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.
Rain and fire crossed that ocean
Another mad man done struck again
Rain and fire crossed that ocean
Another mad man done struck again
Sitting down here fallout shelter
Paint my walls, twice a week
Sitting down here fallout shelter
Think about the slaves, long time ago
Ten million slaves crossed that ocean
They had shackles on their legs
Ten million slaves crossed that ocean
They had shackles on their legs
Don't know where, where they're going
Don't know where, where they've been
Don't know where, where they're going
Don't know where, where they've been
Sun goes out, you'll be standing
You'll be standing by yourself
Sun goes out, you'll be standing
You'll be standing by yourself
Ten million slaves crossed that ocean
They had shackles on their legs
Ten million slaves crossed that ocean
They had shackles on their legs
Don't know where, where they're going
Don't know where, where they've been
Don't know where, where they're going
Don't know where, where they've been
Ten million slaves crossed that ocean
They had shackles on their legs
Food goes bad, food looks rancid
But they ate it anyway
Don't know where, where they're going
Don't know where, where they've been
Don't know where, where they're going
Don't know where, where they've been
Sun goes out, you'll be standing
You'll be standing all alone
Sun goes out, you'll be standing
You'll be standing all alone
All alone, all alone, all alone, all alone, all alone
Another mad man done struck again
Rain and fire crossed that ocean
Another mad man done struck again
Sitting down here fallout shelter
Paint my walls, twice a week
Sitting down here fallout shelter
Think about the slaves, long time ago
Ten million slaves crossed that ocean
They had shackles on their legs
Ten million slaves crossed that ocean
They had shackles on their legs
Don't know where, where they're going
Don't know where, where they've been
Don't know where, where they're going
Don't know where, where they've been
Sun goes out, you'll be standing
You'll be standing by yourself
Sun goes out, you'll be standing
You'll be standing by yourself
Ten million slaves crossed that ocean
They had shackles on their legs
Ten million slaves crossed that ocean
They had shackles on their legs
Don't know where, where they're going
Don't know where, where they've been
Don't know where, where they're going
Don't know where, where they've been
Ten million slaves crossed that ocean
They had shackles on their legs
Food goes bad, food looks rancid
But they ate it anyway
Don't know where, where they're going
Don't know where, where they've been
Don't know where, where they're going
Don't know where, where they've been
Sun goes out, you'll be standing
You'll be standing all alone
Sun goes out, you'll be standing
You'll be standing all alone
All alone, all alone, all alone, all alone, all alone
Lyrics submitted by nattybumpo
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Rain and fire crossed that ocean Another mad man done struck again Rain and fire crossed that ocean Another mad man done struck again (This means people from the U.S. have come across the ocean to kidnap Africans to use them as slaves in the U.S.)
Sitting down here fallout shelter Paint my walls, twice a week Sitting down here fallout shelter Think about the slaves, long time ago (This, I think, is calling the slave cabins a fallout shelter or a place of safety. "Paint my walls twice week" this may be a cultural reference to the fact that slaves used to paint the walls of their homes blue, thinking that color was sacred and would keep evil spirits or the devil out of there home)
Ten million slaves crossed that Ocean They had shackles on Their Legs Ten million slaves crossed that Ocean They had Shackles on Their Legs (The chorus tells us the song is in fact about slavery)
@SamH270 I agree with your interpretation. <br /> <br /> Sun goes out, you'll be standing<br /> You'll be standing all alone<br /> Sun goes out, you'll be standing<br /> You'll be standing all alone<br /> <br /> (I believe this is referring to when we die -sun goes out- that we will -be standing all alone- under God's judgement and those that brought, bought and abused slaves will be punished. The only consolation a slave could have.)
Great song, Im only just now discovering this guy and i think this reflects his anti-prejudiced mindset as well as how all the past enslaved deserve redemption