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 never give true answers, I never tell no lies
I never walk a straight line, so never get surprised
I don't ask no favors, so don't get abused
I learned to win when I was young
So I'm never ever going to lose
They pay me the money and I do the job
I got a contract on you
I got a contract, on you
I never ask no questions, I never speak my mind
I always found that silence helps to keep me and my kind alive
I take care of business, it takes care of me
I look after myself and do it well
Because somebody's always looking for me
They pay me the money and I do the job
I got a contract on you
I got a contract, on you
What manner of man am I?
A gun, lump sum and then I move on
What manner of man are you?
Stab a friend's back to jump a queue
I do what I do because I can't do nothing better
You do what you do, just defending yourself
Because you got nothing better to do
I got no face, no name, I'm just a killing machine
I cut the population down, if you know what I mean
I never stop in one place, I move about the cities
Got expensive tastes, but I hasten to add that
I'm the best that there is
They pay me the money and I do the job
I got a contract on you
I got a contract, on you
I got a contract on you
I got a contract on you
I never walk a straight line, so never get surprised
I don't ask no favors, so don't get abused
I learned to win when I was young
So I'm never ever going to lose
They pay me the money and I do the job
I got a contract on you
I got a contract, on you
I never ask no questions, I never speak my mind
I always found that silence helps to keep me and my kind alive
I take care of business, it takes care of me
I look after myself and do it well
Because somebody's always looking for me
They pay me the money and I do the job
I got a contract on you
I got a contract, on you
What manner of man am I?
A gun, lump sum and then I move on
What manner of man are you?
Stab a friend's back to jump a queue
I do what I do because I can't do nothing better
You do what you do, just defending yourself
Because you got nothing better to do
I got no face, no name, I'm just a killing machine
I cut the population down, if you know what I mean
I never stop in one place, I move about the cities
Got expensive tastes, but I hasten to add that
I'm the best that there is
They pay me the money and I do the job
I got a contract on you
I got a contract, on you
I got a contract on you
I got a contract on you
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This is really obvious. It's about a hitman, assassin, whatever you wanna call it. He's a "killing machine" in that he kills without remorse. It's his job, and he's "the best that there is". This is my favorite song on the Hell Bent album. It's awesome!
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