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.
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Separated, I cut myself clean from a past
That comes back in my darkest of dreams
Been apprehended by a spiritual force
And a grace that replaced all the me I divorced
I saw a man with a tat on his big fat belly
It wiggled around like marmalade jelly
It took me a while to catch what it said,
'Cause I had to match the rhythm of his belly with my head
"Jesus Saves" is what it raved in a typical tattoo green
Now he stood on a box in the middle of the city and he claimed he had a dream
He said:
What will people think when they hear that I'm a Jesus freak?
What will people do when they find that it's true?
I don't really care if they label me a Jesus freak
There ain't no disguising the truth
There ain't no disguising the truth
No, I ain't into hiding the truth
Kamikaze, my death is gain
I've been marked by my Maker, peculiar display (peculiar display)
The high and lofty, they see me as weak
But I won't live and die for the power they seek, yeah
There was a man from the desert with naps in his head
The sand that he walked was also his bed
The words that he spoke made the people assume
There wasn't too much left in the upper room
With skins on his back and hair on his face,
They thought he was strange by the locusts he ate
See the Pharisees tripped when they heard him speak
Until the king took the head of this Jesus freak
What will people think when they hear that I'm a Jesus freak?
What will people do when they find that it's true?
I don't really care if they label me a Jesus freak
There ain't no disguising the truth
No, I ain't into hiding the truth
People say I'm strange,
Does it make me a stranger
My best friend was born in a manger
People say I'm strange,
Does it make me a stranger
My best friend was born in a manger
What will people think when they hear that I'm a Jesus freak?
What will people do when they find that it's true?
I don't really care if they label me a Jesus freak
There ain't no disguising the truth
What will people think (what will people think?)
What will people do (what will people do?)
I don't really care (what else can I say?)
There ain't no disguising the truth (Jesus is the way)
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Separated, I cut myself clean from a past
That comes back in my darkest of dreams
Been apprehended by a spiritual force
And a grace that replaced all the me I divorced
I saw a man with a tat on his big fat belly
It wiggled around like marmalade jelly
It took me a while to catch what it said,
'Cause I had to match the rhythm of his belly with my head
"Jesus Saves" is what it raved in a typical tattoo green
Now he stood on a box in the middle of the city and he claimed he had a dream
He said:
What will people think when they hear that I'm a Jesus freak?
What will people do when they find that it's true?
I don't really care if they label me a Jesus freak
There ain't no disguising the truth
There ain't no disguising the truth
No, I ain't into hiding the truth
Kamikaze, my death is gain
I've been marked by my Maker, peculiar display (peculiar display)
The high and lofty, they see me as weak
But I won't live and die for the power they seek, yeah
There was a man from the desert with naps in his head
The sand that he walked was also his bed
The words that he spoke made the people assume
There wasn't too much left in the upper room
With skins on his back and hair on his face,
They thought he was strange by the locusts he ate
See the Pharisees tripped when they heard him speak
Until the king took the head of this Jesus freak
What will people think when they hear that I'm a Jesus freak?
What will people do when they find that it's true?
I don't really care if they label me a Jesus freak
There ain't no disguising the truth
No, I ain't into hiding the truth
People say I'm strange,
Does it make me a stranger
My best friend was born in a manger
People say I'm strange,
Does it make me a stranger
My best friend was born in a manger
What will people think when they hear that I'm a Jesus freak?
What will people do when they find that it's true?
I don't really care if they label me a Jesus freak
There ain't no disguising the truth
What will people think (what will people think?)
What will people do (what will people do?)
I don't really care (what else can I say?)
There ain't no disguising the truth (Jesus is the way)
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