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 guy who slagged the football team -
Those yobs were not for him -
Turns into a real estate agent
Who believes in discipline;
The guy who's the first to use cocaine,
The wild boy breaking free,
Ends up in a court of law
As a prosecuting Q.C.;
Remember the school captain?
Success was a matter of time:
I can hear her now as she screams,
"Greg! You missed the stop sign!"
Forget Snoop Doggy Dog,
Forget ol' Ice T-
The true word out on the streets
Is produced by the T.A.C.
What good's the use of striving?
As Life's roan in front unravels
We get to do the driving,
But don't choose the direction we travel.
Do your homework or wag for weeks
And graffiti the Dandedong line:
It don't matter much when you hear that scream -
"Greg! You missed the stop sign!"
Greg! The stop sign!
Greg! The stop sign!
Greg! The stop sign!
Greg! The stop sign!
Some time in the next hundred thousand years
A comet's gonna wipe out all trace of Man -
I'm banking on it coming before
My end of year exam.
The rich kid, he becomes a junkie,
The poor kid, an advertiser:
What a tragic waste of potential -
Being a junkie's not so good, either.
Your folks struggled hard for what you've got,
You are the fruit of their vine;
But who cares what you sow when what you reap is
"Greg! You missed the stop sign!"?
Greg! The stop sign!
Greg! The stop sign!
Greg! The stop sign!
Greg! The stop sign!
Bought a car just the other day
Man! could that baby run!
But you know what they always say:
There's always a better one
Got a tumour in my brain
It's creeping to my lungs
But I've searched around in vain
Can't find me a better one.
Hardwired into everyone's head
Is the person they're gonna be -
Growing up is not a matter of choice,
It's a matter of wait and see.
And so kids, yeah! you can do it!
Remember to be your best!
Girls can do anything!
You can pass the test!
I'm O.K! You're O.K! We're O.K! We're fine!
I thought I saw a semi-trailer!
Greg! You missed the stop sign!
Those yobs were not for him -
Turns into a real estate agent
Who believes in discipline;
The guy who's the first to use cocaine,
The wild boy breaking free,
Ends up in a court of law
As a prosecuting Q.C.;
Remember the school captain?
Success was a matter of time:
I can hear her now as she screams,
"Greg! You missed the stop sign!"
Forget Snoop Doggy Dog,
Forget ol' Ice T-
The true word out on the streets
Is produced by the T.A.C.
What good's the use of striving?
As Life's roan in front unravels
We get to do the driving,
But don't choose the direction we travel.
Do your homework or wag for weeks
And graffiti the Dandedong line:
It don't matter much when you hear that scream -
"Greg! You missed the stop sign!"
Greg! The stop sign!
Greg! The stop sign!
Greg! The stop sign!
Greg! The stop sign!
Some time in the next hundred thousand years
A comet's gonna wipe out all trace of Man -
I'm banking on it coming before
My end of year exam.
The rich kid, he becomes a junkie,
The poor kid, an advertiser:
What a tragic waste of potential -
Being a junkie's not so good, either.
Your folks struggled hard for what you've got,
You are the fruit of their vine;
But who cares what you sow when what you reap is
"Greg! You missed the stop sign!"?
Greg! The stop sign!
Greg! The stop sign!
Greg! The stop sign!
Greg! The stop sign!
Bought a car just the other day
Man! could that baby run!
But you know what they always say:
There's always a better one
Got a tumour in my brain
It's creeping to my lungs
But I've searched around in vain
Can't find me a better one.
Hardwired into everyone's head
Is the person they're gonna be -
Growing up is not a matter of choice,
It's a matter of wait and see.
And so kids, yeah! you can do it!
Remember to be your best!
Girls can do anything!
You can pass the test!
I'm O.K! You're O.K! We're O.K! We're fine!
I thought I saw a semi-trailer!
Greg! You missed the stop sign!
Lyrics submitted by yllas
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There used to be this ad on Australian TV, and it was made by the TAC (Transport Accident Commision) and there's a part of the ad where this bloke, (presumably Greg) is speeding down the road. He forgets to stop at an intersection, and the woman shouts out "GREG! You missed the stop-sign!" and then they get hit by a Mack truck. I think the ad was on in the 90's.
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