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.
Isabelle is a belly dancer
With a kleptomaniac's restraint
Tried stealing Helena's hand basket, made a fast getaway,
But McQueen she ain't
At the courtroom Joshua judges her ruthlessly
On account of Ruth walking out on him
In the Big House Isabelle is a-telling all
To the chaplin who's become her friend
She says,
I don't know why you care
I don't know what's up there
I don't know where or how
Just take me to your leader now
Take me to your leader now
Justin is adustin' to
The odor from Theodore's Evergreen Incense
But aroma therapy don't make him any younger
Than Oliver's All Liver Supplements
His late mate Marrilee merrily said immortality
Can't be bought in a jar
This just in: Justin's had enough of cure-alls,
Gonna quiz the neighbor kid with the
Fish on his car
He says,
I don't know why you care
I don't know what's up there
I don't know how it's done
Just take me to your leader, son
I see you've got the joy
I've seen you live it, boy
It's real, it's free, it's fun,
So take me to your leader, son
Take me to your leader, son
They don't know why we care
They don't know what's out there
They don't know how it's done
Let's take 'em to our Leader's Son
They see we've got they joy
They see us live it, oi
It's real, it's free, it's fun,
Let's take 'em to our Leader's Son
With a kleptomaniac's restraint
Tried stealing Helena's hand basket, made a fast getaway,
But McQueen she ain't
At the courtroom Joshua judges her ruthlessly
On account of Ruth walking out on him
In the Big House Isabelle is a-telling all
To the chaplin who's become her friend
She says,
I don't know why you care
I don't know what's up there
I don't know where or how
Just take me to your leader now
Take me to your leader now
Justin is adustin' to
The odor from Theodore's Evergreen Incense
But aroma therapy don't make him any younger
Than Oliver's All Liver Supplements
His late mate Marrilee merrily said immortality
Can't be bought in a jar
This just in: Justin's had enough of cure-alls,
Gonna quiz the neighbor kid with the
Fish on his car
He says,
I don't know why you care
I don't know what's up there
I don't know how it's done
Just take me to your leader, son
I see you've got the joy
I've seen you live it, boy
It's real, it's free, it's fun,
So take me to your leader, son
Take me to your leader, son
They don't know why we care
They don't know what's out there
They don't know how it's done
Let's take 'em to our Leader's Son
They see we've got they joy
They see us live it, oi
It's real, it's free, it's fun,
Let's take 'em to our Leader's Son
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The first verse talks about a belly dancer named Isabelle who has a problem with stealing (with a kleptomaniac's restraint) so she stole Helena's handbasket but wasn't fast enough to run away because she wasn't as fast as McQueen i.e. Steve McQueen the "bad guy" in old 50s-80s movies. In court, Joshua judged her ruthlessly because his wife Ruth walked out on him and he took out his anger on Isabelle. Afterwards, in prison (the Big House), Isabelle becomes friends with the chaplain and talks to her about all her problems.
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