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.
A keynote speaker's about to come on now
I just wanted to say a few words about him
And you all know who he is
Talib Kweli
Please, hold your applause 'til the end
We are glad
To come
And hear you speak
We love it!
Kweli doesn't like me to talk about this but
One time we were drivin'
Through the Mississippi Delta
And there was a brotha runnin' up the side of the road
And he didn't have any, shoes on
He didn't have a, shirt on
And I started to drive right by this man
But Kweli said, "Stop the car, beause that brotha, might be in trouble"
And I stopped the car
Kweli said to the man, he said
"Brotha, are you OK? Do you need a ride somewhere?"
And the man looked at Kweli and said
"Shh, I'm escapin'"
And Kweli took him by the hand and said
"My brotha, you didn't get the memo
We have been free
For some time now"
Well, I'm windin' it up
Please welcome
A good friend, scholar, ghetto philosopher
Three time Nobel Peace Prize winner
First black man to pilot an air craft
The nigga that made up the Nike Swoosh
The man that made cool Aid say, "Ohh Yea"
Brooklyn's own
Talib Kweli
I just wanted to say a few words about him
And you all know who he is
Talib Kweli
Please, hold your applause 'til the end
We are glad
To come
And hear you speak
We love it!
Kweli doesn't like me to talk about this but
One time we were drivin'
Through the Mississippi Delta
And there was a brotha runnin' up the side of the road
And he didn't have any, shoes on
He didn't have a, shirt on
And I started to drive right by this man
But Kweli said, "Stop the car, beause that brotha, might be in trouble"
And I stopped the car
Kweli said to the man, he said
"Brotha, are you OK? Do you need a ride somewhere?"
And the man looked at Kweli and said
"Shh, I'm escapin'"
And Kweli took him by the hand and said
"My brotha, you didn't get the memo
We have been free
For some time now"
Well, I'm windin' it up
Please welcome
A good friend, scholar, ghetto philosopher
Three time Nobel Peace Prize winner
First black man to pilot an air craft
The nigga that made up the Nike Swoosh
The man that made cool Aid say, "Ohh Yea"
Brooklyn's own
Talib Kweli
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Keynote Speaker Lyrics as written by Talib Greene
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Downtown Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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