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.
You know, sometimes I sit at home, you know, and I watch TV
And I wonder what would be like to live some place like
You know, The Cosby Show, Ozzie and Harriet
You know, where cops come and got your cat outta the tree
All your friends died of old age
But you see, I live in South Central, Los Angeles
And unfortunately, shit ain't like that
It's real fucked up
Goddamn, what a brother gotta do
To get a message through
To the red and white and blue
What? I gotta die before you realize
I was a brother with opened eyes?
The world's insane while you drink champagne
And I'm living in black reign
You try to ban the A.K
I got ten of them stashed
With a case of hand grenades
(Tell us what to do?) Fuck you!
(Tell us what to do?) Fuck you!
(Tell us what to do?) Fuck you!
(Tell us what to do?) Fuck you!
You'd know what to do
If your kid got killed on the way to school
Or a cop shot your kid in the back yard
Shit would hit the fan motherfucker and it would hit real hard
I hear it every night, another gun fight
The tension mounts, on with the body count
Yo Beatmaster V, take these motherfuckers to South Central
Ha ha ha, yeah, fuck that
I hear it every night, another gun fight
The tension mounts, on with the body count
Last weekend thirty seven kids killed in gang warfare in my back yard
No! No! No!
Yo Ernie C, take these motherfuckers home, yeah
Yeah we in the house, Body Count fool, 1991 motherfucker
I hear it every night, another gun fight
The tension mounts, on with the body count
Goddamn what a brother gotta do
To get a message through
To the red and white and you?
What? I gotta die before you realize
I was a nigga with opened eyes?
The world's insane while you drink champagne
And I'm living in black reign
Don't you hear the guns?
You stupid, dumb, dick sucking, bum politicians
(Tell us what to do?) Fuck you!
(Tell us what to do?) Fuck you!
The tension mounts
And I wonder what would be like to live some place like
You know, The Cosby Show, Ozzie and Harriet
You know, where cops come and got your cat outta the tree
All your friends died of old age
But you see, I live in South Central, Los Angeles
And unfortunately, shit ain't like that
It's real fucked up
Goddamn, what a brother gotta do
To get a message through
To the red and white and blue
What? I gotta die before you realize
I was a brother with opened eyes?
The world's insane while you drink champagne
And I'm living in black reign
You try to ban the A.K
I got ten of them stashed
With a case of hand grenades
(Tell us what to do?) Fuck you!
(Tell us what to do?) Fuck you!
(Tell us what to do?) Fuck you!
(Tell us what to do?) Fuck you!
You'd know what to do
If your kid got killed on the way to school
Or a cop shot your kid in the back yard
Shit would hit the fan motherfucker and it would hit real hard
I hear it every night, another gun fight
The tension mounts, on with the body count
Yo Beatmaster V, take these motherfuckers to South Central
Ha ha ha, yeah, fuck that
I hear it every night, another gun fight
The tension mounts, on with the body count
Last weekend thirty seven kids killed in gang warfare in my back yard
No! No! No!
Yo Ernie C, take these motherfuckers home, yeah
Yeah we in the house, Body Count fool, 1991 motherfucker
I hear it every night, another gun fight
The tension mounts, on with the body count
Goddamn what a brother gotta do
To get a message through
To the red and white and you?
What? I gotta die before you realize
I was a nigga with opened eyes?
The world's insane while you drink champagne
And I'm living in black reign
Don't you hear the guns?
You stupid, dumb, dick sucking, bum politicians
(Tell us what to do?) Fuck you!
(Tell us what to do?) Fuck you!
The tension mounts
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THE SOLO IS SO FUCKING GOOD