
The Space Needle's such a nice guy
But you never know...
Viva Seattle Tacoma, viva viva Sea-Tac
Viva Seattle Tacoma, viva viva Sea-Tac
Viva viva viva viva viva Sea-Tac
They've got the best computers and coffee and smack
Viva Seattle Tacoma, viva viva Sea-Tac
Viva Seattle Tacoma, viva viva Sea-Tac
Viva Seattle Tacoma, viva viva Sea-Tac
Viva Seattle Tacoma, viva viva Sea-Tac
Long live everything in Washington state
Including everybody
May they live to a million years
May they reproduce until there's no room to go anywhere
Clustered under the Space Needle
Like walking eggs with arms and legs
Alright, we can probably stop
Then one day he got out 6a
Ruby Montana's can sell a banana 25.1a
That counts up to one hundred and turns pink 25.2a
In less time than you think 25.3a
But he never gets... 20,31a
Do you want to pay for this in cash? 29a
Well, do you want to pay for this at all? 30-31a
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umm, the corporatism of starbucks. considering the references to coffee, and the fact starbucks originated in seattle. and also how people try and squeeze money out of everything, like dead rock stars. basically, american dick'eds