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.
Turn the spotlights on the people
Switch the dial and eat the worm
Take your chances, kill the engine
Drop your bombs and let it burn
White flags shot to ribbons
The truce in black and ubrned
Shellshock in the kitchen
Tables overturned
Back in the village again
In the village
I'm back in the village again
Throwing dice now, rolling loaded
I see sixes all the way
In a black hole and I'm spinning
As my wings get shot away
Questions are a burden
And answers' a prison for oneself
Shellshock in the kitchen
Tables start to burn
Back in the village again
In the village
I'm back in the village again
No breaks on the inside
Paper cats and burning barns
There's a fox among the chickens
And a killer in the hounds
Questions are a burden
And answers' a prison for oneself
Shellshock in the kitchen
Tables start to burn
Back in the village again
In the village
I'm back in the village again
But still we walk into the valley
And others try to kill the inner flame
We're burning brighter than before
I don't have a number, I'm a name
Back in the village again
In the village
I'm back in the village again, yeah
Back in the village again
In the village
I'm back in the village again
Back in the village
And I'm back in the village
And I'm back in the village again
Switch the dial and eat the worm
Take your chances, kill the engine
Drop your bombs and let it burn
White flags shot to ribbons
The truce in black and ubrned
Shellshock in the kitchen
Tables overturned
Back in the village again
In the village
I'm back in the village again
Throwing dice now, rolling loaded
I see sixes all the way
In a black hole and I'm spinning
As my wings get shot away
Questions are a burden
And answers' a prison for oneself
Shellshock in the kitchen
Tables start to burn
Back in the village again
In the village
I'm back in the village again
No breaks on the inside
Paper cats and burning barns
There's a fox among the chickens
And a killer in the hounds
Questions are a burden
And answers' a prison for oneself
Shellshock in the kitchen
Tables start to burn
Back in the village again
In the village
I'm back in the village again
But still we walk into the valley
And others try to kill the inner flame
We're burning brighter than before
I don't have a number, I'm a name
Back in the village again
In the village
I'm back in the village again, yeah
Back in the village again
In the village
I'm back in the village again
Back in the village
And I'm back in the village
And I'm back in the village again
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Number Six always ends up Back in the Village, no matter how he tries to escape.
One of the best shows ever.