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.
Friday night, you and your boys went out to eat, uh
Then they hung out, but you came home around three, yes, you did
If six of y'all went out, uh, then four of you were really cheap, yeah
'Cause only two of you had dinner, I found your credit card receipt
It's not right, but it's okay
I'm gonna make it anyway
Pack your bags up and leave
And don't you dare come runnin' back to me
It's not right, but it's okay
I'm gonna make it anyway
Close the door behind you, leave your key
I'd rather be alone than unhappy, yeah, uh
I'm packin' bags so you can leave town for a week, yes, I am
The phone rings, and then you look at me (why'd you turn and look at me?)
You said it was one of your friends down on 54th Street, boy
So why did 213 show up on your caller ID? Oh
(I've been through all of this before) I've been through all this before
(So how could you think) don't think about it, don't think about it
(That I would stand around and take some more) get gone, get gone
(Things are gonna change) things are gonna change, baby
('Cause I won't be your fool anymore) you don't stand no chance, boy
(That's why you have to leave) I said, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
(So don't turn around to see my face) don't you turn around
There's no more tears left here for you to see
Was it really worth you goin' out like that? Tell me, boy
See, I'm movin' on, and I refuse to turn back, yeah
See, all of this time, I thought I had somebody down for Whitney
It turns out, you were makin' a fool of me, oh
It's not right, but it's okay (sure enough, okay, ha)
I'm gonna make it anyway (make it anyway)
Pack your bags up and leave (pack your bags, get out and leave)
And don't you dare come runnin' back to me (don't you dare, back to me, boy)
It's not right, but it's okay (it's not right, it's okay)
I'm gonna make it anyway (I'm gonna, I'm gonna, ah)
Close the door behind you, leave your key (close the door and leave your key)
I'd rather be alone than unhappy (rather be alone than unhappy, oh)
It's not right, but it's okay (it's not right, it's okay, baby)
I'm gonna make it anyway (I can pay my own rent)
Pack your bags up and leave (pay my light bill, take care of my babies)
And don't you dare come runnin' back to me (oh, oh, oh-whoa)
It's not right, but it's okay (oh, Lord, oh, ooh)
I'm gonna make it anyway (get up and leave)
Close the door behind you, leave your key (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
I'd rather be alone than unhappy (I'd rather be alone than unhappy)
It's not right, but it's okay (I'm gonna be okay, I'm gonna be alright)
I'm gonna make it anyway (I'm gonna be okay, I'm gonna be alright)
Pack your bags up and leave (I'm gonna be okay, I'm gonna be alright)
And don't you dare come runnin' back to me (things are gonna change)
It's not right, but it's okay (I'm gonna be okay, I'm gonna be alright)
I'm gonna make it anyway (I'm gonna be okay, I'm gonna be alright)
Close the door behind you, leave your key (I'm gonna be okay, I'm gonna be alright)
I'd rather be alone than unhappy (there's no more tears left here for you to see)
It's not right, but it's okay
I'm gonna make it anyway
Pack your bags up and leave
And don't you dare come runnin' back to me
It's not right, but it's okay
I'm gonna make it anyway
Close the door behind you, leave your key
I'd rather be alone than unhappy, yeah
Then they hung out, but you came home around three, yes, you did
If six of y'all went out, uh, then four of you were really cheap, yeah
'Cause only two of you had dinner, I found your credit card receipt
It's not right, but it's okay
I'm gonna make it anyway
Pack your bags up and leave
And don't you dare come runnin' back to me
It's not right, but it's okay
I'm gonna make it anyway
Close the door behind you, leave your key
I'd rather be alone than unhappy, yeah, uh
I'm packin' bags so you can leave town for a week, yes, I am
The phone rings, and then you look at me (why'd you turn and look at me?)
You said it was one of your friends down on 54th Street, boy
So why did 213 show up on your caller ID? Oh
(I've been through all of this before) I've been through all this before
(So how could you think) don't think about it, don't think about it
(That I would stand around and take some more) get gone, get gone
(Things are gonna change) things are gonna change, baby
('Cause I won't be your fool anymore) you don't stand no chance, boy
(That's why you have to leave) I said, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
(So don't turn around to see my face) don't you turn around
There's no more tears left here for you to see
Was it really worth you goin' out like that? Tell me, boy
See, I'm movin' on, and I refuse to turn back, yeah
See, all of this time, I thought I had somebody down for Whitney
It turns out, you were makin' a fool of me, oh
It's not right, but it's okay (sure enough, okay, ha)
I'm gonna make it anyway (make it anyway)
Pack your bags up and leave (pack your bags, get out and leave)
And don't you dare come runnin' back to me (don't you dare, back to me, boy)
It's not right, but it's okay (it's not right, it's okay)
I'm gonna make it anyway (I'm gonna, I'm gonna, ah)
Close the door behind you, leave your key (close the door and leave your key)
I'd rather be alone than unhappy (rather be alone than unhappy, oh)
It's not right, but it's okay (it's not right, it's okay, baby)
I'm gonna make it anyway (I can pay my own rent)
Pack your bags up and leave (pay my light bill, take care of my babies)
And don't you dare come runnin' back to me (oh, oh, oh-whoa)
It's not right, but it's okay (oh, Lord, oh, ooh)
I'm gonna make it anyway (get up and leave)
Close the door behind you, leave your key (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
I'd rather be alone than unhappy (I'd rather be alone than unhappy)
It's not right, but it's okay (I'm gonna be okay, I'm gonna be alright)
I'm gonna make it anyway (I'm gonna be okay, I'm gonna be alright)
Pack your bags up and leave (I'm gonna be okay, I'm gonna be alright)
And don't you dare come runnin' back to me (things are gonna change)
It's not right, but it's okay (I'm gonna be okay, I'm gonna be alright)
I'm gonna make it anyway (I'm gonna be okay, I'm gonna be alright)
Close the door behind you, leave your key (I'm gonna be okay, I'm gonna be alright)
I'd rather be alone than unhappy (there's no more tears left here for you to see)
It's not right, but it's okay
I'm gonna make it anyway
Pack your bags up and leave
And don't you dare come runnin' back to me
It's not right, but it's okay
I'm gonna make it anyway
Close the door behind you, leave your key
I'd rather be alone than unhappy, yeah
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