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.
(Uuuh, uuuh uuuh uuh)
Born into Nixon, I was raised in hell
A welfare child where the teamsters dwelled
The last one born and the first one to run
My town was blind from refinery sun
My generation is zero
I never made it as a working class hero
21st century breakdown
I once was lost but never was found
I think I'm losing what's left of my mind
To the 20th century deadline
(Uuuh, uuuh uuuh uuh)
I was made of poison and blood
Condemnation is what I understood
Video games of the Tower's fall
Homeland security could kill us all
My generation is zero
I never made it as a working class hero
21st century breakdown
I once was lost but never was found
I think I'm losing what's left of my mind
To the 20th century deadline
We are the class of the class of thirteen
Born in the era of humility
We are the desperate in the decline
Raised by the bastards of 1969
My name is no one, the long lost son
Born on the fourth of July
Raised in the era of heroes and cons
That left me for dead or alive
I am a nation, a worker of pride (pride)
My debt to the status quo
The scars on my hands and the means to an end
It's all that I have to show
(Hey)
(Hey)
(Hey)
I swallowed my pride and I choked on my faith
I've given my heart and my soul
I've broken my fingers and lied through my teeth
The pillar of damage control
I've been to the edge and I've thrown the bouquet (hey)
Of flowers left over the grave
I sat in the waiting room, wasting my time
And waiting for judgement day
Praise liberty
The freedom to obey
It's the song that strangles me
Well, don't cross the line
Oh, dream, America, dream
I can't even sleep
From the light's early dawn
Oh, scream, America, scream
Believe what you see
From heroes and cons
Born into Nixon, I was raised in hell
A welfare child where the teamsters dwelled
The last one born and the first one to run
My town was blind from refinery sun
My generation is zero
I never made it as a working class hero
21st century breakdown
I once was lost but never was found
I think I'm losing what's left of my mind
To the 20th century deadline
(Uuuh, uuuh uuuh uuh)
I was made of poison and blood
Condemnation is what I understood
Video games of the Tower's fall
Homeland security could kill us all
My generation is zero
I never made it as a working class hero
21st century breakdown
I once was lost but never was found
I think I'm losing what's left of my mind
To the 20th century deadline
We are the class of the class of thirteen
Born in the era of humility
We are the desperate in the decline
Raised by the bastards of 1969
My name is no one, the long lost son
Born on the fourth of July
Raised in the era of heroes and cons
That left me for dead or alive
I am a nation, a worker of pride (pride)
My debt to the status quo
The scars on my hands and the means to an end
It's all that I have to show
(Hey)
(Hey)
(Hey)
I swallowed my pride and I choked on my faith
I've given my heart and my soul
I've broken my fingers and lied through my teeth
The pillar of damage control
I've been to the edge and I've thrown the bouquet (hey)
Of flowers left over the grave
I sat in the waiting room, wasting my time
And waiting for judgement day
Praise liberty
The freedom to obey
It's the song that strangles me
Well, don't cross the line
Oh, dream, America, dream
I can't even sleep
From the light's early dawn
Oh, scream, America, scream
Believe what you see
From heroes and cons
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I think it is about how working class people are oppressed and whatnot. It's your Up with the Democrats and down with the Republicans song.