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.
Skeletons in your closet
Itchin' to come outside
Messin' with your conscience
In a way your face can't hide
Oh things are gettin' real funky
Down at the old corral
And it's not the skunks that are stinkin'
It's the stinkin' lies you tell, yeh
What did your mama tell you about lies
She said it wasn't polite to tell a white one
What did your daddy tell you about lies
He said one white one turns into a black one
So, it's gettin' ready to blow
It's gettin' ready to show
Somebody shot off at the mouth and
We're gettin' ready to know
It's gettin' ready to drop
It's gettin' ready to shock
Somebody done turned up the heater
An'a it's gettin' ready to pop
Crevices in your pantry
Now what do we have in here
Havin' a daytime nightmare
Has always been your biggest fear
Oh things are gettin' real crucial
Up the old wazoo
Yet you cry, why am I the victim?
When the culprit's why-o-you, oo oh
What did your mama tell you about lies
She said it wasn't polite to tell a white one
What did your daddy tell you about lies
He said one white one turns into a black one
So, it's gettin' ready to blow
It's gettin' ready to show
Somebody shot off at the mouth and
We're gettin' ready to know
It's gettin' ready to drop
It's gettin' ready to shock
Somebody done turned up the heater
An'a it's gettin' ready to pop
It's gettin' ready to seep
You're gettin' ready to freak
Somebody done picked up the talk box
We're gettin' ready to speak
It's gettin' ready to jive
It's gettin' ready to gel
Somebody done gone let the lid off
It's gettin' ready to smell
They're gettin' ready to deal
You're gettin' ready to ill
Somebody done just dropped the big dime
They're gettin' ready to squeal
It's gettin' ready to turn
We're gettin' ready to learn
Somebody done fired up the brimstone
You're gettin' ready to burn
It's gettin' ready to shake
You're gettin' ready to ache
Somebody done snitched to the news crew
It's gettin' ready to break
You're gettin' ready to lie
They're gettin' ready to spy
Somebody's been put on the hot seat
They're gettin' ready to fry
Itchin' to come outside
Messin' with your conscience
In a way your face can't hide
Oh things are gettin' real funky
Down at the old corral
And it's not the skunks that are stinkin'
It's the stinkin' lies you tell, yeh
What did your mama tell you about lies
She said it wasn't polite to tell a white one
What did your daddy tell you about lies
He said one white one turns into a black one
So, it's gettin' ready to blow
It's gettin' ready to show
Somebody shot off at the mouth and
We're gettin' ready to know
It's gettin' ready to drop
It's gettin' ready to shock
Somebody done turned up the heater
An'a it's gettin' ready to pop
Crevices in your pantry
Now what do we have in here
Havin' a daytime nightmare
Has always been your biggest fear
Oh things are gettin' real crucial
Up the old wazoo
Yet you cry, why am I the victim?
When the culprit's why-o-you, oo oh
What did your mama tell you about lies
She said it wasn't polite to tell a white one
What did your daddy tell you about lies
He said one white one turns into a black one
So, it's gettin' ready to blow
It's gettin' ready to show
Somebody shot off at the mouth and
We're gettin' ready to know
It's gettin' ready to drop
It's gettin' ready to shock
Somebody done turned up the heater
An'a it's gettin' ready to pop
It's gettin' ready to seep
You're gettin' ready to freak
Somebody done picked up the talk box
We're gettin' ready to speak
It's gettin' ready to jive
It's gettin' ready to gel
Somebody done gone let the lid off
It's gettin' ready to smell
They're gettin' ready to deal
You're gettin' ready to ill
Somebody done just dropped the big dime
They're gettin' ready to squeal
It's gettin' ready to turn
We're gettin' ready to learn
Somebody done fired up the brimstone
You're gettin' ready to burn
It's gettin' ready to shake
You're gettin' ready to ache
Somebody done snitched to the news crew
It's gettin' ready to break
You're gettin' ready to lie
They're gettin' ready to spy
Somebody's been put on the hot seat
They're gettin' ready to fry
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