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 never traveled further North
Than old Van Courtland Park
And never further South than the aquarium
I've seen the charm of Jersey City,
But first let me remark
I saw it from the empire state solarium
But we've been putting nickels
In the postal savings bank
And when those nickels pile up,
We can toddle off in swank
And I don't mean an ordinary cook's tour
I mean a cabin de-luxe tour
Someday we'll go places
New lands and new faces
The day we quit punching the clock
The future looks pleasant,
But at present
Let's take a walk around the block.
You're just the companion
I want at Grand Canyon
for throwing old blades down the rock
The money we have`ll go for travel
Meantime, let's walk around the block.
Gangway, we'll begin
When our, ship comes in
I'll sit on your lap
All over the map
To London in May time
To Venice in play time
To Paris in time for a frock
To Boston in bean time
Darling, meantime
Let's take a walk around the block.
In Winter at Christmas,
We'll visit the isthmus
And see how they lock up a lock
And then in Caracas, on a jackass,
We'll take a ride around the block.
We'll keep to our promise,
To visit St. Thomas
And then at Jamaica we'll dock
The prospect is thrilling,
Still I am willing,
Just now to walk around the block.
Onward, to Cathay
Then to Mandalay
Boom on to Bangkok
Perhaps Vladivostok
We'll send the folks cables,
Accumulate labels,
Buy souvenirs till we're in hock,
But since we are flat in old Manhattan
Let's take a walk around the block.
Than old Van Courtland Park
And never further South than the aquarium
I've seen the charm of Jersey City,
But first let me remark
I saw it from the empire state solarium
But we've been putting nickels
In the postal savings bank
And when those nickels pile up,
We can toddle off in swank
And I don't mean an ordinary cook's tour
I mean a cabin de-luxe tour
Someday we'll go places
New lands and new faces
The day we quit punching the clock
The future looks pleasant,
But at present
Let's take a walk around the block.
You're just the companion
I want at Grand Canyon
for throwing old blades down the rock
The money we have`ll go for travel
Meantime, let's walk around the block.
Gangway, we'll begin
When our, ship comes in
I'll sit on your lap
All over the map
To London in May time
To Venice in play time
To Paris in time for a frock
To Boston in bean time
Darling, meantime
Let's take a walk around the block.
In Winter at Christmas,
We'll visit the isthmus
And see how they lock up a lock
And then in Caracas, on a jackass,
We'll take a ride around the block.
We'll keep to our promise,
To visit St. Thomas
And then at Jamaica we'll dock
The prospect is thrilling,
Still I am willing,
Just now to walk around the block.
Onward, to Cathay
Then to Mandalay
Boom on to Bangkok
Perhaps Vladivostok
We'll send the folks cables,
Accumulate labels,
Buy souvenirs till we're in hock,
But since we are flat in old Manhattan
Let's take a walk around the block.
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Let's Take a Walk Around the Block Lyrics as written by Harold Arlen E.y. Harburg
Lyrics © S.A. MUSIC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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.
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