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.
Don't tell my sister about your most recent vision.
Don't tell my family they're all wicked-strict Christian.
Don't tell the hangers-on, don't tell your friends.
Don't tell them we went down to Ybor City, again.
Don't tell the dancers, they'll just get distracted.
Don't tell the DJs. They already suspect us.
Don't mention the bloodshed, don't mention the scams.
Don't tell them Ybor City almost killed us, again.
We are the theater, they are the people dressed up to be seated,
Lookin' upwards and dreamin'. We're the projectors.
We're hosting the screening.
We're dust in the spotlights, we're just kinda floating.
Don't drop little hints. I don't want them to guess.
Don't mention Tampa, they'll just know all the rest.
Don't mention bloodshed, don't tell them it hurts.
Don't say we saw angels, they'll take us straight to the church.
They queue up for tickets to see the performance, they push to get closer,
Lookin' upwards with wonder. We are the actors.
The cameras are rollin'.
I'll be Ben Gazzara, you'll be Gena Rowlands.
Sometimes, actresses get slapped.
Sometimes, actresses get slapped.
Sometimes, fake fights turn out bad.
Sometimes, actresses get slapped.
Some nights, makin' it look real might end up with someone hurt.
Some nights, it's just entertainment, and, some other nights, it's real.
They come in for the beating, to see the stadium seating.
They're holding their hands out for the body and blood, now.
We're the directors, our hands will hold steady.
I'll be John Cassavettes, let me know when you're ready.
Man, we make our own movies. Man, we make our own movies.
Man, we make our own movies. Man, we make our own movies.
Don't tell my family they're all wicked-strict Christian.
Don't tell the hangers-on, don't tell your friends.
Don't tell them we went down to Ybor City, again.
Don't tell the dancers, they'll just get distracted.
Don't tell the DJs. They already suspect us.
Don't mention the bloodshed, don't mention the scams.
Don't tell them Ybor City almost killed us, again.
We are the theater, they are the people dressed up to be seated,
Lookin' upwards and dreamin'. We're the projectors.
We're hosting the screening.
We're dust in the spotlights, we're just kinda floating.
Don't drop little hints. I don't want them to guess.
Don't mention Tampa, they'll just know all the rest.
Don't mention bloodshed, don't tell them it hurts.
Don't say we saw angels, they'll take us straight to the church.
They queue up for tickets to see the performance, they push to get closer,
Lookin' upwards with wonder. We are the actors.
The cameras are rollin'.
I'll be Ben Gazzara, you'll be Gena Rowlands.
Sometimes, actresses get slapped.
Sometimes, actresses get slapped.
Sometimes, fake fights turn out bad.
Sometimes, actresses get slapped.
Some nights, makin' it look real might end up with someone hurt.
Some nights, it's just entertainment, and, some other nights, it's real.
They come in for the beating, to see the stadium seating.
They're holding their hands out for the body and blood, now.
We're the directors, our hands will hold steady.
I'll be John Cassavettes, let me know when you're ready.
Man, we make our own movies. Man, we make our own movies.
Man, we make our own movies. Man, we make our own movies.
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also, i looked up the whole 'opening night' thing (thanks allofmylove68) and it explains the main idea of the song as well as the title.
"Myrtle (Gena Rowlands) goes on to tell Manny (Ben Gazzara) she is very worried about the slap that is to be delivered by Maurice (John Cassavetes) during the play. Manny raises his voice and tells her succinctly, "It's a tradition. Actresses get slapped. It's mandatory you get hit." His use of the term "slap" in this context means that actresses must make themselves vulnerable in their profession, and be "hit" by the reality of love, aging, mortality, beauty, etc., on a level apart from their stage roles. That one sentence "it's mandatory you get hit" sums up the crux of Myrtle's dilemma, and serves as the catalyst for her fight to avoid being "hit" by reality. -johncassavetes.net/