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.
The substitute sits trembling on the bench
His arms are damp his muscles have gone tense
We've gone a goal behind in a pulsating 3rd round tie
Now its time to give the youth team star a try, its do or die
The first team coach is scrabbling in the bag
For those balls that have numbers of the lads
He picks one out and holds it up and waves it in the air
Now its time to leave the capsule if you dare, sorry wrong song
Bring on the substitute and let the make youngster make our day
Bring on the substitute, or make the seniors earn their pay
Bring on the substitute before the minutes tick away
Bring on the substitute and hear 10,000 voices bray, hooray, hooray
Two hours ago nobody knew his name, "What's his name, what's his name?"
Now the crowd are roaring him to instant fame, "there's only one whatshisname"
He sprints along the line and does a stretching exercise
But I've seen muscles of a more substantial size, on sparrow's thighs
"Course years ago you never had have substitutes son", interesting fact
"No, if you got hurt you was carried off or carried on", interesting fact
And I suppose the ball was made out of real leather
"The ball was made out of real leather in them days"
And when it rained the leather weighed a ton, "The leather weighed a ton"
Not heard that one
It's over and we're beaten after all
And the substitute he never touched the ball
He only had two minutes but in truth he looks quite bad
Still I suppose it's good experience for the lad
How bloody sad
Bring on the substitute and let the make youngster make our day
Bring on the substitute, or make the seniors earn their pay
Bring on the substitute before the minutes tick away
Bring on the substitute and hear 10,000 voices bray, hooray, hooray
His arms are damp his muscles have gone tense
We've gone a goal behind in a pulsating 3rd round tie
Now its time to give the youth team star a try, its do or die
The first team coach is scrabbling in the bag
For those balls that have numbers of the lads
He picks one out and holds it up and waves it in the air
Now its time to leave the capsule if you dare, sorry wrong song
Bring on the substitute and let the make youngster make our day
Bring on the substitute, or make the seniors earn their pay
Bring on the substitute before the minutes tick away
Bring on the substitute and hear 10,000 voices bray, hooray, hooray
Two hours ago nobody knew his name, "What's his name, what's his name?"
Now the crowd are roaring him to instant fame, "there's only one whatshisname"
He sprints along the line and does a stretching exercise
But I've seen muscles of a more substantial size, on sparrow's thighs
"Course years ago you never had have substitutes son", interesting fact
"No, if you got hurt you was carried off or carried on", interesting fact
And I suppose the ball was made out of real leather
"The ball was made out of real leather in them days"
And when it rained the leather weighed a ton, "The leather weighed a ton"
Not heard that one
It's over and we're beaten after all
And the substitute he never touched the ball
He only had two minutes but in truth he looks quite bad
Still I suppose it's good experience for the lad
How bloody sad
Bring on the substitute and let the make youngster make our day
Bring on the substitute, or make the seniors earn their pay
Bring on the substitute before the minutes tick away
Bring on the substitute and hear 10,000 voices bray, hooray, hooray
Lyrics submitted by bananahero
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