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.
First, there's this little woman
Says that she's gonna be a star, right
Says that when she moves to Hollywood
Everything's gonna be alright, Oh yeah
Next, there's this little brother
Thinks that he is ultra cool, yeah
He's got three quarters of heroin
Drops dead in nursery school, yeah (yeah)
Nexy there's his older sister
Thinks that she is an intelligent feminist
She's got all the money for college
But she lacks all the knowledge
(All the knowledge, yeah, for the college, yeah, all the knowledge, for college)
Everyone wants to be on top, oh yeah (x3)
Everyone wants to be on top, oh yeah (yeah)
On top of the world, yeah (yeah) (x2)
On top of the world, on top on top on top of the...
Everyone wants to be on top, oh yeah (wants to be be be)
Wants to be on top, oh yeah (wants to be be be)
Wants to be on top, oh yeah
Wants to be wants to be
On top of the world...
On top of the world
Where everyone is sooo high
Then the push moves up to a shove
He says, I'm not gonna take this shit no more man
I'[m gonna get my own money
My own drugs, my own house, my own whores
I'm gonna move from this town
I'm leaving
Everyone wants to be on top, oh yeah (be on top, oh yeah) (x2)
Everyone wants to be on top on top on top on top on top of the...
Everyone wants to be wants to be wants to be the one
Wants to be wants to be wants to be on top of the world
(Every every one every every one every every one every little one)
And I'm sitting on top of the world
What a mind trip mind trip
In the eyes of the world
Everyone in the world (in the world)
And I'm sitting sitting up on the world
And everyone up here is going to get high
Because that's the reality
In the eyes of the ocean (the ocean)
And we're going to get high
Says that she's gonna be a star, right
Says that when she moves to Hollywood
Everything's gonna be alright, Oh yeah
Next, there's this little brother
Thinks that he is ultra cool, yeah
He's got three quarters of heroin
Drops dead in nursery school, yeah (yeah)
Nexy there's his older sister
Thinks that she is an intelligent feminist
She's got all the money for college
But she lacks all the knowledge
(All the knowledge, yeah, for the college, yeah, all the knowledge, for college)
Everyone wants to be on top, oh yeah (x3)
Everyone wants to be on top, oh yeah (yeah)
On top of the world, yeah (yeah) (x2)
On top of the world, on top on top on top of the...
Everyone wants to be on top, oh yeah (wants to be be be)
Wants to be on top, oh yeah (wants to be be be)
Wants to be on top, oh yeah
Wants to be wants to be
On top of the world...
On top of the world
Where everyone is sooo high
Then the push moves up to a shove
He says, I'm not gonna take this shit no more man
I'[m gonna get my own money
My own drugs, my own house, my own whores
I'm gonna move from this town
I'm leaving
Everyone wants to be on top, oh yeah (be on top, oh yeah) (x2)
Everyone wants to be on top on top on top on top on top of the...
Everyone wants to be wants to be wants to be the one
Wants to be wants to be wants to be on top of the world
(Every every one every every one every every one every little one)
And I'm sitting on top of the world
What a mind trip mind trip
In the eyes of the world
Everyone in the world (in the world)
And I'm sitting sitting up on the world
And everyone up here is going to get high
Because that's the reality
In the eyes of the ocean (the ocean)
And we're going to get high
Lyrics submitted by Androgyne
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