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.
Ah, icky thump
Who'd a thunk?
Sittin' drunk on a wagon to Mexico
Ah, well
What a chump
Man my head got a bump
When I hit it on the radio
Redhead señorita
Lookin' dead
Came and said
Need a bed in Español
Said, gimme a drink of water
I'm gonna sing around the collar
And I don't need a microphone
Icky thump
With the lump in my throat
Grab my coat
And I was freaking
I was ready to go
Yeah, I swear besides the hair
She had one white eye
One blank stare
Lookin' up, lyin' there
On the stand near her hand
Was a candy cane
Black rum, sugar cane
Dry ice, something strange
La la la la la la la la la la
White Americans
What, nothing better to do?
Why don't you kick yourself out?
You're an immigrant too
Who's usin' who?
What should we do?
Well, you can't be a pimp
And a prostitute too
Icky thump
Handcuffed to a bunk
Robbed blind
Looked around
There was nobody else
Left alone
I hit myself with a stone
Went home
And learned how to clean up after myself
Who'd a thunk?
Sittin' drunk on a wagon to Mexico
Ah, well
What a chump
Man my head got a bump
When I hit it on the radio
Redhead señorita
Lookin' dead
Came and said
Need a bed in Español
Said, gimme a drink of water
I'm gonna sing around the collar
And I don't need a microphone
Icky thump
With the lump in my throat
Grab my coat
And I was freaking
I was ready to go
Yeah, I swear besides the hair
She had one white eye
One blank stare
Lookin' up, lyin' there
On the stand near her hand
Was a candy cane
Black rum, sugar cane
Dry ice, something strange
La la la la la la la la la la
White Americans
What, nothing better to do?
Why don't you kick yourself out?
You're an immigrant too
Who's usin' who?
What should we do?
Well, you can't be a pimp
And a prostitute too
Icky thump
Handcuffed to a bunk
Robbed blind
Looked around
There was nobody else
Left alone
I hit myself with a stone
Went home
And learned how to clean up after myself
Lyrics submitted by The Drizzle, edited by yasmeen914
Icky Thump Lyrics as written by John Anthony White
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Just heard it on the radio, and shit, this is awesome. It's definitely what the stirpes said it would be, it's hilarious 70's ridiculous dumb-rock - And i say that in the most awesome way possible. Fuck, Each 'chorus' is a solo in friggin' 19/16. This is way different than the last few albums, guys. This is epic.
19/16 lol... it's just 4/4 buddy