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.
Walk in,
give him my name,
looks up and down,
takes a good look at my pecs.
Puts down the clipboard,
opens the rope for my
fast-walkin' with my duffel hangin'
Hat is tilted on the side,
my eyes dream of bedroom suprise.
They call it climbing and I call it visibility,
They call it coolness and I call it visibility,
They call it way too rowdy I call it finally free.
There's a girl, her lips have never seen
She comes up, dances on me
I look into her eyes,
I say "Hey, you're not a dyke."
She says I call it climbing and you call it visibility,
I call it coolness and you call it visibility,
I call it way too rowdy you call it finally free.
There's a slap, on my back,
I find another butch, hat cocked,
and we --
We put our hands, in the crowd
and over and over we jump up and down.
They call it climbing and we call it visibility,
They call it coolness and we call it visibility,
They call it way too rowdy we call it finally free.
Two. three. four.
They call it climbing and we call it visibility,
They call it coolness and we call it visibility,
They call it way too rowdy we call it finally free.
Free. (x4)
give him my name,
looks up and down,
takes a good look at my pecs.
Puts down the clipboard,
opens the rope for my
fast-walkin' with my duffel hangin'
Hat is tilted on the side,
my eyes dream of bedroom suprise.
They call it climbing and I call it visibility,
They call it coolness and I call it visibility,
They call it way too rowdy I call it finally free.
There's a girl, her lips have never seen
She comes up, dances on me
I look into her eyes,
I say "Hey, you're not a dyke."
She says I call it climbing and you call it visibility,
I call it coolness and you call it visibility,
I call it way too rowdy you call it finally free.
There's a slap, on my back,
I find another butch, hat cocked,
and we --
We put our hands, in the crowd
and over and over we jump up and down.
They call it climbing and we call it visibility,
They call it coolness and we call it visibility,
They call it way too rowdy we call it finally free.
Two. three. four.
They call it climbing and we call it visibility,
They call it coolness and we call it visibility,
They call it way too rowdy we call it finally free.
Free. (x4)
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Taken directly from JD before she sings Viz at the Avalon on 7.20.05:
'This song is about Butch, Lesbian, Dyke visibility.'