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.
Barons of suburbia take another piece of my good graces
I'm in my war you're in yours
Do we fight for peace as they take another piece of us
But baby I would let your darkness invade me
You could maybe turn this white light into navy
Before you leave
It was a slight miscalculation that my friends
My friends would be waiting on the other side of the bridge
On the other side of this
This mole hill of a mountain
This potion now a poison
They're on the other side of right
We're on the other side of her midnight
When it's all said and done we will lose a piece
To a carnivorous vegetarian
Barons of suburbia I have heard you pray
Before you devour her
So baby will you let my darkness invade you
You always liked your wafer sweet in the middle
Before you leave
It was a slight miscalculation that our friends
Our friends would be waiting on the other side of the bridge
On the other side of this
This mole hill of a mountain
This potion now a poison
They're on the other side of right
We're on the other side of her midnight
I am piecing a potion
To combat your poison
She is risen
She is risen
Boys
I said she is risen
I'm in my war you're in yours
Do we fight for peace as they take another piece of us
But baby I would let your darkness invade me
You could maybe turn this white light into navy
Before you leave
It was a slight miscalculation that my friends
My friends would be waiting on the other side of the bridge
On the other side of this
This mole hill of a mountain
This potion now a poison
They're on the other side of right
We're on the other side of her midnight
When it's all said and done we will lose a piece
To a carnivorous vegetarian
Barons of suburbia I have heard you pray
Before you devour her
So baby will you let my darkness invade you
You always liked your wafer sweet in the middle
Before you leave
It was a slight miscalculation that our friends
Our friends would be waiting on the other side of the bridge
On the other side of this
This mole hill of a mountain
This potion now a poison
They're on the other side of right
We're on the other side of her midnight
I am piecing a potion
To combat your poison
She is risen
She is risen
Boys
I said she is risen
Lyrics submitted by merchantpierce
Barons of Suburbia Lyrics as written by Tori Ellen Amos
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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I think the song is referencing Tori's concept of the feminine messiah. Not necessarily a biological woman as we understand it, but definitely feminine, like a gay man, for example (see Rufus Wainwright's "Gay Messiah" and "Tulsa"). I think Tori believes there's a literal messiah sent to save humanity (from ourselves), and Tori seems to know who this person is. The carnivorous vegetarian line is about the specific individual she believes is the messiah: a practicing vegetarian who has a carnivorous urge to fight evil (and he also eats a lot of imitation meat). But, hey, I could be way off. I guess we'll see, right?