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.
Satan gave me a taco
And it made me really sick
The chicken was all raw
And the grease was mighty thick
The rice was all rancid
And the beans were so hard
I was getting kinda dizzy
Eatin' all the lard
There was aphids on the lettuce
And I ate every one
And after I was done
The salsa melted off my tongue
Pieces of tortilla
Got stuck in my throat
And the stains on my clothes
Burned a hole through my coat
My stomach was a'tremblin'
And I broke out in a rash
I was so dry and thirsty
And I didn't have no cash
So I went and found a hose
Tore off all my clothes
Turned on the water
And it shot right up my nose
Some old lady came along
And she thought I was a freak
So she beat me with her handbag
'til I could hardly speak
I was lying there naked
My body badly bruised
In a pool of my own blood
Unconscious and confused
Well the cops came and got me
And threw me in their van
And I woke up on the ceiling
And I couldn't find my hand
They took me to the judge
His eyes a'glowin' red
The courtroom was filled
With witches and the dead
Well the sheriff was a hell-hound
With fangs and claws
The prisoners were tied up
And chained to the walls
The air was getting thick
The smoke was getting thicker
The judge read the verdict
Said "cut off his head!"
Well they placed me on the altar
And they raised up the axe
My head was about to explode
When I noticed the marshall stacks
I noticed all the smoke machines
Cameras and the lights
Some guy with a microphone
Runnin' around dancin' in tights
And I noticed the crew
And the band playin' down below
And I realized I was in a rock video
So I went and joined the band
And I went out on tour
And I smoked a lot of heroin
And I passed out in manure
I made out with the groupies (aw yeah)
Started fires backstage (aw yeah, start 'em up)
Made a lot of money (aw yeah, I'm makin' it)
And I gave it all away (give it all to me)
Well the band got killed (aw, bunch of losers)
So I started a solo career (aw haw, yeah
And I won all the awards (get 'em all now)
And I drank all the beer (drink it all up; get funky)
And I opened up the taco stand (aw haw, etc.)
Just to smell the smell
Cookin' with the devil
Fryin' down in hell
And it made me really sick
The chicken was all raw
And the grease was mighty thick
The rice was all rancid
And the beans were so hard
I was getting kinda dizzy
Eatin' all the lard
There was aphids on the lettuce
And I ate every one
And after I was done
The salsa melted off my tongue
Pieces of tortilla
Got stuck in my throat
And the stains on my clothes
Burned a hole through my coat
My stomach was a'tremblin'
And I broke out in a rash
I was so dry and thirsty
And I didn't have no cash
So I went and found a hose
Tore off all my clothes
Turned on the water
And it shot right up my nose
Some old lady came along
And she thought I was a freak
So she beat me with her handbag
'til I could hardly speak
I was lying there naked
My body badly bruised
In a pool of my own blood
Unconscious and confused
Well the cops came and got me
And threw me in their van
And I woke up on the ceiling
And I couldn't find my hand
They took me to the judge
His eyes a'glowin' red
The courtroom was filled
With witches and the dead
Well the sheriff was a hell-hound
With fangs and claws
The prisoners were tied up
And chained to the walls
The air was getting thick
The smoke was getting thicker
The judge read the verdict
Said "cut off his head!"
Well they placed me on the altar
And they raised up the axe
My head was about to explode
When I noticed the marshall stacks
I noticed all the smoke machines
Cameras and the lights
Some guy with a microphone
Runnin' around dancin' in tights
And I noticed the crew
And the band playin' down below
And I realized I was in a rock video
So I went and joined the band
And I went out on tour
And I smoked a lot of heroin
And I passed out in manure
I made out with the groupies (aw yeah)
Started fires backstage (aw yeah, start 'em up)
Made a lot of money (aw yeah, I'm makin' it)
And I gave it all away (give it all to me)
Well the band got killed (aw, bunch of losers)
So I started a solo career (aw haw, yeah
And I won all the awards (get 'em all now)
And I drank all the beer (drink it all up; get funky)
And I opened up the taco stand (aw haw, etc.)
Just to smell the smell
Cookin' with the devil
Fryin' down in hell
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