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.
Can't stop, addicted to the shindig
Chop Top, he says I'm gonna win big
Choose not a life of imitation
Distant cousin to the reservation
Defunkt, the pistol that you pay for
This punk, the feelin' that you stay for
In time I want to be your best friend
East side lovers living on the West End
Knocked out, but, boy, you better come to (oh, oh-oh)
Don't die, you know the truth as some do (oh-oh)
Go write your message on the pavement (oh-oh)
Burn so bright, I wonder what the wave meant
White heat is screamin' in the jungle (oh, oh-oh)
Complete the motion if you stumble (oh-oh)
Go ask the dust for any answers (oh-oh)
Come back strong with fifty belly dancers
The world I love, the tears I drop
To be part of the wave, can't stop
Ever wonder if it's all for you?
The world I love, the trains I hop
To be part of the wave, can't stop
Come and tell me when it's time to
Sweetheart is bleeding in the snow cone
So smart, she's leading me to ozone
Music, the great communicator
Use two sticks to make it in the nature
I'll get you into penetration
The gender of a generation
The birth of every other nation
Worth your weight, the gold of meditation
This chapter's gonna be a close one (oh, oh-oh)
Smoke rings, I know your gonna blow one (oh-oh)
All on a spaceship, persevering (oh-oh)
Use my hands for everything but steering
Can't stop the spirits when they need you (oh, oh-oh)
Mop tops are happy when they feed you (oh-oh)
J. Butterfly is in the treetop (oh-oh)
Birds that blow the meaning into bebop
The world I love, the tears I drop
To be part of the wave, can't stop
Ever wonder if it's all for you?
The world I love, the trains I hop
To be part of the wave, can't stop
Come and tell me when it's time to
Wait a minute I'm passin' out, win or lose
Just like you
Far more shockin' than anything I ever knew
How 'bout you?
Ten more reasons why I need somebody new
Just like you
Far more shockin' than anything I ever knew
Right on cue
Can't stop, addicted to the shindig
Chop Top, he says I'm gonna win big
Choose not a life of imitation
Distant cousin to the reservation
Defunkt the pistol that you pay for (oh, oh-oh)
This punk, the feelin' that you stay for (oh-oh)
In time I want to be your best friend (oh-oh)
East side lovers living on the West End
Knocked out, but, boy, you better come to (oh, oh-oh)
Don't die, you know the truth as some do (oh-oh)
Go write your message on the pavement (oh-oh)
Burn so bright, I wonder what the wave meant
Kick start the golden generator
Sweet talk but don't intimidate her
Can't stop the gods from engineering
Feel no need for any interfering
Your image in the dictionary
This life is more than ordinary
Can I get two, maybe even three of these?
Comin' from space to teach you of the Pleiades
Can't stop the spirits when they need you
This life is more than just a read-through
Chop Top, he says I'm gonna win big
Choose not a life of imitation
Distant cousin to the reservation
Defunkt, the pistol that you pay for
This punk, the feelin' that you stay for
In time I want to be your best friend
East side lovers living on the West End
Knocked out, but, boy, you better come to (oh, oh-oh)
Don't die, you know the truth as some do (oh-oh)
Go write your message on the pavement (oh-oh)
Burn so bright, I wonder what the wave meant
White heat is screamin' in the jungle (oh, oh-oh)
Complete the motion if you stumble (oh-oh)
Go ask the dust for any answers (oh-oh)
Come back strong with fifty belly dancers
The world I love, the tears I drop
To be part of the wave, can't stop
Ever wonder if it's all for you?
The world I love, the trains I hop
To be part of the wave, can't stop
Come and tell me when it's time to
Sweetheart is bleeding in the snow cone
So smart, she's leading me to ozone
Music, the great communicator
Use two sticks to make it in the nature
I'll get you into penetration
The gender of a generation
The birth of every other nation
Worth your weight, the gold of meditation
This chapter's gonna be a close one (oh, oh-oh)
Smoke rings, I know your gonna blow one (oh-oh)
All on a spaceship, persevering (oh-oh)
Use my hands for everything but steering
Can't stop the spirits when they need you (oh, oh-oh)
Mop tops are happy when they feed you (oh-oh)
J. Butterfly is in the treetop (oh-oh)
Birds that blow the meaning into bebop
The world I love, the tears I drop
To be part of the wave, can't stop
Ever wonder if it's all for you?
The world I love, the trains I hop
To be part of the wave, can't stop
Come and tell me when it's time to
Wait a minute I'm passin' out, win or lose
Just like you
Far more shockin' than anything I ever knew
How 'bout you?
Ten more reasons why I need somebody new
Just like you
Far more shockin' than anything I ever knew
Right on cue
Can't stop, addicted to the shindig
Chop Top, he says I'm gonna win big
Choose not a life of imitation
Distant cousin to the reservation
Defunkt the pistol that you pay for (oh, oh-oh)
This punk, the feelin' that you stay for (oh-oh)
In time I want to be your best friend (oh-oh)
East side lovers living on the West End
Knocked out, but, boy, you better come to (oh, oh-oh)
Don't die, you know the truth as some do (oh-oh)
Go write your message on the pavement (oh-oh)
Burn so bright, I wonder what the wave meant
Kick start the golden generator
Sweet talk but don't intimidate her
Can't stop the gods from engineering
Feel no need for any interfering
Your image in the dictionary
This life is more than ordinary
Can I get two, maybe even three of these?
Comin' from space to teach you of the Pleiades
Can't stop the spirits when they need you
This life is more than just a read-through
Lyrics submitted by on_a_plain_11, edited by Thebeetles, crg4
Can't Stop Lyrics as written by John Anthony Frusciante Michael Peter Balzary
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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