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.
[McGruff]
I'm from the east coast, I don't care, snatch police coats
Leave the beast roast, Gruff disturb the peace in me, ghost
Walk wit notes, plus I'm known for puttin forks in throats
Armed robbery, strong-arm, dope fiend yolks
No joke, the burner, that'll total leave you unwoke
Heartless, body niggas, roll a blunt or smoke
Spaced out loke, sherm head, my eyes turn red
One time I came in off my high level, and guys was dead
Hold my own, from my Harlem home to Riker's
Up state and down state, wit them hillbilly crackers
They got the average black man labeled as a savage
Before that cabbage, he turn to pick a bad habit
[Chorus 2X]
Word to miz, my frontin Harlem Kidz get biz
Ready to set it, and we don't really care you is
[McGruff]
Let me tell ya, how I live, I put paraphernalia
Wait, Herb McGruff ain't got vowels to show ya
Kingpin stay sharp, supreme thinkin
Gettin money out my ass, who think my cream sinkin
Heroine don, yeah, private jet airborne
Me and my niggas countin figgas wit that fresh gear on
Sip Crystal, skip the Mo', don't like Fidel Castro
Sportin diamond rings, like Don King wit that wild afro
It's time no, knowhatimean? Harlem bout to blow
No fake jacks, get the green, go all out for dough
Where I'm from son, snitches be dialin 911
But those the one you find in the alley filled wit 9 dumb-dums
[Chorus 2X]
[McGruff]
Aiyo, my town's real, it ain't no fairy tale here
Homicide Harlem, blaow, what's the problem?
We rob 'em, take all the jewels and the lucci
Cowards that grave, hit the fools wit the uzi
I lived this, handle all my business, leave no witness
God bless the guy who test the fine dress
To die F to BS, rock the cock this leg GS
Gruff be hittin virg, the skin, couldn't be sex the stretch
Hold my own, I'm own as the black Al Capone
Dangerzone, we pack chrome and wack out your dome
I want three nine, and Linic is where you will find this menace
Puffin la, sippin Harvey's Bristol, wine and Guinness
[Chorus 4X]
I'm from the east coast, I don't care, snatch police coats
Leave the beast roast, Gruff disturb the peace in me, ghost
Walk wit notes, plus I'm known for puttin forks in throats
Armed robbery, strong-arm, dope fiend yolks
No joke, the burner, that'll total leave you unwoke
Heartless, body niggas, roll a blunt or smoke
Spaced out loke, sherm head, my eyes turn red
One time I came in off my high level, and guys was dead
Hold my own, from my Harlem home to Riker's
Up state and down state, wit them hillbilly crackers
They got the average black man labeled as a savage
Before that cabbage, he turn to pick a bad habit
[Chorus 2X]
Word to miz, my frontin Harlem Kidz get biz
Ready to set it, and we don't really care you is
[McGruff]
Let me tell ya, how I live, I put paraphernalia
Wait, Herb McGruff ain't got vowels to show ya
Kingpin stay sharp, supreme thinkin
Gettin money out my ass, who think my cream sinkin
Heroine don, yeah, private jet airborne
Me and my niggas countin figgas wit that fresh gear on
Sip Crystal, skip the Mo', don't like Fidel Castro
Sportin diamond rings, like Don King wit that wild afro
It's time no, knowhatimean? Harlem bout to blow
No fake jacks, get the green, go all out for dough
Where I'm from son, snitches be dialin 911
But those the one you find in the alley filled wit 9 dumb-dums
[Chorus 2X]
[McGruff]
Aiyo, my town's real, it ain't no fairy tale here
Homicide Harlem, blaow, what's the problem?
We rob 'em, take all the jewels and the lucci
Cowards that grave, hit the fools wit the uzi
I lived this, handle all my business, leave no witness
God bless the guy who test the fine dress
To die F to BS, rock the cock this leg GS
Gruff be hittin virg, the skin, couldn't be sex the stretch
Hold my own, I'm own as the black Al Capone
Dangerzone, we pack chrome and wack out your dome
I want three nine, and Linic is where you will find this menace
Puffin la, sippin Harvey's Bristol, wine and Guinness
[Chorus 4X]
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.