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.
Been on the bus since a quarter to one
I'm bakin' like a chicken, on the bus in the settin' sun
Home home home, under the window
Is that a shot or a car
I don't know, I don't know, I don't know
City smoke and city choke and crackin' open
I hear the city screaming
I hear the city screaming
24 hours all night all day
The city hums and boils and cracks and beats away
Stoke them around, stick 'em over a fire
No wonder everybody's strung up tighter than a God damn piano wire
City smoke and city choke and crackin' open
I hear the city screaming
I hear the city sream
Crack the whip and Mr. Jack Knife
We are doing the trip on the corner underneath the street light, late night
One of the home boys just take it on home, sweet home
Well you can blow your own self away
But leave the rest of us alone
The city die and city cry and you and I say,
I hear the city screaming [Repeat x 4]
I'm bakin' like a chicken, on the bus in the settin' sun
Home home home, under the window
Is that a shot or a car
I don't know, I don't know, I don't know
City smoke and city choke and crackin' open
I hear the city screaming
I hear the city screaming
24 hours all night all day
The city hums and boils and cracks and beats away
Stoke them around, stick 'em over a fire
No wonder everybody's strung up tighter than a God damn piano wire
City smoke and city choke and crackin' open
I hear the city screaming
I hear the city sream
Crack the whip and Mr. Jack Knife
We are doing the trip on the corner underneath the street light, late night
One of the home boys just take it on home, sweet home
Well you can blow your own self away
But leave the rest of us alone
The city die and city cry and you and I say,
I hear the city screaming [Repeat x 4]
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Pretty much a description of Los Angeles at the time. I understand it hasn't gotten much better. Back then there were cases of people dying from the pollution, although they were said to be sensitive to that.