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.
His family taught him right from wrong
With local tales and children's songs
Sunday school was his shelter
With his friends Joe and Walter
Now those days seem far away
An empty swing where he once played
Now Bill's grown so fat and bald
He never thought that he'd grow old
And every day when he gets the train
Looks out the window and thinks in vain
If only I could be that boy again
His sales job gets him down
Same old faces same old sounds
Heart attacks, orthopedic backs
Documents in labeled racks
His wife can't stand the sight of him
With his routine glass of gin
She makes his lunch of processed ham
And waits in for the meter man
And every day when he gets the train
Looks out the window and thinks in vain
If only I could be that boy again
If only he could be that boy again
Another day another gin
His kids don't even notice him
Something different about his face
His happy smile seems out of place
His family gathered around for tea
Eyes fixed on their new telly
Newsflash came, then it saidâ?¦
Bill McCai was just found dead
No more windows, no more trains
Hung himself out in the rain
Now he'll never be that boy again
And we say by-bye Bill McCai
With local tales and children's songs
Sunday school was his shelter
With his friends Joe and Walter
Now those days seem far away
An empty swing where he once played
Now Bill's grown so fat and bald
He never thought that he'd grow old
And every day when he gets the train
Looks out the window and thinks in vain
If only I could be that boy again
His sales job gets him down
Same old faces same old sounds
Heart attacks, orthopedic backs
Documents in labeled racks
His wife can't stand the sight of him
With his routine glass of gin
She makes his lunch of processed ham
And waits in for the meter man
And every day when he gets the train
Looks out the window and thinks in vain
If only I could be that boy again
If only he could be that boy again
Another day another gin
His kids don't even notice him
Something different about his face
His happy smile seems out of place
His family gathered around for tea
Eyes fixed on their new telly
Newsflash came, then it saidâ?¦
Bill McCai was just found dead
No more windows, no more trains
Hung himself out in the rain
Now he'll never be that boy again
And we say by-bye Bill McCai
Lyrics submitted by staybeautiful, edited by HatScripts
Bill McCai Lyrics as written by James Skelly
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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