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.
Bar illuminations shiver
Shadows on the street
The Cypriot sailors
Find the world back at their feet
Endless days of tobacco nights by the radio
I wonder if they'll ever go to heaven
The beer mats are wading
In a table of froth
The bar girl is serving
With a check drying cloth
She'll bend over backwards even though she's knackered
I wonder if there'll have her up in heaven
Like the sailors I walk home, it's six a.m.
Heaven's round the corner in a comfortable bed
And I love her.
The officers and seamen
Elbow places at the bar
Words that tempt the goddess
Don't leave beats upon the heart
But she'll service his pleasure
And never know the treasure
That his wife keeps forever up in heaven
The first light of the morning
Proves too much for the street
No one sees each other
Just their presence there to meet
Your chin takes to stubble at the sight of a funnel
And the gangplank is no trouble up to heaven
Shadows on the street
The Cypriot sailors
Find the world back at their feet
Endless days of tobacco nights by the radio
I wonder if they'll ever go to heaven
The beer mats are wading
In a table of froth
The bar girl is serving
With a check drying cloth
She'll bend over backwards even though she's knackered
I wonder if there'll have her up in heaven
Like the sailors I walk home, it's six a.m.
Heaven's round the corner in a comfortable bed
And I love her.
The officers and seamen
Elbow places at the bar
Words that tempt the goddess
Don't leave beats upon the heart
But she'll service his pleasure
And never know the treasure
That his wife keeps forever up in heaven
The first light of the morning
Proves too much for the street
No one sees each other
Just their presence there to meet
Your chin takes to stubble at the sight of a funnel
And the gangplank is no trouble up to heaven
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Great version of a great song,
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The song is obviously about a bunch of drunken sailors in a bar, out partying until 6 am. Funny that this was my favorite song when I was like 5-6 years old (my dad was a big Squeeze fan) and I didn't realize it was a drinking song until much later. LOL!