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.
Big blues in the city, trailin' the main stroll (a kitty)
Cup o'joe, get witty. At Deuce's Cafe, it's the mostest hideway
Mez muggles "Flip Zooty Flim Plant you now solid, dig you later Slim"
First you crawl then you walk, scat then you talk
Hear the cool, feel the heat of the
Rhythm of the offbeat of avenues
Help me, he blew his wig
(Lay it on)
He plays gutbucket doghouse on the stand
(Really gone)
Hear that Gabriel's growl
Break it up, Beat it out.
The canary has got a frame
(She can chirp)
And some high-jiver knows her name
(Dig his vine)
Cats all frisken' their whiskers...Ow
(Jam is on pops)
I collar all jive, give me five
(Now you dig, alive)
So I know you're alive
In the dim you've arrived
Cruel lips, whisper baby
Pulse of the neon, she's crazy
Smokin' eyes, get hazy
Like beauty to beast,
"You're the most to say the least"
(Do you have any) Monk,
Cozy Red, Yank or Prez?
Let's cut some rug gate these skins are a mess
First you crawl then you walk, scat then you talk
It's nirvana, it's attitude
Rhythm of the offbeat of avenues
(Repeat Chorus)
(Boutoot, Two-finger-like lickin'...This cat, is hot friskin'...
The jam is on now)
First you crawl then you walk
(Man she's a blip)
Scat then you talk
(Ofay plays hip)
Comp...Rest...Rhythm of the off beat...
(Wacky Interlude)
(Repeat Chorus)
Cup o'joe, get witty. At Deuce's Cafe, it's the mostest hideway
Mez muggles "Flip Zooty Flim Plant you now solid, dig you later Slim"
First you crawl then you walk, scat then you talk
Hear the cool, feel the heat of the
Rhythm of the offbeat of avenues
Help me, he blew his wig
(Lay it on)
He plays gutbucket doghouse on the stand
(Really gone)
Hear that Gabriel's growl
Break it up, Beat it out.
The canary has got a frame
(She can chirp)
And some high-jiver knows her name
(Dig his vine)
Cats all frisken' their whiskers...Ow
(Jam is on pops)
I collar all jive, give me five
(Now you dig, alive)
So I know you're alive
In the dim you've arrived
Cruel lips, whisper baby
Pulse of the neon, she's crazy
Smokin' eyes, get hazy
Like beauty to beast,
"You're the most to say the least"
(Do you have any) Monk,
Cozy Red, Yank or Prez?
Let's cut some rug gate these skins are a mess
First you crawl then you walk, scat then you talk
It's nirvana, it's attitude
Rhythm of the offbeat of avenues
(Repeat Chorus)
(Boutoot, Two-finger-like lickin'...This cat, is hot friskin'...
The jam is on now)
First you crawl then you walk
(Man she's a blip)
Scat then you talk
(Ofay plays hip)
Comp...Rest...Rhythm of the off beat...
(Wacky Interlude)
(Repeat Chorus)
Lyrics submitted by sillybunny
The Offbeat of Avenues Lyrics as written by Donald F Freeman Cheryl Bentyne
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Why haven't more people commented on this? :S I believe the lyrics are basically just snippets of conversation that one of the band heard when walking around the streets of New York (or a certain venue perhaps), catching little pieces of conversation here and there, and cut them roughly together to make a song that vaguely rhymed :) pretty interesting way of doing things, especially as it makes you wonder what the rest of each conversation consisted of. The song is delightfully confused yet also has a sense of structure, rhythmn etc, as if it's one meaningful collection of words rather than a rough assemblage :D eh maybe I'm just rambling. Catchy tune either way. And the harmonising still makes a little hair stand up on my neck, so perfect it is at times.