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.
Yeah..
Yeah man, yo Mr. Jones, b'
I'm a motherfuckin' (Desperado)
Yes, yes (yes, yes)
Chea, turn me up
Turn me up, turn me up, turn me up
IT'S SMASH TIME!
Seven AM, I wake up to my little sister puttin' on make-up
R. Kelly come on, she turn the bass up
'Move Ya Body Like A Snake,' WHAT?
You need to take ya ass to school and get them fuckin' grades up
My lil' brotha, he swear he 'bout to get some cake up
Runnin' 'round all crazy rockin' a fake Jacob
The lil' nigga keep raisin' his voice to my mom
I'ma have no choice but to do him some harm
For now, I play the block wit' my cousin Tyrell
'Cause around him, pussy is not what I smell
Fresh outta jail, the street, will I survive? Will I fail?
Will I go to hell or go back wit 25 wit' a L
See only time will tell if only crime prevail
The rap now, only the phony kind can sell
And I don't wanna have to keep runnin' from 5-0
I don't wanna live my life like no (Desperado)
We come from the bottom of the street
We stuck like gum to the bottom of ya feet
If you front in ya rap, we catch you in the street (in the street)
Run up on you wit the heat
I'ma (Desperado)
We come from the bottom of the street
We stuck like gum to the bottom of ya feet
If you front in ya rap, we catch you in the street (in the street)
Run up on you wit the heat
I'ma (Desperado)
[various ad-libs]
I pushed the lil' nigga unda the wing right?
I mean, I practically raised this nigga
He runnin' 'round the street now like he wanna be a muhfuckin' (Desperado)
We was 2 lil' brothers of the same kind
Quick to approach a lil shorty wit' the same line (GET FAMILIAR!)
Co-defendants, arrested for the same crime
'Cause when the D's found the nine, we both said it ain't mine
Nobody snitchin', now we chillin' on the same line
Goin to trial to eat some of the same slime
I'm tryin' to tell the nigga the thoughts of my changed mind
How when I get out, I aint gettin' on the same grind
I'm tired of seein' what crack smoke do to black folk
That shit ain't funny at all dawg it's like a bad joke
He said, whateva' man, I'll do whateva to get the cheddar man
Do like 50 Cent, sell “A Lil Bit” of ery'thang
That made me wanna punch the kid in the mouth
I jus' wonder how long it take for him to figure this out
I said, trust lil' nigga if you know like I know
You wouldn't wanna go home to no muthafuckin' (Desperado)
Word up shorty, don't be like me, you could be better than me
You don't wanna grow up to be no muthafuckin' (Desperado)
IT'S SMASH TIME
We come from the bottom of the street
We stuck like gum to the bottom of ya feet
If you front in ya rap, we catch you in the street (in the street)
Run up on you wit the heat
I'ma (Desperado)
We come from the bottom of the street
We stuck like gum to the bottom of ya feet
If you front in ya rap, we catch you in the street (in the street)
Run up on you wit the heat
I'ma (Desperado)
Yeah man, yo Mr. Jones, b'
I'm a motherfuckin' (Desperado)
Yes, yes (yes, yes)
Chea, turn me up
Turn me up, turn me up, turn me up
IT'S SMASH TIME!
Seven AM, I wake up to my little sister puttin' on make-up
R. Kelly come on, she turn the bass up
'Move Ya Body Like A Snake,' WHAT?
You need to take ya ass to school and get them fuckin' grades up
My lil' brotha, he swear he 'bout to get some cake up
Runnin' 'round all crazy rockin' a fake Jacob
The lil' nigga keep raisin' his voice to my mom
I'ma have no choice but to do him some harm
For now, I play the block wit' my cousin Tyrell
'Cause around him, pussy is not what I smell
Fresh outta jail, the street, will I survive? Will I fail?
Will I go to hell or go back wit 25 wit' a L
See only time will tell if only crime prevail
The rap now, only the phony kind can sell
And I don't wanna have to keep runnin' from 5-0
I don't wanna live my life like no (Desperado)
We come from the bottom of the street
We stuck like gum to the bottom of ya feet
If you front in ya rap, we catch you in the street (in the street)
Run up on you wit the heat
I'ma (Desperado)
We come from the bottom of the street
We stuck like gum to the bottom of ya feet
If you front in ya rap, we catch you in the street (in the street)
Run up on you wit the heat
I'ma (Desperado)
[various ad-libs]
I pushed the lil' nigga unda the wing right?
I mean, I practically raised this nigga
He runnin' 'round the street now like he wanna be a muhfuckin' (Desperado)
We was 2 lil' brothers of the same kind
Quick to approach a lil shorty wit' the same line (GET FAMILIAR!)
Co-defendants, arrested for the same crime
'Cause when the D's found the nine, we both said it ain't mine
Nobody snitchin', now we chillin' on the same line
Goin to trial to eat some of the same slime
I'm tryin' to tell the nigga the thoughts of my changed mind
How when I get out, I aint gettin' on the same grind
I'm tired of seein' what crack smoke do to black folk
That shit ain't funny at all dawg it's like a bad joke
He said, whateva' man, I'll do whateva to get the cheddar man
Do like 50 Cent, sell “A Lil Bit” of ery'thang
That made me wanna punch the kid in the mouth
I jus' wonder how long it take for him to figure this out
I said, trust lil' nigga if you know like I know
You wouldn't wanna go home to no muthafuckin' (Desperado)
Word up shorty, don't be like me, you could be better than me
You don't wanna grow up to be no muthafuckin' (Desperado)
IT'S SMASH TIME
We come from the bottom of the street
We stuck like gum to the bottom of ya feet
If you front in ya rap, we catch you in the street (in the street)
Run up on you wit the heat
I'ma (Desperado)
We come from the bottom of the street
We stuck like gum to the bottom of ya feet
If you front in ya rap, we catch you in the street (in the street)
Run up on you wit the heat
I'ma (Desperado)
Lyrics submitted by Elimination
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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@[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.
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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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,