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're all going on a summer holiday
Vigilantes coming out to follow me
Heard somebody say they're out to collar me
Anybody wanna swallow me?
It takes two to tumble, it takes two to tango
Speak up, don't mumble if you're in the combo
On the beat (on the beat), on the beat (on the beat)
'Til a man comes along and says
"Have you been a good boy, never played with your toy?
Though you never enjoy, such a pleasure to employ"
See your friends in the state they're in
See your friends getting under their skin
See your friends getting taken in
Well, if you only knew the things you do to me
I'd do anything to confuse the enemy
There's only one thing wrong with you befriending me
Take it easy, I think you're bending me
I've been a bad boy with the standard leader
My neighbor's revving up his Vauxhall Viva
On the beat (on the beat), on the upbeat (upbeat)
'Til a man comes along and says
"Have you been a good boy, never played with your toy?
Though you never enjoy, such a pleasure to employ"
See your friends walking down the street
See your friends never quite complete
See your friends getting under their feet
Oh, I don't wanna disease you
But I'm no good with machinery
Oh, I don't wanna freeze you
Stop looking at the scenery
I keep thinking about your mother
Oh, I don't wanna lick them
I don't wanna be a lover
I just wanna be your victim
I don't go out much at night
I don't go out much at all
Did you think you were the only one
Who was waiting for a call?
On the beat (on the beat) on the beat (on the beat) on the upbeat (upbeat)
'Til a man comes along and says
"Have you been a good boy, never played with your toy?
Though you never enjoy, such a pleasure to employ"
See your friends treat me like a stranger
See your friends despite all the arrangements
See your friends nothing here has changed
Just the beat (just the beat) just the beat (just the beat)
Just the beat (just the beat) just the beat
Vigilantes coming out to follow me
Heard somebody say they're out to collar me
Anybody wanna swallow me?
It takes two to tumble, it takes two to tango
Speak up, don't mumble if you're in the combo
On the beat (on the beat), on the beat (on the beat)
'Til a man comes along and says
"Have you been a good boy, never played with your toy?
Though you never enjoy, such a pleasure to employ"
See your friends in the state they're in
See your friends getting under their skin
See your friends getting taken in
Well, if you only knew the things you do to me
I'd do anything to confuse the enemy
There's only one thing wrong with you befriending me
Take it easy, I think you're bending me
I've been a bad boy with the standard leader
My neighbor's revving up his Vauxhall Viva
On the beat (on the beat), on the upbeat (upbeat)
'Til a man comes along and says
"Have you been a good boy, never played with your toy?
Though you never enjoy, such a pleasure to employ"
See your friends walking down the street
See your friends never quite complete
See your friends getting under their feet
Oh, I don't wanna disease you
But I'm no good with machinery
Oh, I don't wanna freeze you
Stop looking at the scenery
I keep thinking about your mother
Oh, I don't wanna lick them
I don't wanna be a lover
I just wanna be your victim
I don't go out much at night
I don't go out much at all
Did you think you were the only one
Who was waiting for a call?
On the beat (on the beat) on the beat (on the beat) on the upbeat (upbeat)
'Til a man comes along and says
"Have you been a good boy, never played with your toy?
Though you never enjoy, such a pleasure to employ"
See your friends treat me like a stranger
See your friends despite all the arrangements
See your friends nothing here has changed
Just the beat (just the beat) just the beat (just the beat)
Just the beat (just the beat) just the beat
Lyrics submitted by planetearth
The Beat Lyrics as written by Elvis Costello
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Could be...masturbating but idly wishing for a relationship; "waiting for a call". Good point.