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.
It must be getting early
Clocks are running late
Paint by numbers morning sky
Looks so phony
Dawn is breaking everywhere
Light a candle, curse the glare
Draw the curtains, I don't care
'Cause it's alright
I will get by
I will get by
I will get by
I will survive
I see you got your list out
Say your piece and get out
Yes, I get the gist of it
But it's alright
Sorry that you feel that way
The only thing there is to say
Every silver lining's got a
Touch of grey
I will get by
I will get by
I will get by
I will survive
It's a lesson to me
The Ables and the Bakers and the C's
The ABC's
We all must face
And try to keep a little grace
It's a lesson to me
The Deltas and the East and the Freeze
The ABC's
We all think of
And try to keep a little love
I know the rent is in arrears
The dog has not been fed in years
It's even worse than it appears
But it's alright
Cows are giving kerosene
The kid can't read at seventeen
The words he knows are all obscene
But it's alright
I will get by
I will get by
I will get by
I will survive
The shoe is on the hand, it fits
There's really nothing much to it
Whistle through your teeth and spit
'Cause it's alright
Oh, well, a touch of grey
Kind of suits you anyway
That was all I had to say, and
It's alright
I will get by
I will get by
I will get by
I will survive
We will get by
We will get by
We will get by
We will survive
We will get by
We will get by
We will get by
Clocks are running late
Paint by numbers morning sky
Looks so phony
Dawn is breaking everywhere
Light a candle, curse the glare
Draw the curtains, I don't care
'Cause it's alright
I will get by
I will get by
I will get by
I will survive
I see you got your list out
Say your piece and get out
Yes, I get the gist of it
But it's alright
Sorry that you feel that way
The only thing there is to say
Every silver lining's got a
Touch of grey
I will get by
I will get by
I will get by
I will survive
It's a lesson to me
The Ables and the Bakers and the C's
The ABC's
We all must face
And try to keep a little grace
It's a lesson to me
The Deltas and the East and the Freeze
The ABC's
We all think of
And try to keep a little love
I know the rent is in arrears
The dog has not been fed in years
It's even worse than it appears
But it's alright
Cows are giving kerosene
The kid can't read at seventeen
The words he knows are all obscene
But it's alright
I will get by
I will get by
I will get by
I will survive
The shoe is on the hand, it fits
There's really nothing much to it
Whistle through your teeth and spit
'Cause it's alright
Oh, well, a touch of grey
Kind of suits you anyway
That was all I had to say, and
It's alright
I will get by
I will get by
I will get by
I will survive
We will get by
We will get by
We will get by
We will survive
We will get by
We will get by
We will get by
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i dont really get this song could someone explain it? all i know is that this song was playing while i was being born ... so its the first song i ever heard
OK... Yes, the song is about riding through the hard times, no matter how bad they get. <br /> how ever there are other things to pay attention to in the song...<br /> <br /> Must be getting early(losing time reference)<br /> Clocks are running late(in a time where things seem to be working right)<br /> Paint by number morning sky,Looks so phony(things don’t seem as beautiful as they once were)<br /> Dawn is breaking everywhere<br /> Light a candle, curse the glare <br /> Draw the curtains <br /> I don't care 'cause<br /> It's all right(in this part he's making a reference to the reassuring light in dark times, and that we shouldn't depend on it or fear darkness)<br /> (chorus)I will get by, I will get by, I will get by, I will survive (we will make it even in the worst of times)<br /> I see you've got your list out<br /> Say your piece and get out(during these times the draft was a big thing, people hated the list they used to read off)<br /> Yes I get the gist of it <br /> but it's all right(the people reading the list are just doing their jobs)<br /> Sorry that you feel that way(they believe it's for a good cause)<br /> The only thing there is to say<br /> Every silver lining’s got a <br /> Touch of grey(how can you look on the bright side, if even the bright side has a bit of bleakness)<br /> (chorus)(we will make it even in the worst of times)<br /> It's a lesson to me<br /> The Ables and the Bakers and the C's (in those time the military lettering was not “alpha, beta, cedar, delta”, it was “able, baker, etc., (they changed some of it because the enemy found out their coding system, but that another story) but the lists they read, were in alphabetical order)<br /> The A B C's we all must face<br /> And try to keep a little grace(they had no choice in the matter, they had to just deal)<br /> It's a lesson to me<br /> The deltas and the east and the freeze (more military alphabetical references)<br /> The A B C's we all think of<br /> Try to give a little love.(just show those who leave, you care for them)<br /> I know the rent is in arrears<br /> The dog has not been fed in years<br /> It's even worse than it appears(times are hard all over)<br /> but it's all right.<br /> Cows giving kerosene(the milk from the cows at that time were getting people sick due to the chemicals people were spraying near the pastures)<br /> Kid can't read at seventeen(families were fleeing to get away from the draft, and in the process of doing so, the kids were not able to attend schools)<br /> The words he knows are all obscene(when people everywhere are fighting, there foul language is on every ones mouth, kids hear that and mimic it)<br /> but it's all right<br /> (chorus)(we will make it even in the worst of times)<br /> The shoe is on the hand it fits(a reference to “if the shoe fits" combined with “the government has a hand in everything")<br /> There's really nothing much to it (not really much anyone can do)<br /> Whistle through your teeth and spit (just keep your mouth shut, don’t even open it to whistle or spit )<br /> cause it's all right.(but we will still press on)<br /> Oh well a Touch Of Grey<br /> Kind of suits you anyway.(well, darkness suits some people)<br /> That was all I had to say <br /> It's all right...<br /> (chorus)(not only will i be OK)<br /> We will get by, We will get by<br /> We will get by, We will survive (we all will)<br /> <br /> meaning by Nino Mazzola (takes a bow)