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.
There is this older guy That comes around from time to time We're sure that he fought in the war The war in Vietnam Most of what he tells us No one's verified He swears that he was there The day that Brendan Behan died He also claims he trained A kid name Cassius Clay And cost Goldwater the election On election day If he was still with us today Then he would introduce Us to his closest friend The one and only Lenny Bruce
The truth is what he's been through What he's had to do What he's seen, and what he's done
All things considered, what he's telling us Isn't hurting anyone
We knew it's true He's short a few Check out the deck, it's light Said he wrote the entire soundtrack for A Hard Day's Night On Peyton Place, played second base He says but he regrets The stadium was Shea, the team, the New York Mets
The truth is what he's been through What he's had to do What he's seen, and what he's done All things considered, what he's telling us Isn't hurting anyone All things considered he's not bitter, He's not mean, no he's not done All things considered, what he's telling us Isn't hurting anyone
There is this older guy That comes around from time to time We're sure that he fought in the war The war in Vietnam Most of what he tells us No one's verified He swears that he was there The day that Brendan Behan died The truth is what he's been through What he's had to do What he's seen, and what he's done All things considered, what he's telling us Isn't hurting anyone All things considered he's not bitter, He's not mean, no he's not done
All things considered, what he's telling us Isn't hurting anyone
Every now and then we hear our song (4x)
The truth is what he's been through What he's had to do What he's seen, and what he's done
All things considered, what he's telling us Isn't hurting anyone
We knew it's true He's short a few Check out the deck, it's light Said he wrote the entire soundtrack for A Hard Day's Night On Peyton Place, played second base He says but he regrets The stadium was Shea, the team, the New York Mets
The truth is what he's been through What he's had to do What he's seen, and what he's done All things considered, what he's telling us Isn't hurting anyone All things considered he's not bitter, He's not mean, no he's not done All things considered, what he's telling us Isn't hurting anyone
There is this older guy That comes around from time to time We're sure that he fought in the war The war in Vietnam Most of what he tells us No one's verified He swears that he was there The day that Brendan Behan died The truth is what he's been through What he's had to do What he's seen, and what he's done All things considered, what he's telling us Isn't hurting anyone All things considered he's not bitter, He's not mean, no he's not done
All things considered, what he's telling us Isn't hurting anyone
Every now and then we hear our song (4x)
Lyrics submitted by LastBeliever
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I think that it's about an older guy who might stretch the truth about what he's done or how he's lived, but they make for great stories so they don't care, cause "What he's telling us isn't hurting anyone."