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.
John Wayne was a Nazi
He liked to play S.S.
He had a picture of Adolph ole' boy
Tucked in his cowboy vest.
Well, he would string up your mama
Sure he would torture your pop
Sure he would march you up to the wall
Sure he would hang you by your last ball.
He was a nazi!
But not anymore
He was a nazi, life evens the score
He was a nazi!
But not anymore
He was a nazi
John Wayne slaughtered our Indian brothers
Burned their villages and raped their mothers
Now he has given them a white man's lord
"Live by this, or die by my sword!"
He was a nazi!
He's not anymore
He was a nazi, life evens the score
He was a nazi!
But not anymore
He was a nazi
John Wayne killed a lot of gooks in war.
We don't give a fuck about John anymore.
We know his tale of blood and gore,
Just another pawn for the capitalist whore.
He was a nazi!
He's not anymore
He was a nazi, life evens the score
He was a nazi!
But not anymore
He was a nazi
John Wayne wore an army uniform
Didn't like us reds and fags that didn't conform
Great White Hero had so much nerve,
Lived much longer than he deserved
You were a nazi!
You're not anymore
You were a nazi, life evens the score
You were a nazi!
But not anymore
You were a nazi
Late show Indian or Mexican dies
Klan propaganda legitimized
Hypocrite coward never fought a real fight
When i see John i'm ashamed to be white
Death Bed Christian of this you avowed
If god's alive, you'll roast in Hell
Well done, we've got no regrets,
As long as you died a long and painful death.
You were a nazi!
You're not anymore
You were a nazi, death evened the score
You were a nazi!
But not anymore
You were a nazi!
Death evened the score,
You're dead, dead, dead.
He liked to play S.S.
He had a picture of Adolph ole' boy
Tucked in his cowboy vest.
Well, he would string up your mama
Sure he would torture your pop
Sure he would march you up to the wall
Sure he would hang you by your last ball.
He was a nazi!
But not anymore
He was a nazi, life evens the score
He was a nazi!
But not anymore
He was a nazi
John Wayne slaughtered our Indian brothers
Burned their villages and raped their mothers
Now he has given them a white man's lord
"Live by this, or die by my sword!"
He was a nazi!
He's not anymore
He was a nazi, life evens the score
He was a nazi!
But not anymore
He was a nazi
John Wayne killed a lot of gooks in war.
We don't give a fuck about John anymore.
We know his tale of blood and gore,
Just another pawn for the capitalist whore.
He was a nazi!
He's not anymore
He was a nazi, life evens the score
He was a nazi!
But not anymore
He was a nazi
John Wayne wore an army uniform
Didn't like us reds and fags that didn't conform
Great White Hero had so much nerve,
Lived much longer than he deserved
You were a nazi!
You're not anymore
You were a nazi, life evens the score
You were a nazi!
But not anymore
You were a nazi
Late show Indian or Mexican dies
Klan propaganda legitimized
Hypocrite coward never fought a real fight
When i see John i'm ashamed to be white
Death Bed Christian of this you avowed
If god's alive, you'll roast in Hell
Well done, we've got no regrets,
As long as you died a long and painful death.
You were a nazi!
You're not anymore
You were a nazi, death evened the score
You were a nazi!
But not anymore
You were a nazi!
Death evened the score,
You're dead, dead, dead.
Lyrics submitted by shadowwiththeeyes
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