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 smell a rat, baby
I smell a rat, baby
You'd better watch out
I smell a rat
You won't tell me where you been
Whiskey running all down your chin
I smell a rat, baby
I smell a rat, baby
You'd better watch out
I smell a rat, baby
You come stumbling down the hall
Bump your head up against the wall
Knock down drunk, that ain't all
I know you been having yourself a ball
I smell a rat, baby
I smell a rat, baby
You'd better watch out
I smell a rat, baby
You'd better catch up with some of those rats, baby
'Cause I smell it
Ah, I know you ain't nothing but a old big ole' warf rat
Ah, you'd better watch those rats running under your foot boy,
They're gonna get ya
Ah, I smell a rat
I smell a rat, baby
You'd better watch out
I smell a rat
You won't tell me where you been
Whiskey running all down your chin
I smell a rat, baby
I smell a rat, baby
You'd better watch out
I smell a rat, baby
You come stumbling down the hall
Bump your head up against the wall
Knock down drunk, that ain't all
I know you been having yourself a ball
I smell a rat, baby
I smell a rat, baby
You'd better watch out
I smell a rat, baby
You'd better catch up with some of those rats, baby
'Cause I smell it
Ah, I know you ain't nothing but a old big ole' warf rat
Ah, you'd better watch those rats running under your foot boy,
They're gonna get ya
Ah, I smell a rat
Lyrics submitted by IllToast2That
I Smell a Rat Lyrics as written by Mike Stoller Jerry Leiber
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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