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.
Spoken:
Lady:
If it's not asking too much,
Sung:
For our information
Just for illustration
Tell us how you intend to run the nation
Rufus T. Firefly:
These are the laws of my administration
No one's allowed to smoke
Or tell a dirty joke
And whistling is forbidden
Chorus:
We're not allowed to tell a dirty joke
Hail, hail Freedonia
Rufus:
If chewing gum is chewed
The chewer is pursued
And in the hooscall hidden
Chorus:
If we choose to chew we'll be pursued
Rufus:
If any form of pleasure is exibited
Report to me and it will be prohibited
I'll put my foot down, so shall it be
This is the land of the free
The last man nearly ruined this place
He didn't know what to do with it
If you think this country's bad off now,
Just wait 'til I get through with it
The country's taxes must be fixed
And I know what to do with it
If you think you're paying too much now
Just wait till I get throught with it
*whistle*
I will not stand for anything that's crooked or unfair
I'm strictly on the upper knot, so everyone beware
If any man's caught taking graft, and I don't get my share
We stand'im up against the wall and pop!Goes the weasel
Chorus:
So everyone beware, you're stricken or unfair
-------unless he gets his share
Rufus:
If any man should come between a husband and his bride
We'll find out which one she prefers by letting her decide
If she prefers the other man, the husband steps outside
We stand him up against the wall and pop!Goes the weasel
Chorus:
The husband steps outside, relinquishes his bride
They stand him up against the wall and take him for white
Lady:
If it's not asking too much,
Sung:
For our information
Just for illustration
Tell us how you intend to run the nation
Rufus T. Firefly:
These are the laws of my administration
No one's allowed to smoke
Or tell a dirty joke
And whistling is forbidden
Chorus:
We're not allowed to tell a dirty joke
Hail, hail Freedonia
Rufus:
If chewing gum is chewed
The chewer is pursued
And in the hooscall hidden
Chorus:
If we choose to chew we'll be pursued
Rufus:
If any form of pleasure is exibited
Report to me and it will be prohibited
I'll put my foot down, so shall it be
This is the land of the free
The last man nearly ruined this place
He didn't know what to do with it
If you think this country's bad off now,
Just wait 'til I get through with it
The country's taxes must be fixed
And I know what to do with it
If you think you're paying too much now
Just wait till I get throught with it
*whistle*
I will not stand for anything that's crooked or unfair
I'm strictly on the upper knot, so everyone beware
If any man's caught taking graft, and I don't get my share
We stand'im up against the wall and pop!Goes the weasel
Chorus:
So everyone beware, you're stricken or unfair
-------unless he gets his share
Rufus:
If any man should come between a husband and his bride
We'll find out which one she prefers by letting her decide
If she prefers the other man, the husband steps outside
We stand him up against the wall and pop!Goes the weasel
Chorus:
The husband steps outside, relinquishes his bride
They stand him up against the wall and take him for white
Lyrics submitted by kmk_natasha
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