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.
[Originally by Citizen Fish]
In the shops and supermarket chains
The check outs play that song again
The notes ring in, ring out the change
Laughing all the way
To the stock exchange
The music keeps us happy as we choose
The products that we can't afford to use
The tokens on the packets the percentages that drop
And the ringing and the singing from the ceiling never stops
"Buy the product and be free!
Live a life of luxury!"
And it says so on tv
Every quarter of an hour
Consuming all the facts
Makes you feel you can relax
Comes neatly wrapped in packs
With ingredients on the back
So when you're sick
From plastic snacks
You'll know precisely why
While you uphold the megastores
By/buy paying for what you cannot afford
The man who runs the shop next door
Remembers how it was before
When personality meant something
And customers would laugh with him
They'd smile or nod as they came in
And adverts didn't mean a thing!
But now the supermarket chains
Are around your neck and purse
The sell the products to the strain
Of some long-forgotten dirge
Just loud enough to wash away
The headaches from outside
Another shopping paradise
Where god is on your side
They channel mediocrity
As life's essential quality
You're buying two to get one free
It's something that you'll never need
But green and curiosity makes you consume
And lets them feed
In the shops and supermarket chains
The check outs play that song again
The notes ring in, ring out the change
Laughing all the way
To the stock exchange
The music keeps us happy as we choose
The products that we can't afford to use
The tokens on the packets the percentages that drop
And the ringing and the singing from the ceiling never stops
"Buy the product and be free!
Live a life of luxury!"
And it says so on tv
Every quarter of an hour
Consuming all the facts
Makes you feel you can relax
Comes neatly wrapped in packs
With ingredients on the back
So when you're sick
From plastic snacks
You'll know precisely why
While you uphold the megastores
By/buy paying for what you cannot afford
The man who runs the shop next door
Remembers how it was before
When personality meant something
And customers would laugh with him
They'd smile or nod as they came in
And adverts didn't mean a thing!
But now the supermarket chains
Are around your neck and purse
The sell the products to the strain
Of some long-forgotten dirge
Just loud enough to wash away
The headaches from outside
Another shopping paradise
Where god is on your side
They channel mediocrity
As life's essential quality
You're buying two to get one free
It's something that you'll never need
But green and curiosity makes you consume
And lets them feed
Lyrics submitted by acidmaniac
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
:%s/green/greed/g