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.
John and Lucky saw me off
The whistle called the times
Just six days out to the coast
Just six days behind
But I've seen every state since then
And where my boys have gone
Is known to God and four strong winds
And I'm here all alone
Now ten long years have somehow passed
Since I've seen my hometown
And times I've spent upon those streets
And faint familiar sounds
Still whisper gently in my ear
And play upon my eyes
And I'll hold on to my memories
'Til one by one they die
I can hear your passing trains
And I wonder what they see
And somewhere's out my window
Are the places I might be
Now I'm chasing down those pretty little boys
They wander through my mind
Maybe they'll remember me
When I work off my time
But I still belong to everyone
And if my sleep allows
Well then all those boys
Will dance tonight
With me and my old pals
But I'm running every single night
And every single days
Lord I've tried everything I know
To somehow find my way
Back to that one place in time
That fond memory endows
Me and my old pals
The whistle called the times
Just six days out to the coast
Just six days behind
But I've seen every state since then
And where my boys have gone
Is known to God and four strong winds
And I'm here all alone
Now ten long years have somehow passed
Since I've seen my hometown
And times I've spent upon those streets
And faint familiar sounds
Still whisper gently in my ear
And play upon my eyes
And I'll hold on to my memories
'Til one by one they die
I can hear your passing trains
And I wonder what they see
And somewhere's out my window
Are the places I might be
Now I'm chasing down those pretty little boys
They wander through my mind
Maybe they'll remember me
When I work off my time
But I still belong to everyone
And if my sleep allows
Well then all those boys
Will dance tonight
With me and my old pals
But I'm running every single night
And every single days
Lord I've tried everything I know
To somehow find my way
Back to that one place in time
That fond memory endows
Me and my old pals
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
My Old Pals Lyrics as written by Richard Emery Stekol
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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