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.
Out of the alleys, our needle strewn fields
Into the sunlight that the brochures reveal
Like snakes come for rabbits and rabbits for meals
Where the oar and the axe flies
Well this is our story (stick to it) but it ain't the truth
Cause the truth's just for liars that need an excuse
Around here love's a gangster and charity's the proof
Where God deals on Sunday's under a rain burning roof
It's five blocks a universe and aliens for each
Like invisible ghettos of privilege and grief
And pinned up between them the carrion fly
Living off skeletons of recycled lives
This is the place you find out
Well this is the way you find out
We all live downtown
Pay two even, no parking
Live with a clown
Step over ourselves
We all live downtown
Pay in blood, no parking
Sleep on the ground
Step over ourselves
We all live downtown
We all die downtown
Step over ourselves
Well this is our story (stick to it) but it ain't the truth
Cause the truth's just for liars that need an excuse
For a king crown a banker, the queen crown a noose
Like heirs to a graveyard where the dirt's always loose
It's five blocks a universe and aliens for each
Like invisible ghettos of privilege and grief
And pinned up between them the carrion fly
Picking off skeletons under a big northern sky
This is the place where you find out
Well this is the way you find out
We all live downtown
We all die downtown
Step over ourselves
Into the sunlight that the brochures reveal
Like snakes come for rabbits and rabbits for meals
Where the oar and the axe flies
Well this is our story (stick to it) but it ain't the truth
Cause the truth's just for liars that need an excuse
Around here love's a gangster and charity's the proof
Where God deals on Sunday's under a rain burning roof
It's five blocks a universe and aliens for each
Like invisible ghettos of privilege and grief
And pinned up between them the carrion fly
Living off skeletons of recycled lives
This is the place you find out
Well this is the way you find out
We all live downtown
Pay two even, no parking
Live with a clown
Step over ourselves
We all live downtown
Pay in blood, no parking
Sleep on the ground
Step over ourselves
We all live downtown
We all die downtown
Step over ourselves
Well this is our story (stick to it) but it ain't the truth
Cause the truth's just for liars that need an excuse
For a king crown a banker, the queen crown a noose
Like heirs to a graveyard where the dirt's always loose
It's five blocks a universe and aliens for each
Like invisible ghettos of privilege and grief
And pinned up between them the carrion fly
Picking off skeletons under a big northern sky
This is the place where you find out
Well this is the way you find out
We all live downtown
We all die downtown
Step over ourselves
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A correction to the lyrics based on the album version:
Out of the alleys On needle-strewn fields Into the sunlight The brochures reveal Like snakes come for rabbits And rabbits for meals Where the ore and the axe flies
Well this is our story (stick to it!) But it ain't the truth Cuz the truth's just for liars That need an excuse Around here love's a gangster And charity's the proof Where God deals on Sundays Under a rain burning roof
It's 5 blocks of universe And aliens for each Like invisible ghettos Of privilege and grief And pinned up between them The carrion flies Living off skeletons of recycled lies
This is the place we find out Well this is the way we find out
We all live downtown Pay two even, no parking Live with a clown Step over ourselves We all live downtown Pay in blood, no parking Sleep on the ground Step over ourselves We all live downtown We all die downtown Step over ourselves (over ourselves) We all live downtown We all die downtown Step over ourselves (over ourselves) Step over ourselves We all live downtown We all die downtown Step over ourselves (over ourselves) Step over ourselves
Well this is our story (stick to it!) But it ain't the truth Cuz the truth's just for liars That need an excuse For a King crowned a banker The Queen crowned a noose Like heirs to a graveyard Where the dirt's always loose
It's 5 blocks of universe And aliens for each Like invisible ghettos Of privilege and grief And pinned up between them The carrion flies Picking off skeletons Under a big northern sky
This is the place you find out Yeah this is the way you find out
We all live downtown We all die downtown Step over ourselves Step over ourselves