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.
We had broken up for good just an hour before
Uh uh uh, uh uh uh uh uh
Now I'm staring at the bodies as there's dancin' 'cross the floor
Uh uh uh, uh uh uh uh uh
And then the band slowed the tempo and the music gets me down
Uh uh uh, uh uh uh uh uh
It was the same old song with the melancholy sound
Uh uh uh, uh uh uh uh uh
They don't write 'em like that anymore
They just don't write 'em like that anymore
We'd been living together for a million years
Uh uh uh, uh uh uh uh uh
But now it feel so strange (out in the atmospheres?)
Uh uh uh, uh uh uh uh uh
And then the jukebox plays a song I used to know
Uh uh uh, uh uh uh uh uh
Now I'm staring at the bodies as they dancin' so slow
Uh uh uh, uh uh uh uh uh
They don't write 'em like that anymore
They just don't write 'em like that anymore
Now I wind up staring at an empty glass
Uh uh uh, uh uh uh uh uh
Cause its so easy to say that you'll forget your past
Uh uh uh, uh uh uh uh uh
They don't write 'em like that anymore, no!
They just don't write 'em like that anymore
They don't write 'em like that anymore
They just don't write 'em like that anymore
Uh uh uh, uh uh uh uh uh
Now I'm staring at the bodies as there's dancin' 'cross the floor
Uh uh uh, uh uh uh uh uh
And then the band slowed the tempo and the music gets me down
Uh uh uh, uh uh uh uh uh
It was the same old song with the melancholy sound
Uh uh uh, uh uh uh uh uh
They don't write 'em like that anymore
They just don't write 'em like that anymore
We'd been living together for a million years
Uh uh uh, uh uh uh uh uh
But now it feel so strange (out in the atmospheres?)
Uh uh uh, uh uh uh uh uh
And then the jukebox plays a song I used to know
Uh uh uh, uh uh uh uh uh
Now I'm staring at the bodies as they dancin' so slow
Uh uh uh, uh uh uh uh uh
They don't write 'em like that anymore
They just don't write 'em like that anymore
Now I wind up staring at an empty glass
Uh uh uh, uh uh uh uh uh
Cause its so easy to say that you'll forget your past
Uh uh uh, uh uh uh uh uh
They don't write 'em like that anymore, no!
They just don't write 'em like that anymore
They don't write 'em like that anymore
They just don't write 'em like that anymore
Lyrics submitted by taffurs888
The Break-Up Song (They Don't Write 'em) Lyrics as written by Gregory Kihn Gary Phillips
Lyrics © Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Man, he's right. They don't write 'em like this anymore. LOL.
"They don't write 'em like that anymore"-Hi,they don't do anything like "that" anymore!!!
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This song is incredible for an early 80s tune. I vote this as our new national anthem for the broken.
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by the way, that should be "anyone ELSE", not "elses". I'm not an idiot, I swear.
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