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.
Living in the meadow,
The mighty mighty meadow.
With too many people,
Sucking all the water.
Yeah my daddy was a farmer.
He was a race car driver.
He is a four leaf clover.
He is the next messiah.
Now he's living in the woods,
The dark and dank woods.
With a cocktail waitress,
Who thinks she's an artist.
Take her down to the river,
Split her right up the middle.
Now there's gonna be trouble,
For a pregnant lamb and a convent.
I sit in the clink,
Dye his hair in the sink.
And the tumor gonna make a
Man out of him.
Now my daddy was a chancer.
He was a bad check bouncer.
But if he had cancer,
He's a survivor.
He's the next messiah. [Repeat: x4]
Covering it up,
Squeezing it out,
Watching it bleed.
You're watching it all,
Taking it back.
She's down on her knees.
When did she come to detest you?
Giving it back,
Backing you up,
Nothing's for free.
You're giving it back,
For locking you up,
Those terrible deeds.
When will they come to arrest you?
When did she come to detest you?
When will they come to arrest you?
When did she come to detest you?
I'm gonna give my love to you on a day you gotta bring it back. [Repeat: x4]
I want to tell you I love you. [Repeat: x4]
I want to tell you I love you. [Repeat: x5]
I'm gonna go out walking baby, better be here when I get back. [Repeat: x2]
I'm gonna give my love to you on a day you gotta bring it back. [Repeat: x2]
I want to tell you I love you. [Repeat: x2]
He's the next messiah. [Repeat: x4]
The mighty mighty meadow.
With too many people,
Sucking all the water.
Yeah my daddy was a farmer.
He was a race car driver.
He is a four leaf clover.
He is the next messiah.
Now he's living in the woods,
The dark and dank woods.
With a cocktail waitress,
Who thinks she's an artist.
Take her down to the river,
Split her right up the middle.
Now there's gonna be trouble,
For a pregnant lamb and a convent.
I sit in the clink,
Dye his hair in the sink.
And the tumor gonna make a
Man out of him.
Now my daddy was a chancer.
He was a bad check bouncer.
But if he had cancer,
He's a survivor.
He's the next messiah. [Repeat: x4]
Covering it up,
Squeezing it out,
Watching it bleed.
You're watching it all,
Taking it back.
She's down on her knees.
When did she come to detest you?
Giving it back,
Backing you up,
Nothing's for free.
You're giving it back,
For locking you up,
Those terrible deeds.
When will they come to arrest you?
When did she come to detest you?
When will they come to arrest you?
When did she come to detest you?
I'm gonna give my love to you on a day you gotta bring it back. [Repeat: x4]
I want to tell you I love you. [Repeat: x4]
I want to tell you I love you. [Repeat: x5]
I'm gonna go out walking baby, better be here when I get back. [Repeat: x2]
I'm gonna give my love to you on a day you gotta bring it back. [Repeat: x2]
I want to tell you I love you. [Repeat: x2]
He's the next messiah. [Repeat: x4]
Lyrics submitted by Alright Still
The Next Messiah Lyrics as written by Johnathan Rice Jenny Lewis
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Soooooo good live!
Honestly, not my favorite song on the album, it kind of continues too long. With that aside, I definitely see this being about the lack of her father's presence, as xroseparade stated Jenny as explaining. If that is the case, calling him "the next messiah" is very sarcastic, which really contrasts with the upbeat music behind it. Although I'm not a big fan of the actual song, I like the story it tells - Jenny is always perfect with that.
i definitely agree with ima_introvert
i saw her last weekend and she opened with this song. SO GOOD.
this is the best song on the album.
I saw her live and she opened with this, great quote after: "starting with the next messiah is like having sex on the first date, we already fucked now we have to get to know each other" always love that one. thought it'd be good to share haha.
THIS SONG IS AMAZING. I think she's said a lot of it has to do with how her dad wasn't around a lot when she was younger. In that kind of situation you just wonder about what your dad does and could have been.
best track on the album, for sure. even though it's long, i always manage to listen all the way through.
I absolutely disagree about the length of the song. I rarely enjoy any song that is over 6-6 1/2 minutes but this song is incredible. I was completely inspired by it when I first saw her sing this in Knoxville, TN. :-)
she said that's actually three different songs, but at a point they decided to turn them into a single one. you can hear the points where it shifts mood. great. even though its lenght i could listen to this over and over again. so, so f. great. best song on the album hands down.