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 want my money back
I'm down here drowning in your fat
You got me on my knees
Praying for everything you lack
I ain't afraid of you
I'm just a victim of your fears
You cower in your tower
Praying that I'll disappear
I got another plan
One that requires me to stand
On the stage or in the street
Don't need no microphone or beat
And when you hear this song
If you ain't dead sing along
Bang and strum to these here drums
Till you get where you belong
I got a list of demands
Written on the palm of my hands
I ball my fist, and you're gonna
Know where I stand
We living hand to mouth
You wanna be somebody? See somebody?
Try and free somebody?
I got a list of demands
Written on the palm of my hands
I ball my fist, and you're gonna
Know where I stand
We living hand to mouth
Hand to mouth
I wrote a song for you today
While I was sitting in my room
I jumped up on my bed today
And played it on the broom
I didn't think that it would be a song
That you would hear
But when I played it in my head
I made you reappear
I wrote a video for it
And I acted out each part
And then I took your picture out
And taped it to my heart
I've taped you to my heart, dear girl
I've taped you to my heart
And if you pull away from me
You'll tear my life apart
I got a list of demands
Written on the palm of my hands
I ball my fist, and you're gonna
Know where I stand
We living hand to mouth
You wanna be somebody? See somebody?
Try and free somebody?
I got a list of demands
Written on the palm of my hands
I ball my fist, you're gonna
Know where I stand
We living hand to mouth, hand to mouth
Ecstacy, suffering, echinacea, bufferin
We aim to remember what we choose to forget
God's just a baby and her diaper is wet
Call the police
I'm strapped to the teeth
And liable to disregard
Your every belief
Call on the law
I'm fixin' to draw
A line between what is and seems
And call up a brawl
Callin' 'em now
'Cause I'm about to go pow
I'm standing on the threshold
Of the ups and the downs
Call up a truce
Because I'm about to break loose
Protect ya neck 'cause son
I'm breaking out of my noose
I got a list of demands
Written on the palm of my hands
I ball my fist, and you're gonna
Know where I stand
We living hand to mouth
You wanna be somebody? See somebody?
Try and free somebody?
I got a list of demands
Written on the palm of my hands
I ball my fist, and you're gonna
Know where I stand
We living hand to mouth
Hand to mouth
I got a list of demands
Written on the palm of my hands
I ball my fist, and you're gonna
Know where I stand
We living hand to mouth
You wanna be somebody? See somebody?
Try and free somebody?
I got a list of demands
Written on the palm of my hands
I ball my fist, and you're gonna
Know where I stand
We living hand to mouth
Hand to mouth
I'm down here drowning in your fat
You got me on my knees
Praying for everything you lack
I ain't afraid of you
I'm just a victim of your fears
You cower in your tower
Praying that I'll disappear
I got another plan
One that requires me to stand
On the stage or in the street
Don't need no microphone or beat
And when you hear this song
If you ain't dead sing along
Bang and strum to these here drums
Till you get where you belong
I got a list of demands
Written on the palm of my hands
I ball my fist, and you're gonna
Know where I stand
We living hand to mouth
You wanna be somebody? See somebody?
Try and free somebody?
I got a list of demands
Written on the palm of my hands
I ball my fist, and you're gonna
Know where I stand
We living hand to mouth
Hand to mouth
I wrote a song for you today
While I was sitting in my room
I jumped up on my bed today
And played it on the broom
I didn't think that it would be a song
That you would hear
But when I played it in my head
I made you reappear
I wrote a video for it
And I acted out each part
And then I took your picture out
And taped it to my heart
I've taped you to my heart, dear girl
I've taped you to my heart
And if you pull away from me
You'll tear my life apart
I got a list of demands
Written on the palm of my hands
I ball my fist, and you're gonna
Know where I stand
We living hand to mouth
You wanna be somebody? See somebody?
Try and free somebody?
I got a list of demands
Written on the palm of my hands
I ball my fist, you're gonna
Know where I stand
We living hand to mouth, hand to mouth
Ecstacy, suffering, echinacea, bufferin
We aim to remember what we choose to forget
God's just a baby and her diaper is wet
Call the police
I'm strapped to the teeth
And liable to disregard
Your every belief
Call on the law
I'm fixin' to draw
A line between what is and seems
And call up a brawl
Callin' 'em now
'Cause I'm about to go pow
I'm standing on the threshold
Of the ups and the downs
Call up a truce
Because I'm about to break loose
Protect ya neck 'cause son
I'm breaking out of my noose
I got a list of demands
Written on the palm of my hands
I ball my fist, and you're gonna
Know where I stand
We living hand to mouth
You wanna be somebody? See somebody?
Try and free somebody?
I got a list of demands
Written on the palm of my hands
I ball my fist, and you're gonna
Know where I stand
We living hand to mouth
Hand to mouth
I got a list of demands
Written on the palm of my hands
I ball my fist, and you're gonna
Know where I stand
We living hand to mouth
You wanna be somebody? See somebody?
Try and free somebody?
I got a list of demands
Written on the palm of my hands
I ball my fist, and you're gonna
Know where I stand
We living hand to mouth
Hand to mouth
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
List of Demands (Reparations) Lyrics as written by Saul Williams
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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