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.
Up in the morning and out to school
Mother says there be no work next year
Qualifications once the Golden Rule are now just pieces of paper
Just because you're better than me doesn't mean I'm lazy.
Just because you're going forwards doesn't mean I'm going backwards.
Well if you look the part well then you'll get the job in last year's trousers and your oldschool shoes
The truth is son it's a buyer's market they can afford to pick and choose
Just because you're better than me doesn't mean I'm lazy
Just because I dress like this doesn't mean I'm a Communist.
Well the factory's are closing and the army's full
I don't know what I'm going to do
But I've come to see in the land of the free
There's only room for the chosen few
Well at 21 you're atop of the scrap heap
At 16 you were top of your class
Well I dropped outta high school in Cambell, CA
Got a guitar and I never looked back
Mother says there be no work next year
Qualifications once the Golden Rule are now just pieces of paper
Just because you're better than me doesn't mean I'm lazy.
Just because you're going forwards doesn't mean I'm going backwards.
Well if you look the part well then you'll get the job in last year's trousers and your oldschool shoes
The truth is son it's a buyer's market they can afford to pick and choose
Just because you're better than me doesn't mean I'm lazy
Just because I dress like this doesn't mean I'm a Communist.
Well the factory's are closing and the army's full
I don't know what I'm going to do
But I've come to see in the land of the free
There's only room for the chosen few
Well at 21 you're atop of the scrap heap
At 16 you were top of your class
Well I dropped outta high school in Cambell, CA
Got a guitar and I never looked back
Lyrics submitted by black_cow_of_death
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Great version of a great song,
it just kicks ass.. and i like the chorus alot its really cool
great song
excellent song and the only good video i have seen in years.
Who the fuck is the unkown bastard again, i used to know, from what i heard yes he is in another band, but i went braindead.... help anyone?!
Hey, jesssica, he's from Rancid.
But okay, he doesn't say "There's only room or a dozen few", he says "there's only room for a chosen few". And... the "quantifications once the golden rule" line, I swear he says "qualifications something the golden rule"... I don't know what goes in the "something" part cause there's a blip in my copy of the song right there, and all the lyrics I can find say the same thing as this one. If anyone knows, please help.
shyheidi, all i remember is that he WASN'T from rancid. but hey, i don't know, i will have to ask my friend who told me who it was next time i see him
ah yes! it's all comin back to me!! but i don't know for sure.. but i think it's the forgottens roadie or someone from the infamous crew, the skunx. ahh i dunno.
im pretty sure - almost positive - he IS from rancid. & shyheidi... the qualifications line is correct.
no he definitly CAN NOT BE FROM RANCID, tim armstrong produced it and played quitar for just one song (subteranien) and Lars is already the frontman of the bastards. That leaves Brett the drummer or matt freman the bass player--- the unknown bastard plays guitar. so that logicly makes the unknown basterd NOT from rancid
i think its better that hes left unknown