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.
I want my money back! I want my money back!
It's all or nothing, and nothing's all I ever get
Everytime I turn it on, I burn it up and burn it out
It's always something, there's always something going wrong
That's the only guarantee, that's what this is all about
It's a never ending attack, everything's a lie and that's a fact
Life is a lemon and I want my money back
And all the morons and all the stooges with their coins
They're the ones who make the rules,
It's not a game, it's just a rout
There's desperation, there's desperation in the air
It leaves a stain on all your clothes
And no detergent gets it out
And we're always slipping thru the cracks
Slippin'
Then the movie's over, fade to black
Life is a lemon and I want my money back
I want my money back, I want my money back
What about love?
It's defective - it's always breaking in half
What about sex?
It's defective - it's never built to really last
What about your family?
It's defective - all the batteries are shot
What about your friends?
They're defective - all the parts are out of stock
What about hope?
It's defective - it's corroded and decayed
What about faith?
It's defective - it's tattered and it's frayed
What about your Gods?
They're defective - They forgot the warranty
What about your town?
It's defective - it's a dead end street to me
What about your school?
It's defective - it's a pack of useless lies
What about your work?
It's defective - it's a crock and then you die
What about your childhood?
It's defective - it's dead and buried in the past
What about your future?
It's defective - and you can shove it up your ass!
I want my money back - life is a lemon
I want my money back - life is a lemon, life is a lemon
It's all or nothing, and nothing's all I ever get
Everytime I turn it on, I burn it up and burn it out
It's a never ending attack,
Everything's a lie and that's a fact
Life is a lemon and I want my money back
And we're always slipping thru the cracks
Slippin'
Then the movie's over, fade to black
Life is a lemon and I want my money back
Back, back, back, back!
I want my money back, I want my money back
Life is a lemon
It's all or nothing, and nothing's all I ever get
Everytime I turn it on, I burn it up and burn it out
It's always something, there's always something going wrong
That's the only guarantee, that's what this is all about
It's a never ending attack, everything's a lie and that's a fact
Life is a lemon and I want my money back
And all the morons and all the stooges with their coins
They're the ones who make the rules,
It's not a game, it's just a rout
There's desperation, there's desperation in the air
It leaves a stain on all your clothes
And no detergent gets it out
And we're always slipping thru the cracks
Slippin'
Then the movie's over, fade to black
Life is a lemon and I want my money back
I want my money back, I want my money back
What about love?
It's defective - it's always breaking in half
What about sex?
It's defective - it's never built to really last
What about your family?
It's defective - all the batteries are shot
What about your friends?
They're defective - all the parts are out of stock
What about hope?
It's defective - it's corroded and decayed
What about faith?
It's defective - it's tattered and it's frayed
What about your Gods?
They're defective - They forgot the warranty
What about your town?
It's defective - it's a dead end street to me
What about your school?
It's defective - it's a pack of useless lies
What about your work?
It's defective - it's a crock and then you die
What about your childhood?
It's defective - it's dead and buried in the past
What about your future?
It's defective - and you can shove it up your ass!
I want my money back - life is a lemon
I want my money back - life is a lemon, life is a lemon
It's all or nothing, and nothing's all I ever get
Everytime I turn it on, I burn it up and burn it out
It's a never ending attack,
Everything's a lie and that's a fact
Life is a lemon and I want my money back
And we're always slipping thru the cracks
Slippin'
Then the movie's over, fade to black
Life is a lemon and I want my money back
Back, back, back, back!
I want my money back, I want my money back
Life is a lemon
Lyrics submitted by spliphstar
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As depressing and negative as it is - it's still one of his best songs - especially when performed live!
@zoton Totally True! I’ve listened to it a lot today already...pumps me up! But then, I always find myself REALLY wanting my money/life/time back (from a specific jerk) and then there’s like a ‘come down’ as I know all I can do is carry on. He won’t get caught. He’ll never reflect back on his transgressions made against us. But, I get fired up again because he’s history to me! And, mostly I think: He’s still (name withheld) and I’d rather be Me; even with all crap he left me to do and stole and, on and on....so, I listen Again, just for the fun of that powerful song!