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.
The devil told my grampa
The day that he would die
And my grampa told my grandma
And she thought it was a lie
Then the day came and my
Grampa he lay dead
Just like the devil said
A train cut off his arms and legs
And it’s a story that my mother told to me
Some people say that its too hard to believe, but
You gotta believe that my mother never lies
She’s never in her life and my grampa he did die, yeah
My father he's hard-workin’ man
the devil’s never had a hand
in anything he did
He’s the hardest workin’ man I’ve ever seen
But I guess his hardest work,
it never worked on me, ‘cause
He thinks I’m lazy and he
thinks that I’m a shame because
I haven’t got a job any
money or a name and…
He’s worried about me and what I’m gonna do
How I’m gonna live I hope the devil’s worried too, yeah
My lover she’s what keeps me alive
She’s the only thing I like in this
World that I despise
She sings and her voice is soft and sweet
She whistles in the shower and
Somehow she loves me
My grandson asked me once, he said
“Grampa are you crazy?” and I said
“Just a touch” and I
Got out my guitar,
I showed him how to play and I
Taught him how to sing the song a little out of key, yeah
And the devil sang with me, and the devil sang with me
On my shoulder like a friend that never leaves
And the devil sang with me, and the devil sang with me
On my shoulder like a friend that never leaves
The day that he would die
And my grampa told my grandma
And she thought it was a lie
Then the day came and my
Grampa he lay dead
Just like the devil said
A train cut off his arms and legs
And it’s a story that my mother told to me
Some people say that its too hard to believe, but
You gotta believe that my mother never lies
She’s never in her life and my grampa he did die, yeah
My father he's hard-workin’ man
the devil’s never had a hand
in anything he did
He’s the hardest workin’ man I’ve ever seen
But I guess his hardest work,
it never worked on me, ‘cause
He thinks I’m lazy and he
thinks that I’m a shame because
I haven’t got a job any
money or a name and…
He’s worried about me and what I’m gonna do
How I’m gonna live I hope the devil’s worried too, yeah
My lover she’s what keeps me alive
She’s the only thing I like in this
World that I despise
She sings and her voice is soft and sweet
She whistles in the shower and
Somehow she loves me
My grandson asked me once, he said
“Grampa are you crazy?” and I said
“Just a touch” and I
Got out my guitar,
I showed him how to play and I
Taught him how to sing the song a little out of key, yeah
And the devil sang with me, and the devil sang with me
On my shoulder like a friend that never leaves
And the devil sang with me, and the devil sang with me
On my shoulder like a friend that never leaves
Lyrics submitted by b-pot
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i love this song. it reminds me alot of my own family.