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.
I was listen to a guitar, bass drum thing
Started hearing chest screech, thought I had a gut strength
Then I saw a big band, right on the pavement
Violins and heavy boots, wondering where the wave went
You!
What?
I'm talking to you, Your wearing the wrong colored scarf
So what?
Well your playing your tune, to the Tarrence enemy Hauf
Hey you!
What?
I'm talking to you, Concentrate on the game
What for?
Well the whistle just blew, the conductors going to complain
Play the song, on the wall, come on pass me the ball
Don't let the violinist, trouble your playing
Fierce looking people ,but their managers gay
Syncopation to the sound of the ball
Trouble with the ref, on in the concert hall
Hey you!
What?
That cellist was found, that conductor must be blind
It's a girl!
whew
Oh look at the crowd
This session has run into extra time
Sit back, face off the senior, doesn't walk alone
Music has arrived at the football stadium
A logical step would be spears at the Palladium
Fifty thousand watts screaming out for a goal
Why don't they blow a whistle in rock and roll
Hey you!
What?
Get back in your seat The song has just begun
So what?
We need two encores to beat, and the band is faced to run
Hey you!
What?
Get down off of the wire, the game is still strong
Say's who?
Well I'll never talk, Kicking my piano around
All you fans of the score, if you give a show of support
Will?
Win.
Started hearing chest screech, thought I had a gut strength
Then I saw a big band, right on the pavement
Violins and heavy boots, wondering where the wave went
You!
What?
I'm talking to you, Your wearing the wrong colored scarf
So what?
Well your playing your tune, to the Tarrence enemy Hauf
Hey you!
What?
I'm talking to you, Concentrate on the game
What for?
Well the whistle just blew, the conductors going to complain
Play the song, on the wall, come on pass me the ball
Don't let the violinist, trouble your playing
Fierce looking people ,but their managers gay
Syncopation to the sound of the ball
Trouble with the ref, on in the concert hall
Hey you!
What?
That cellist was found, that conductor must be blind
It's a girl!
whew
Oh look at the crowd
This session has run into extra time
Sit back, face off the senior, doesn't walk alone
Music has arrived at the football stadium
A logical step would be spears at the Palladium
Fifty thousand watts screaming out for a goal
Why don't they blow a whistle in rock and roll
Hey you!
What?
Get back in your seat The song has just begun
So what?
We need two encores to beat, and the band is faced to run
Hey you!
What?
Get down off of the wire, the game is still strong
Say's who?
Well I'll never talk, Kicking my piano around
All you fans of the score, if you give a show of support
Will?
Win.
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Football Fugue Lyrics as written by Thomas Astley Edwin Peter Dennis Blandfor Townshend
Lyrics © Spirit Music Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
I was listening to a guitar, bass, drum thing Started hearing chairs squeak Thought I heard a gut string Then I saw a big band right on the pavement Violins and heavy boots Wondering where the wave went
"You!" "What?" "I'm talking to you! You're wearing the wrong color scarf." "So what?" "Well, you're playing your tune to the terrors of the enemy hall."
"Hey you!" "What?" "I'm talking to you! Concentrate on the game!" "What for?" "Well, the whistle just blew. The conductor's prone to complain." "Play the song on the wall, come on son, pass me the ball."
Don't let the violinists trouble your play. Fierce looking people, but their manager's gay. Syncopation to the sound of the ball. Trouble with the ref out in the concert hall.
"Hey you!" "What?" "That cellist was fouled. The conductor must be blind!" "It's a goal!" "Whoo!" "Ooh, look at the crowd. This session's run to extra time." "Sit back, or piss off and sing "You'll never walk alone."
Music has arrived at the football stadium. A logical step would be Spurs at the Palladium Fifty thousand watts screaming out for a goal Why don't they blow a whistle in rock and roll?
"Hey you!" "What?" "Get back to your seat. The song has only just begun." "So what?" "We need two encores to beat. And the band needs space to run."
"Hey you!" "What?" "Get down off the wire. The spirit of the game's still strong." "Says who?" "Well, I'll never tire of kicking my piano along." "All you fans of the sport if you give us your support, we'll win?"
“Ted Astley composed this track over which I wrote the lyric. It reminded me of an orchestral battlefield. With the musicians wearing big heavy boots. Hence the analogy with football and hooliganism.“
Another Scoop liner notes