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.
Hey, let's get right back to the basics,
Every movement made-up is useless,
Same old shape with the brand new sound
Write it off as progress is pointless
That's not who you were in the eighties,
Stealing your ideas from other cities,
Get it straight when you're upside down,
Things are looking stale,
It's time to float around
I was sick of the spirit,
Sick of image and sound,
Getting thoughts of leaving,
But things are letting me down
Now, I know,
That it's all been done before,
And it will all be done again,
So pick up the trends,
You dumb Americans
Now, I know,
That it's all been done before,
And it will all be done again,
So pick up the trends
Burn it down and rip off the pages,
The kids all over right through the ages
Making sure that it works for now,
Cut your hair and paint your stupid faces,
Let's pretend that we can get together,
Yeah, yeah, let's enjoy one another,
Useless talking about that now,
Everybody still likes to fuck around
Take it good on the capture
Going back to the place
And things aren't moving much further
To falling back on their arse
Now, I know,
That it's all been done before,
And it will all be done again,
So pick up the trends,
You dumb Americans
Now, I know,
That it's all been done before,
And it will all be done again,
So pick up the trends
New York City loves to mess around with the LA sound, the LA sound,
New York City loves to mess around with the LA sound, the LA sound,
C'mon
New York City loves to mess around with the LA sound, the LA sound,
New York City loves to mess around with the LA sound,
Oh yeah, the LA sound
Now, I know,
That it's all been done before,
And it will all be done again,
So pick up the trends,
You dumb Americans
Now, I know,
That it's all been done before,
And it will all be done again,
So pick up the trends
Every movement made-up is useless,
Same old shape with the brand new sound
Write it off as progress is pointless
That's not who you were in the eighties,
Stealing your ideas from other cities,
Get it straight when you're upside down,
Things are looking stale,
It's time to float around
I was sick of the spirit,
Sick of image and sound,
Getting thoughts of leaving,
But things are letting me down
Now, I know,
That it's all been done before,
And it will all be done again,
So pick up the trends,
You dumb Americans
Now, I know,
That it's all been done before,
And it will all be done again,
So pick up the trends
Burn it down and rip off the pages,
The kids all over right through the ages
Making sure that it works for now,
Cut your hair and paint your stupid faces,
Let's pretend that we can get together,
Yeah, yeah, let's enjoy one another,
Useless talking about that now,
Everybody still likes to fuck around
Take it good on the capture
Going back to the place
And things aren't moving much further
To falling back on their arse
Now, I know,
That it's all been done before,
And it will all be done again,
So pick up the trends,
You dumb Americans
Now, I know,
That it's all been done before,
And it will all be done again,
So pick up the trends
New York City loves to mess around with the LA sound, the LA sound,
New York City loves to mess around with the LA sound, the LA sound,
C'mon
New York City loves to mess around with the LA sound, the LA sound,
New York City loves to mess around with the LA sound,
Oh yeah, the LA sound
Now, I know,
That it's all been done before,
And it will all be done again,
So pick up the trends,
You dumb Americans
Now, I know,
That it's all been done before,
And it will all be done again,
So pick up the trends
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This song is so full of crap. I'm not even from New York or have any kind of reason to defend them, but whoever wrote this song doesn't know their music history. Punk? Started in New York City, then L.A. copied and added their own style. Rap? Started in New York City, then L.A. copied and added their own style. In fact I can't think of a single genre that started in L.A. And I also find it funny that most of the good indie musicians nowadays come from Brooklyn, and L.A. doesn't really have a good indie scene right now, yet this song sounds so much like a New York indie rock song but the band wants you to believe that it's actually New York that loves the L.A. sound.