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.
Grandpa Campbell would sit upon his front porch
And I'd be right there just sittin' on his knee
He'd tell stories about love and feast and famine
And I'd hang onto every word that he would breathe
He'd say boy as you walk through this life
Here's a little wisdom that'll help you get by
[Chorus]
You gotta live to learn
You gotta crash and burn
You gotta make some stances
And take some chances
You gotta live and love
And take all life has to give
You gotta live and learn
So you can learn to live
Well I left home and I went to carolina
I didn't sail off just to see what I could see
I did some things that I wasn't really proud of
Sometimes life just got the best of me
But I'd always think back to those days
And I know what grandmpa campbell would say
He'd say
[Chorus]
After years of running round and searching
I found me a woman who loves me just for me
All those mistakes I thought that I was making
Led me right here to you sittin' on my knee
Son as you walk through this life
Here's a little wisdom that will help you get by
You gotta live to learn
You gotta crash and burn
You gotta make some stances
And take some chances
You gotta live and love
And take all life has to give
You gotta live and learn
You gotta live and learn
So you can learn to live
Learn to live
And I'd be right there just sittin' on his knee
He'd tell stories about love and feast and famine
And I'd hang onto every word that he would breathe
He'd say boy as you walk through this life
Here's a little wisdom that'll help you get by
[Chorus]
You gotta live to learn
You gotta crash and burn
You gotta make some stances
And take some chances
You gotta live and love
And take all life has to give
You gotta live and learn
So you can learn to live
Well I left home and I went to carolina
I didn't sail off just to see what I could see
I did some things that I wasn't really proud of
Sometimes life just got the best of me
But I'd always think back to those days
And I know what grandmpa campbell would say
He'd say
[Chorus]
After years of running round and searching
I found me a woman who loves me just for me
All those mistakes I thought that I was making
Led me right here to you sittin' on my knee
Son as you walk through this life
Here's a little wisdom that will help you get by
You gotta live to learn
You gotta crash and burn
You gotta make some stances
And take some chances
You gotta live and love
And take all life has to give
You gotta live and learn
You gotta live and learn
So you can learn to live
Learn to live
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surprised no one's commented yet. anyways, this is an awesome song. good tune and good moral. this song is about just remembering to keep things in perspective. at a boy Mr.Rucker.