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.
Lately Mother Earth has been feeling unsatisfied
I'd say it's plain from the rain, the sweet lady started to cry
Fires crackle and blaze in the rays of her burning heart
And I don't think it's smart to
Lay and wait for the day that she dies in our arms
We gotta do something
We gotta do something
Before Mother Earth gets anymore hurt
We gotta do something
From what I've read there's a lotta bad stuff in the world today
It's been said it's getting rough to find a place where the children play
So, Mr Prime Minister and Mr President
You better see that it's not only me, no
Our mob is rising in size
And they've been dying to scream out to you
You gotta do something
We gotta do something
Sometimes I sit in my room
And I don't know what to do
But we've gotta do something
It's time to do something
Someone should do something
We gotta do something
And that someone is you
And you and you and you
I pray it ain't all lost and gone
I pray we might learn right from wrong
And I pray this broken day will not last too long
I pray that you believe my song, darlin'
You know I'm sorry if this is hard for you to take
But a lot of it just needs sayin'
And I don't see anyone else out there
Giving out this message
And if I don't do this, who's gonna do it?
And maybe, if someone hears these words
Maybe the whole world gets round and listens to what I'm sayin'
And maybe we have a chance
Because I don't wanna see another child crying
I don't wanna see another dog dyin' in the street
I can't see another homeless man, because it doesn't seem right to me
He's got a home, he's not got a home
What's the point in that?
Why can't we all just get together in one big home
And if I was in government
Then I'd government things much more differentlier
Because it ain't the best way to government things
So there's poor people everywhere
You know I would just be sittin' alone
Thinkin' "How can I do something?"
'Cause I ain't gonna be in chains no more
You lot might have been conned, but I ain't been conned
'Cause I'm a free man
I'm free, and I'm gonna let my soul soar
And the way I do that is through my music
So why don't you do something?
I'd say it's plain from the rain, the sweet lady started to cry
Fires crackle and blaze in the rays of her burning heart
And I don't think it's smart to
Lay and wait for the day that she dies in our arms
We gotta do something
We gotta do something
Before Mother Earth gets anymore hurt
We gotta do something
From what I've read there's a lotta bad stuff in the world today
It's been said it's getting rough to find a place where the children play
So, Mr Prime Minister and Mr President
You better see that it's not only me, no
Our mob is rising in size
And they've been dying to scream out to you
You gotta do something
We gotta do something
Sometimes I sit in my room
And I don't know what to do
But we've gotta do something
It's time to do something
Someone should do something
We gotta do something
And that someone is you
And you and you and you
I pray it ain't all lost and gone
I pray we might learn right from wrong
And I pray this broken day will not last too long
I pray that you believe my song, darlin'
You know I'm sorry if this is hard for you to take
But a lot of it just needs sayin'
And I don't see anyone else out there
Giving out this message
And if I don't do this, who's gonna do it?
And maybe, if someone hears these words
Maybe the whole world gets round and listens to what I'm sayin'
And maybe we have a chance
Because I don't wanna see another child crying
I don't wanna see another dog dyin' in the street
I can't see another homeless man, because it doesn't seem right to me
He's got a home, he's not got a home
What's the point in that?
Why can't we all just get together in one big home
And if I was in government
Then I'd government things much more differentlier
Because it ain't the best way to government things
So there's poor people everywhere
You know I would just be sittin' alone
Thinkin' "How can I do something?"
'Cause I ain't gonna be in chains no more
You lot might have been conned, but I ain't been conned
'Cause I'm a free man
I'm free, and I'm gonna let my soul soar
And the way I do that is through my music
So why don't you do something?
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Great version of a great song,
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tis song is fuckin great, it really puts out the message, what we ourselves r doing to mother earth, n other things