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 call the heartland not very smartland, IQ's are very low but threat levels are high
They got mandate, they don't want man-dates, they got so many hates and people to despise
In the dust bowl, cerebral black hole, the average weight is well over 200 pounds
I hate to generalize, but have you seen the thighs, most haven't seen their genitalia in a while
Maybe that's why they're so pissed at us
They're all jealous we're having better sex
Queers, transgends, and lesbians, vegans and vegetarians
All you brownish red and yellow ones come out and join us on the coast
No longer svelte, they got to punch new holes in the Bible belt
They've blown out the fire under the melting pot, the red blood of America is starting to clot
No compromise, no sight through others' eyes, they're just flies spreading pieces of shit
You gotta emigrate, stop living in hate, what makes this country great is dwelling on either side
They don't want visitors in Jesusland
They want life bland and canned in the fatherland
We want people with college degrees, drug use experience and STD's
People with open-minded philosophies, come hug California trees
Cultural revolution now, neo-conservatives run outta town
We're gonna burn Orange County down,
And then we're off to Riverside, Bakersfield and Fresno too, then we're comin' after you
The fear stricken, born again Christian, they got a vision a homogenized state
Texas textbooks, Bibles, and prayer books,
They want them memorized, but don't want you to think
They don't want visitors in Jesusland
They want life bland and canned in the fatherland
Punk Rockers and emo kids, people doin' things the church forbids
Buddhists, agnostics, and atheists we're moving out of jesusland
Art students and thespians, (excluding country) all the musicians
We want all hookers and comedians, nihilists are welcome too
No longer svelte, they gotta punch holes in the Bible belt
They got mandate, they don't want man-dates, they got so many hates and people to despise
In the dust bowl, cerebral black hole, the average weight is well over 200 pounds
I hate to generalize, but have you seen the thighs, most haven't seen their genitalia in a while
Maybe that's why they're so pissed at us
They're all jealous we're having better sex
Queers, transgends, and lesbians, vegans and vegetarians
All you brownish red and yellow ones come out and join us on the coast
No longer svelte, they got to punch new holes in the Bible belt
They've blown out the fire under the melting pot, the red blood of America is starting to clot
No compromise, no sight through others' eyes, they're just flies spreading pieces of shit
You gotta emigrate, stop living in hate, what makes this country great is dwelling on either side
They don't want visitors in Jesusland
They want life bland and canned in the fatherland
We want people with college degrees, drug use experience and STD's
People with open-minded philosophies, come hug California trees
Cultural revolution now, neo-conservatives run outta town
We're gonna burn Orange County down,
And then we're off to Riverside, Bakersfield and Fresno too, then we're comin' after you
The fear stricken, born again Christian, they got a vision a homogenized state
Texas textbooks, Bibles, and prayer books,
They want them memorized, but don't want you to think
They don't want visitors in Jesusland
They want life bland and canned in the fatherland
Punk Rockers and emo kids, people doin' things the church forbids
Buddhists, agnostics, and atheists we're moving out of jesusland
Art students and thespians, (excluding country) all the musicians
We want all hookers and comedians, nihilists are welcome too
No longer svelte, they gotta punch holes in the Bible belt
Lyrics submitted by punkpirate
Leaving Jesusland Lyrics as written by
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I have to admit I like the lyrics to this song, but they are VERY generalising. Personally I apply them more to the Christianity and the Church itself than specific people, because to say all Christians are the way they're described in this song is just ignorant, selfish and closed-minded: interestingly the opposite of what they're calling for with their 'open-minded philosphies'.
I love the little bit at the end, "Nihilists are welcome too." Yay.