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.
(BJ:)
Sent my brother to Iraq
And I said Bobby don't come back
'Til you tell them what they're missing over there
I don't care what liberals say
Freedom, Bobby, that's the way
Show them how we do it over here
And brother have no fear
'Cause the lord is on your side
And if those monsters get too close you've got your cyanide
3 weeks later got a letter
With a rather solemn header
(Bobby:)
Barbara Jean, Iraq ain't what we thought
We bought some lies, we did
We bought some lies, we did
Now I'm stuck here in the middle and I am just a kid
We bought some lies, we did
We bought some lies, we did
Now I'm stuck here and I'm just a kid
(BJ:)
C'mon Bobby, you be brave
I've seen them on the TV waving
From Iraq and it don't look so bad
They would've had a different plan
If this one weren't the best for man
Our president's a Christian, don't you know?
There wouldn't be no war
If it weren't the best thing for
The people of this world now don't you think?
3 weeks later got a letter
With a rather angry header
(Bobby:)
Barbara Jean, that just ain't how it works
Those jerks are fooling you
That's what the ruling do
There are no weapons here and I am black and blue
We bought some lies, we did
We bought some lies, we did
Now I'm stuck here and I'm just a kid
We bought some lies, we did
We bought some lies, we did
Now I'm stuck here in the middle and I am just a kid
(BJ:)
There wouldn't be no war
If it weren't the best thing for
The people of this world now don't you think?
There'd be a different plan
If this one weren't the best for man
Our president's a Christian don't you know?
3 weeks later got a letter
With a rather different header
"Barbara Jean we're sorry for your loss"
Sent my brother to Iraq
And I said Bobby don't come back
'Til you tell them what they're missing over there
I don't care what liberals say
Freedom, Bobby, that's the way
Show them how we do it over here
And brother have no fear
'Cause the lord is on your side
And if those monsters get too close you've got your cyanide
3 weeks later got a letter
With a rather solemn header
(Bobby:)
Barbara Jean, Iraq ain't what we thought
We bought some lies, we did
We bought some lies, we did
Now I'm stuck here in the middle and I am just a kid
We bought some lies, we did
We bought some lies, we did
Now I'm stuck here and I'm just a kid
(BJ:)
C'mon Bobby, you be brave
I've seen them on the TV waving
From Iraq and it don't look so bad
They would've had a different plan
If this one weren't the best for man
Our president's a Christian, don't you know?
There wouldn't be no war
If it weren't the best thing for
The people of this world now don't you think?
3 weeks later got a letter
With a rather angry header
(Bobby:)
Barbara Jean, that just ain't how it works
Those jerks are fooling you
That's what the ruling do
There are no weapons here and I am black and blue
We bought some lies, we did
We bought some lies, we did
Now I'm stuck here and I'm just a kid
We bought some lies, we did
We bought some lies, we did
Now I'm stuck here in the middle and I am just a kid
(BJ:)
There wouldn't be no war
If it weren't the best thing for
The people of this world now don't you think?
There'd be a different plan
If this one weren't the best for man
Our president's a Christian don't you know?
3 weeks later got a letter
With a rather different header
"Barbara Jean we're sorry for your loss"
Lyrics submitted by mattyharm
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Glad the song lyrics are posted. I really love your music. I wonder why the others who have commented are not looking at the statements made by "Bobby Jean". She obviously has a very conservative point of view. She is telling her bother to go to Iraq to show them what freedom is in hopes that the Iraqi people can experience life as we do here. She is obviously conservative and religous as well. As in the "real world" this song talks about the tragedy of war since Bobby didn't make it home. That is incredibly sad, liberal or conservative. Lets face it.......we bought some lies, we did. No weapons of mass destruction! I think you did an awesome job of representing both sides of the issue. It is great to hear music again that makes people think.....keep it up.