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.
Beneath the residue of film
Beneath the chemicals
That the picture split
The ouija board had
Spelled its name
In tiki torches set aflame
Taking rations from the ballet box
Cursing like sweet tarts
Increase the dosage
Count back from 10
And it was written down
Touching earth in a capital faunt
Heat seeking gums bleeding
Fingers snapping
At the catacomb stabbings
Taking rations from the ballet box
Cursing like sweet tarts
Adhesive she said
Don't stick to me
Inseminating motives of lukewarm persistence
Let the thieves in
Through the front door
Let them take what they've been missing
It's as if
Someone raised the
Price of dying
To maximum vend again
Turn slowly for maximum vend.
Beneath the chemicals
That the picture split
The ouija board had
Spelled its name
In tiki torches set aflame
Taking rations from the ballet box
Cursing like sweet tarts
Increase the dosage
Count back from 10
And it was written down
Touching earth in a capital faunt
Heat seeking gums bleeding
Fingers snapping
At the catacomb stabbings
Taking rations from the ballet box
Cursing like sweet tarts
Adhesive she said
Don't stick to me
Inseminating motives of lukewarm persistence
Let the thieves in
Through the front door
Let them take what they've been missing
It's as if
Someone raised the
Price of dying
To maximum vend again
Turn slowly for maximum vend.
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Me thinks this is a song about our healthcare system. Hmmmmm............. Maybe this song is about how this system is corrupt (taking rations from the ballet box), costly (someone raised the price of dying to maximum vend again") and futile ("inseminating motives of lukewarm persistance"). Just an opinion
I have no idea so that sounds good to me...I love this song though, just thought everyone should know
i dunno if it connects with the lyrics in any way, but, Heliotrope literally means "to turn away from the sun"
actually, it's any plant (like a sunflower) that turns toward the sun.
nacho, that makes sense to me, especially how we "let the thieves in through the front door" reminds of how when the nurse leaves she says the doctor will be in to see you shortly, and then I'm forced to pay 100 dollars for something as simple as a sideache
i don't think at the drive-in would write a song about health care being they are not based on any specific political agenda
but they do make lyrics about social issues, and the healthcare system would also be a social issue aswell as a political issue
i think this song is about the death penalty. first of all theyre from texas, so it would be apt. second of all, think of lines like "increase the dosage/ count back from ten" and "its as if someone raised the price of dying to maximum vend again." also, "capital faunt" could refer to capital punishment. ballot box could refer to the political agenda behind the killing of criminals. a good example of this is mumia abu-jamal. check out his book all things censored. cataombs refer to death again. thieves could refer to re-taking of lives after death penalty was questioned in supreme court, ruled okay and started killing off people again. just my idea anyway.
One time before they played it live cedric talked about how ' you always has a friend who jumps out and bits you in the ass, snake in the grass' and goes on to recite the lyrics the ouija board had spelled its name in tiki torches set aflame etc.....
hmm I could go with healthcare or death penalty on this one.. lemme reread. (purely literary motive) looking at it, it seems more towards healthcare, the theives quote doesn't seem to work so well with death penalty.
"taking rations from the ballot box" probably a reference to the fact that the people pay for it.