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.
You call me baby
You call me baby
Did you ever feel so small
In the face of it all
That if you cut yourself in two
There'd be nothing left of you?
All the king's horses
And all the king's men
Couldn't get us back together again
It's an eight mile trek
Towards the back of the bus
Where there's an empty seat
Somebody saved for us, saying
Hey (hey) you (you), what do you do
When you're all stuck up
And your bones stick through?
It's the longest haul
An even longer fall
From the top of the line
To the place you crawl, saying...
You call me baby
I could believe in you now
It's only me trying to get by
In this city tonight
Because I know it's right, yeah
One day you will all wake up
From the American dream
American dream
Late at night you go to bed
Don't be so sure you're not dead
In the morning when you wake
Better check the space that you take up
All the king's horses
And all the king's men
Couldn't get us back together again
On a sick television
That's coughing up blood
And it stains every life, and it's starting
To flood, saying hey (hey) you (you)
What do you do when you're all stuck up
And your bones stick through?
It's an eight mile trek
Towards the back of the bus
Where all the hoes hang out
To be the first to touch, saying...
You call me baby
I could believe in you now
It's only me trying to get by
In this city tonight, yeah
Because I know it's right
Ever wonder what you are
Besides the sum of your sensation?
Black and starless night
You know my mind is under
Constant renovation, revelation
Leaving on the light
We are the children of an age
Of ancient, faceless information
Don't forget to write
You know I'd grow up
But I don't think I could stand the elevation
I'm afraid of heights
One day you will all wake up
From the American dream
American dream
What am I, yeah, yeah?
[scat]
All the king's horses
(You call me baby)
And all the king's men
Couldn't get us back together again
(You call me baby)
You call me baby
You call me baby
Do it my way
You call me baby
You call me baby
I could believe in you now
You call me baby
You call me baby
Did you ever feel so small
In the face of it all
That if you cut yourself in two
There'd be nothing left of you?
All the king's horses
And all the king's men
Couldn't get us back together again
It's an eight mile trek
Towards the back of the bus
Where there's an empty seat
Somebody saved for us, saying
Hey (hey) you (you), what do you do
When you're all stuck up
And your bones stick through?
It's the longest haul
An even longer fall
From the top of the line
To the place you crawl, saying...
You call me baby
I could believe in you now
It's only me trying to get by
In this city tonight
Because I know it's right, yeah
One day you will all wake up
From the American dream
American dream
Late at night you go to bed
Don't be so sure you're not dead
In the morning when you wake
Better check the space that you take up
All the king's horses
And all the king's men
Couldn't get us back together again
On a sick television
That's coughing up blood
And it stains every life, and it's starting
To flood, saying hey (hey) you (you)
What do you do when you're all stuck up
And your bones stick through?
It's an eight mile trek
Towards the back of the bus
Where all the hoes hang out
To be the first to touch, saying...
You call me baby
I could believe in you now
It's only me trying to get by
In this city tonight, yeah
Because I know it's right
Ever wonder what you are
Besides the sum of your sensation?
Black and starless night
You know my mind is under
Constant renovation, revelation
Leaving on the light
We are the children of an age
Of ancient, faceless information
Don't forget to write
You know I'd grow up
But I don't think I could stand the elevation
I'm afraid of heights
One day you will all wake up
From the American dream
American dream
What am I, yeah, yeah?
[scat]
All the king's horses
(You call me baby)
And all the king's men
Couldn't get us back together again
(You call me baby)
You call me baby
You call me baby
Do it my way
You call me baby
You call me baby
I could believe in you now
You call me baby
Lyrics submitted by Sess
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