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.
There was a gambler and a cleaner and a puppeteer
Only the puppet could explain just what he was
All on a bus we were hoping to pass the time
Plug my piece in boys then we can drink the wine
Drink the wine, drink the wine
Well, music, good friends, I'm not dying today
I may be six feet under, full of wonder
I'm not dying today, dying
Today, today
Today I'm not dying, mister
Today, today
Neil is thrilled he can claim he's mammalian
"But the bad news," he said, "Girl, you're a dandelion"
Dandelion, hey I need to think about that
Yeah, I thought about that and I said, "What the Hell?"
He said, "Nope, you are Earth bound
Blow them seeds away and maybe one will make a sound
Make a sound, make a sound"
Oh, music, good friends
I'm not dying today
I may be six feet under, full of thunder
I'm not dying today, dying
Today, today
Today I'm not dying, mister
Today, today
So they got us go, going and coming
'Cause they make us pay if we go or stay
Is he praying that I'll pop my clogs?
If they can't prove I'm crazy
By noon I'll be pushing up them daisies
Tomorrow, with their doughnut box
They'll say, "It's sad she's brown bread"
Hey, I got my weapons
Music, good friends
I'm not dying today
I may be six feet under, way down yonder
I'm not dying today, dying
I'm not dying, sister
Keep your paws off my ankle straps and my mister
Dying, frying, rather have a lie-in
I am not blowing that Gabriel's trumpet
I got my own band to play today
Only the puppet could explain just what he was
All on a bus we were hoping to pass the time
Plug my piece in boys then we can drink the wine
Drink the wine, drink the wine
Well, music, good friends, I'm not dying today
I may be six feet under, full of wonder
I'm not dying today, dying
Today, today
Today I'm not dying, mister
Today, today
Neil is thrilled he can claim he's mammalian
"But the bad news," he said, "Girl, you're a dandelion"
Dandelion, hey I need to think about that
Yeah, I thought about that and I said, "What the Hell?"
He said, "Nope, you are Earth bound
Blow them seeds away and maybe one will make a sound
Make a sound, make a sound"
Oh, music, good friends
I'm not dying today
I may be six feet under, full of thunder
I'm not dying today, dying
Today, today
Today I'm not dying, mister
Today, today
So they got us go, going and coming
'Cause they make us pay if we go or stay
Is he praying that I'll pop my clogs?
If they can't prove I'm crazy
By noon I'll be pushing up them daisies
Tomorrow, with their doughnut box
They'll say, "It's sad she's brown bread"
Hey, I got my weapons
Music, good friends
I'm not dying today
I may be six feet under, way down yonder
I'm not dying today, dying
I'm not dying, sister
Keep your paws off my ankle straps and my mister
Dying, frying, rather have a lie-in
I am not blowing that Gabriel's trumpet
I got my own band to play today
Lyrics submitted by stentorian
Not Dying Today Lyrics as written by Tori Ellen Amos
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Yay, another Neil reference! Don't think there's been one since Scarlet's Walk...?
It's so optimistic! It's about her life as an artist not being over yet, and having a blast with the guys from the band while on tour. i think maybe Neil is advising against all that and telling her that she has to settle down (?)
The best! Anti-angst passions. A conquering song.
Yeah, Gaiman strikes back ;D As you say, it is a quite optimistic song. Kinda strange twist after the previous ones on the album.
STUNG by a LIONFISH!