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.
When I get into the game
But it's always the same
I'm the man with the name
Hip Eponymous poor boy, poor boy
Call me whatever you may
I ain't stoppin' the train
I got a pill for the pain
Hip Eponymous poor boy, poor boy
And I know
That I can't defeat you
Yeah but you don't worry now
I ain't going to preach to you
Well, there ya go
But I'll be going right there with you
Yeah wherever you'll be
You'll be lookin' at me
But don't get out of your chair
Or put a bow in your hair
You might be makin' 'em stare
So leave the care to the poor boy, the poor boy
And that's the name of the game
Keep on stayin' the same
Ain't nobody to blame
Nobody but the poor boy, the poor boy
Well okay
So you fell asleep today
What's funny to me though
Is that you did that yesterday
You might think I'm mad
Doing all the things that I don't need to do
But while you're laughing at me
Well I'll be laughing at you
So I get into the game
But always keep it the same
And I'll be usin' your name
But they'll be yellin' at me "poor boy, poor boy"
But I'll be happy for you
'Cause you got nothin' to do
And I'll be singin' the blues
Walkin' around singin' "poor boy, poor boy"
Sometimes
A cold shiver comes over me
And it turns me on
When the song takes over me
But alright
I can't fight it the odds are against me
But I can't sit still
Because I know that I will
And you'll be watching me girl
Takin' over the world
Let the stripes unfurl
Gettin' rich singin' "poor boy, poor boy"
And I'll be comin' to play
I do it every day
And the title will stay
Hip Eponymous poor boy, poor boy
Yeah
But it's always the same
I'm the man with the name
Hip Eponymous poor boy, poor boy
Call me whatever you may
I ain't stoppin' the train
I got a pill for the pain
Hip Eponymous poor boy, poor boy
And I know
That I can't defeat you
Yeah but you don't worry now
I ain't going to preach to you
Well, there ya go
But I'll be going right there with you
Yeah wherever you'll be
You'll be lookin' at me
But don't get out of your chair
Or put a bow in your hair
You might be makin' 'em stare
So leave the care to the poor boy, the poor boy
And that's the name of the game
Keep on stayin' the same
Ain't nobody to blame
Nobody but the poor boy, the poor boy
Well okay
So you fell asleep today
What's funny to me though
Is that you did that yesterday
You might think I'm mad
Doing all the things that I don't need to do
But while you're laughing at me
Well I'll be laughing at you
So I get into the game
But always keep it the same
And I'll be usin' your name
But they'll be yellin' at me "poor boy, poor boy"
But I'll be happy for you
'Cause you got nothin' to do
And I'll be singin' the blues
Walkin' around singin' "poor boy, poor boy"
Sometimes
A cold shiver comes over me
And it turns me on
When the song takes over me
But alright
I can't fight it the odds are against me
But I can't sit still
Because I know that I will
And you'll be watching me girl
Takin' over the world
Let the stripes unfurl
Gettin' rich singin' "poor boy, poor boy"
And I'll be comin' to play
I do it every day
And the title will stay
Hip Eponymous poor boy, poor boy
Yeah
Lyrics submitted by mike, edited by mistermark
Hip (Eponymous) Poor Boy Lyrics as written by John Anthony White
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I got the lazy idea from the line, "Well okay you fell asleep today/ What's funny to me though is you did that yesterday." That to me does suggest that he's saying she doesn't do much and that while she's busy doing nothing he'll be doing "all those things I don't need to do."
I don't think he's really trying to start anything, but the song does come across as somewhat spiteful. I'm not saying it's a dark and mean attitude he carries around all the time, but a moment of expression and thought that occurred to him enough to write a song about it. Maybe now it's expelled!
I think you got that right. I think ''Hypocritical Kiss'' is about her as well, and in that song he says that he knows they both have their faults. He always spoke very loving of Meg, he also often said what he admired about her. I can't imagine he really doesn't like her anymore.