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 can't get enough of what I need
People all around me lettin' me bleed
Waitin' for the darkness to blind the heat
I make my livin' out on the streets
Dirty livin', ahh, dirty livin'
I can't wait any longer to set myself free
Flashin' lights keep runnin' through my brain
Someone find the doctor to ease all the pain
Traffic in the city is burnin' me out
She makes me want to jump up and shout
Dirty livin', ahh, dirty livin'
I can't wait any longer to set myself free, ahh
I can't wait any longer to set myself free, ahh
No more, no more
I've gotta get away
Dirty livin', dirty livin'
Ahh, dirty livin'
Late night outta China is due in tonight
Mother, sister, brother are lyin' uptight
I can hear the jukebox poundin' out loud
I take my fury out on the crowd
Dirty livin', ahh, dirty livin'
I can't wait any longer to set myself free, ahh
I can't wait any longer to set myself free, ahh
No more, no more
I've gotta get away
Dirty livin', dirty livin'
It's gettin' to me, it's gettin' to me
I can't wait, I can't wait
Dirty livin', dirty livin', yeah
Why don't you set me free
People all around me lettin' me bleed
Waitin' for the darkness to blind the heat
I make my livin' out on the streets
Dirty livin', ahh, dirty livin'
I can't wait any longer to set myself free
Flashin' lights keep runnin' through my brain
Someone find the doctor to ease all the pain
Traffic in the city is burnin' me out
She makes me want to jump up and shout
Dirty livin', ahh, dirty livin'
I can't wait any longer to set myself free, ahh
I can't wait any longer to set myself free, ahh
No more, no more
I've gotta get away
Dirty livin', dirty livin'
Ahh, dirty livin'
Late night outta China is due in tonight
Mother, sister, brother are lyin' uptight
I can hear the jukebox poundin' out loud
I take my fury out on the crowd
Dirty livin', ahh, dirty livin'
I can't wait any longer to set myself free, ahh
I can't wait any longer to set myself free, ahh
No more, no more
I've gotta get away
Dirty livin', dirty livin'
It's gettin' to me, it's gettin' to me
I can't wait, I can't wait
Dirty livin', dirty livin', yeah
Why don't you set me free
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae, edited by WesterMats
Dirty Livin' Lyrics as written by Stanley Penridge Peter Criss
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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It makes me wanna dance, even considering that I don't like dance. =D
The correct lyric is "Mainline outta China is due in tonight," not "Last night outta China is due in tonight," which also doesn't make any sense. It's a reference to the Kiss song "Mainline" sung by Peter Criss, similar to other Criss-sung song references throughout the song, like "Getaway" and "Waitin' for the darkness to blind the heat, I make my livin' out on the streets" allusion to "Black Diamond."