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.
This is the story of a boy named Ted
If his mother said, Ted, be good, he would
She told him tales about his soldier dad
But it made her sad, then she'd cry, oh my
Ted used to tell her he'd be twice as good
And he knew he could, because in his head
He said, mommy don't worry, now Teddy boy's here
Taking good care of you
Mommy don't worry, your teddy boy's here
Teddy's going to see you through
Then came the day she found herself a man
Teddy turned and ran, far away, okay
He couldn't stand to see his mother in love
With another man, he didn't know, oh no
He found a place where he could settle down
And from time to time, in his head
He said, mommy don't worry, now Teddy boy's here
Taking good care of you
Mommy don't worry, your teddy boy's here
Teddy's going to see you through
She said, Teddy don't worry, now mommy is here
Taking good care of you
Teddy don't worry, your mommy is here
Mommy's going to see you through
This is the story of a boy named Ted
If his mother said, Ted, be good, he would
If his mother said, Ted, be good, he would
She told him tales about his soldier dad
But it made her sad, then she'd cry, oh my
Ted used to tell her he'd be twice as good
And he knew he could, because in his head
He said, mommy don't worry, now Teddy boy's here
Taking good care of you
Mommy don't worry, your teddy boy's here
Teddy's going to see you through
Then came the day she found herself a man
Teddy turned and ran, far away, okay
He couldn't stand to see his mother in love
With another man, he didn't know, oh no
He found a place where he could settle down
And from time to time, in his head
He said, mommy don't worry, now Teddy boy's here
Taking good care of you
Mommy don't worry, your teddy boy's here
Teddy's going to see you through
She said, Teddy don't worry, now mommy is here
Taking good care of you
Teddy don't worry, your mommy is here
Mommy's going to see you through
This is the story of a boy named Ted
If his mother said, Ted, be good, he would
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The song is most likely about John Lennon, and his early life and troubles. Let's assert the lyrics.
Ted is John. The "Teddy Boy" is probably referring to the Teddy fashion that was popular when John was young. John was very respectful to his mother Julia, so when she said to "Be good," then of course, he would. The "soldier dad" is his father Alf, who left John and Julia when John was only 5. This kind of memory would make any mother sad. The chorus is John conforting his mother. After Alf left, Julia started seeing a man named John Dykins. They were married, and John was sent away to Julia's sister, Mimi. While this isn't exactly "running far away," I think that part of the song represents this part of John's life. The final part of the song is John's memories of his mother, and how she still was with him, even after her tragic death by a car accident in 1958.
The song is very touching andsad if you think about it this way.
The song is most likely about John Lennon, and his early life and troubles. Let's assert the lyrics.
Ted is John. The "Teddy Boy" is probably referring to the Teddy fashion that was popular when John was young. John was very respectful to his mother Julia, so when she said to "Be good," then of course, he would. The "soldier dad" is his father Alf, who left John and Julia when John was only 5. This kind of memory would make any mother sad. The chorus is John conforting his mother. After Alf left, Julia started seeing a man named John Dykins. They were married, and John was sent away to Julia's sister, Mimi. While this isn't exactly "running far away," I think that part of the song represents this part of John's life. The final part of the song is John's memories of his mother, and how she still was with him, even after her tragic death by a car accident in 1958.
The song is very touching andsad if you think about it this way.