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.
I've been all around your dirty old city
been all around your dirty old town [shades of ewan maccoll --.ed]
i've slept in your alleys, i've slept in your subways
hunger and cold, they follow me down
Chorus:
hunger and cold, hunger and cold
i wouldn't mind but i'm growing so old
but as low as i am, you know i'm still a man
and i wouldn't mind but i'm growing so old
only last year i was rolling in money
only last year the good times would roll
only last year my friends were so many
but only last year was so long ago
(Chorus)
it's all so easy to throw me in prison
it's all so easy to just walk on by
but it's not so easy to see a man hungry
it's not so easy to look in his eye
(Chorus)
yes there's poison in my cheap rotten liquor
there's poison in every old garbage can
but the worst kind of poison
is in your own brain
when you look at me and forget i'm a man.
been all around your dirty old town [shades of ewan maccoll --.ed]
i've slept in your alleys, i've slept in your subways
hunger and cold, they follow me down
Chorus:
hunger and cold, hunger and cold
i wouldn't mind but i'm growing so old
but as low as i am, you know i'm still a man
and i wouldn't mind but i'm growing so old
only last year i was rolling in money
only last year the good times would roll
only last year my friends were so many
but only last year was so long ago
(Chorus)
it's all so easy to throw me in prison
it's all so easy to just walk on by
but it's not so easy to see a man hungry
it's not so easy to look in his eye
(Chorus)
yes there's poison in my cheap rotten liquor
there's poison in every old garbage can
but the worst kind of poison
is in your own brain
when you look at me and forget i'm a man.
Lyrics submitted by mrtrout
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