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's how the hustle goes
See what the jukebox knows
Put my last quarter on
I play "Authority Song"
Honesty or mystery?
Tell me I'm not scared anymore
I got no secret purpose
I don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
Do I-I-I-I-I?
I don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
Do I-I-I-I-I?
(I don't seem obvious do)
The DJ never has it
J-A-M-C, Automatic
(Do I-I-I-I-I?)
If those were Roy's headphones
You bet he'd play "What Goes On"
(Do I-I-I-I-I?)
Honesty or mystery?
Tell me I'm not scared anymore (I-I-I, I-I-I)
I got no secret purpose
I don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
Do I-I-I-I-I?
I don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
Do I-I-I-I-I?
I don't seem obvious, do I?
Do I-I-I?
Oh, well, I'm here
That means something doesn't it?
Uh-huh, won't you dance with me a little bit?
Ah-ah, you don't notice
'Cause the music's too loud
It's how the hustle goes
See what the jukebox knows (do I-I-I-I-I)
(Do I-I-I-I-I)
Put my last quarter on
I play "Authority Song" (do I-I-I-I-I)
Honesty or mystery?
Tell me I'm not scared anymore (I-I-I, I-I-I)
Say anything you want, I'm ready
I'm not scared anymore (I-I-I, I-I-I)
Honesty or mystery?
Won't something else just tell me
I'm not scared anymore (I-I-I, I-I-I)
I got no secret purpose
I don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
I don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
I don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
I don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
I don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
I don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
I don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
Don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
See what the jukebox knows
Put my last quarter on
I play "Authority Song"
Honesty or mystery?
Tell me I'm not scared anymore
I got no secret purpose
I don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
Do I-I-I-I-I?
I don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
Do I-I-I-I-I?
(I don't seem obvious do)
The DJ never has it
J-A-M-C, Automatic
(Do I-I-I-I-I?)
If those were Roy's headphones
You bet he'd play "What Goes On"
(Do I-I-I-I-I?)
Honesty or mystery?
Tell me I'm not scared anymore (I-I-I, I-I-I)
I got no secret purpose
I don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
Do I-I-I-I-I?
I don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
Do I-I-I-I-I?
I don't seem obvious, do I?
Do I-I-I?
Oh, well, I'm here
That means something doesn't it?
Uh-huh, won't you dance with me a little bit?
Ah-ah, you don't notice
'Cause the music's too loud
It's how the hustle goes
See what the jukebox knows (do I-I-I-I-I)
(Do I-I-I-I-I)
Put my last quarter on
I play "Authority Song" (do I-I-I-I-I)
Honesty or mystery?
Tell me I'm not scared anymore (I-I-I, I-I-I)
Say anything you want, I'm ready
I'm not scared anymore (I-I-I, I-I-I)
Honesty or mystery?
Won't something else just tell me
I'm not scared anymore (I-I-I, I-I-I)
I got no secret purpose
I don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
I don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
I don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
I don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
I don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
I don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
I don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
Don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
Lyrics submitted by emojimmy57
The Authority Song Lyrics as written by Richard E Burch James Christopher Adkins
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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The Beatles and the Velvet Underground both had songs called "What Goes On"--hard to know which JEW is referring to.
"Authority Song" is a John Mellencamp song.
just from listening to the song it seems like it should say 'i have no secret purpose' on a few of those "i got no single purposes" but thats just me.
whoa i said that wrong. it seems like it should say "i got no secret purpose" instead of "i got no single purose" a few times in there. but that's just from what i've heard from listening to the song, altho most of j.e.w.'s songs you can't really tell some of the lyrics from just listening so maybe i'm wrong.
should say- i got no single purpose. not- i got no secret purpose. there. took me 3 tires to say it.
are you blonde
besides, that woulnt make any sense
hahahahaha i agree with nicksavestheday5 they wouldn't write lyrics that didn't make sense. think about it.
I love this song! It's one of my favorites right now b/c I can really realte to it. I think this song is about asking someone out, or going up to them and talking to them for the first time. It's like a comment on the whole dating scene. Does anyone know what song he's talking a/b "what goes on"? ik there's a beetles song called that and another 1 by the velvet underground but idk. And also "authority song" itself. If anyone knows, please tell me b/c I have no clue
great song luv it. but.......whats: "J A M C Automatic" "What Goes On" and who is Roy??
@honestyormystery Jesus & Mary Chain "Automatic"
does no one know??
Saw them perform this on live. Form the title and the line that says,"I'm not scared anymore..." it seems to be not afraid of authority, but I have no clue what it actually means.