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.
Too many people going underground
Too many reaching for a piece of cake
Too many people pulled and pushed around
Too many waiting for that lucky break
That was your first mistake
You took your lucky break and broke it in two
Now what can be done for you?
You broke it in two
Too many people sharing party lines
Too many people never sleeping late
Too many people paying parking fines
Too many hungry people losing weight
That was your first mistake
You took your lucky break and broke it in two
Now what can be done for you?
You broke it in two
Too many people preaching practices
Don't let them tell you what you wanna be
Too many people holding back
This is crazy and baby, it's not like me
That was your last mistake
I find my love awake and waiting to be
Now what can be done for you?
She's waiting for me
Too many reaching for a piece of cake
Too many people pulled and pushed around
Too many waiting for that lucky break
That was your first mistake
You took your lucky break and broke it in two
Now what can be done for you?
You broke it in two
Too many people sharing party lines
Too many people never sleeping late
Too many people paying parking fines
Too many hungry people losing weight
That was your first mistake
You took your lucky break and broke it in two
Now what can be done for you?
You broke it in two
Too many people preaching practices
Don't let them tell you what you wanna be
Too many people holding back
This is crazy and baby, it's not like me
That was your last mistake
I find my love awake and waiting to be
Now what can be done for you?
She's waiting for me
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this song is amazing, the first track off of pauls greatest solo album "Ram" it's about John Lennon: You took your lucky break and broke it in two" and "too many people preaching practices" a refrence to John and Yoko. Amazing song must hear if your a beatles fan
"Piss off Cake"??? Yeah, that makes sense. (eyes rolling). It's PIECE OF CAKE, just like in the lyrics!
Great song. Parts of it definitely could be directed at John and Yoko (although I don't think every McCartney song is about John, like some other people keep posting).
To me it sounds like a response to reading the newspaper or watching the news on tv. McCartney has a way of infusing a theme and nonsense words to come up with something unique, and it usually works well.
"Too Many People Sharing Party Lines Too Many People Never Sleeping Late Too Many People Paying Parking Fines Too Many Hungry People Losing Weight"
I was being a dork this morning and reading random Wikipedia pages, and got to thinking: maybe this verse has a semi-hidden meaning. Lennon was known to enjoy cocaine and, with that in mind, phrases like "party lines" and imagery of people "losing weight" and "never sleeping late" would kinda fit into a jab about that. "Parking fines" admittedly does not fit, but it's just a thought.
think of that revolutionary 1966 LP, the one which forever changed expectations that popular music would have lyrics only about love. 3rd track: John's ode to the languorous pleasures of slow mornings (enhanced by hypnopompic states). an anthem in praise of sleeping late!<br /> <br /> the aforementioned may seem to overemphasize more-innocent-sounding interpretations, particularly in retrospect. in '66 however some disguises remained a necessity. even today, not everyone recognizes "Got To Get You Into My Life" as Paul's surprised exclamation of love for marijuana. the listener's mind substitutes a young woman for the actual object of affection. though the Beatles didn't invent this dodge, they were sharp enough to adopt it.
I think that Paul has more talent than John Lennon because this song rocks better than "How Do You Sleep?" However, I think John seems to be a more emotional lyricist, which is his strong point. I first didn't know what this song means but now there's an explanation I could only feel sad for the two former friends. Former band members almost always seem to show bitterness to each other
@PaulDavidHewsoncol He has more talent because of one song? That's pretty dimwitted and shortsighted. Macca also wrote "Bip Bop" and "Mamunia", utter shitebag songs. And "How Do You Sleep" wasn't meant to 'rock'. I think "Cold Turkey" rocks better than pretty much ANY Paul solo song. Oh and that "Silly Love Songs". Aaaahhh, Macca crappa.
@PaulDavidHewsoncol I’m sorry but “The only thing you done was yesterday and since you’ve gone you’re just another day” (referencing TWO of Paul’s works) is far more clever and amusing than anything Paul ever wrote during this dispute. Savage, basically the origins of a diss track.
@PaulDavidHewsoncol
nah this song is about john lennon paul himself has said it. The beginning does say "piss off cake" it might not make sense to us but it was one of those random things that john used to do in his songs. The verses are pretty much all in reference to john and yoko. the last verse says "this is crazy and maybe its not like me" means how paul has always been considered the good one and maybe a harsh song would be expected from john but not paul himself.
Well, It is quite obvious that Paul referred to John this entire song. "too many people never sleeping late" may refer to the laziness of John and "too many reaching for a piece of cake" may refer to the easy life Lennon wanted to live from then on. " I found my love awake and wainting to be" obviously refer to Linda Eastmas who was from that point one Paul´s partner.
'I find my love awake and waiting to be(made love to),now what can be done for you, she's waiting for me' I heard this was a referrence to the fact that on one occasion John found himself alone with Linda and apparently made a pass at her (tried it on) which she rejected. John left and when Paul returned she told him what had happened. So it's Paul saying 'yar boo sucks' she chose me over you!
Interesting perpective...sheds new light, thanks! Took a listen agian and I can see that, sweet! "Yar boo..." too funny!
The opening lyrics Paul sings at the beginning "Piss Off Cake" was directed torward John Lennon, at the time when they were bitching at each other for a while after the Beatles split
Don't delete me, man. That's just not cool.
In a magazine article a few years back Macca himself said it was "Piss Off Cake" in the first line...
this song rocks! paul is a genius. that's his lucky break.
this is what i think....... the lucky break in two speaks about paul and john's success as songwriters... that's the two, it may have come to his mind... makes sense when i think about it.