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 might have seen one out in Minnesota
Or maybe down by the sea in Sarasota
But they were made back in Worcester Mass
Of aluminum and bakalite and glass
Like a locomotive they were streamlines
And the blue prints were drawn up from a dream of mine
Slap 'em up put 'em on the train
Out to Michigan up to Maine
You may find a diner down in Georgia or
Carolina off the twenty by the piggly wiggly
In the country out of Waynsboro
Or when it's getting late and rainy out in New York State
You hang a Louie off the through-way
And you go and grab yourself a cheeseburger
At the little gem diner off the six niner
Diner my shiny shiny love
In the night you're all I'm thinking of
Diner my shiny shiny love
The cruiser pulls in where the trooper's always stop
As we dine over the chrome and formica table top
The cashier she always squints
By the gum and the bowl of mints
She's tapping her toe
To the Dean Martin on the consolette
Booth service and a cigarette we're loving it so
Side of fries a dollar
Or the haddock plate two ninety five
A rootbeer float a Pepsi
And be sure to save some room for some apple pie
Better make it a-la-mode
Diner my shiny shiny love
In the night you're all I'm thinking of
Diner my shiny shiny love
Dean Martin god rest his soul
Talkin' to me from the cereal bowl
There's a couple from the show me state
Knockin' back a little meatloaf plate
Diner my shiny shiny love
Or maybe down by the sea in Sarasota
But they were made back in Worcester Mass
Of aluminum and bakalite and glass
Like a locomotive they were streamlines
And the blue prints were drawn up from a dream of mine
Slap 'em up put 'em on the train
Out to Michigan up to Maine
You may find a diner down in Georgia or
Carolina off the twenty by the piggly wiggly
In the country out of Waynsboro
Or when it's getting late and rainy out in New York State
You hang a Louie off the through-way
And you go and grab yourself a cheeseburger
At the little gem diner off the six niner
Diner my shiny shiny love
In the night you're all I'm thinking of
Diner my shiny shiny love
The cruiser pulls in where the trooper's always stop
As we dine over the chrome and formica table top
The cashier she always squints
By the gum and the bowl of mints
She's tapping her toe
To the Dean Martin on the consolette
Booth service and a cigarette we're loving it so
Side of fries a dollar
Or the haddock plate two ninety five
A rootbeer float a Pepsi
And be sure to save some room for some apple pie
Better make it a-la-mode
Diner my shiny shiny love
In the night you're all I'm thinking of
Diner my shiny shiny love
Dean Martin god rest his soul
Talkin' to me from the cereal bowl
There's a couple from the show me state
Knockin' back a little meatloaf plate
Diner my shiny shiny love
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"In the song Sexton mentions "The Little Gem Diner off six niner". This is a real diner located in Syracuse, NY off Highway 690 and it's open 24/7. Sexton used to hang out there when he was growing up. He claims that many of his songs were written while drinking coffee in The Little Gem. (thanks, Matthew - Amherst, NY)"