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.
Up on my side, where it is felt
I pack a little pistol on my pistol belt
I think it might be fear
Of the world and the way it makes you feel afraid
Under the skin, against the skull
They put a little chip so that they know it all
I think I might be scared
Of the world and the way it makes you feel afraid
And how it gets in the way
In the way
In the way
In the way
And now I want brimstone in my garden
I want roses set on fire
And I, well I want what's best for me
And I, well, I think I know just what that means
Just what that means
(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
Today I coo, today I caw
I have a pistol party and I kill 'em all
I think I might be scared
Of the man and the men with their hands inside
And the women, oh, the women, all they do is cry
And I, well I lose my mind
I lose my mind
I lose my mind
I lose my mind
And now I found brimstone in my garden
I found roses set on fire
And I found Jesus, what a liar
So I trade licks with Muddy Waters
And I, well I found what's best for me
And now I see no tragedy
And I, I found a burning rose
And now I won't be packing little pistols
No, no, no more
(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
(Ooh-ooh-ooh)
I pack a little pistol on my pistol belt
I think it might be fear
Of the world and the way it makes you feel afraid
Under the skin, against the skull
They put a little chip so that they know it all
I think I might be scared
Of the world and the way it makes you feel afraid
And how it gets in the way
In the way
In the way
In the way
And now I want brimstone in my garden
I want roses set on fire
And I, well I want what's best for me
And I, well, I think I know just what that means
Just what that means
(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
Today I coo, today I caw
I have a pistol party and I kill 'em all
I think I might be scared
Of the man and the men with their hands inside
And the women, oh, the women, all they do is cry
And I, well I lose my mind
I lose my mind
I lose my mind
I lose my mind
And now I found brimstone in my garden
I found roses set on fire
And I found Jesus, what a liar
So I trade licks with Muddy Waters
And I, well I found what's best for me
And now I see no tragedy
And I, I found a burning rose
And now I won't be packing little pistols
No, no, no more
(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
(Ooh-ooh-ooh)
Lyrics submitted by catandmouse, edited by Faradei, SIlverNGold
Little Pistol Lyrics as written by Ryan Guldemond
Lyrics © Anthem Entertainment
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Personally, I feel like this song is a message about abuse and the mental illness that comes along with it. As a victim of abuse, that's how I view it anyway. The person who sings this song is a victim of childhood/domestic abuse and is untrusting of the world. They destroy all their relationships because they guard themselves with their 'Little Pistol' (a metaphor for mental illness/PTSD?) handed on to them from their parent or partner. They continue on in life on guard and paranoid, ruining relationships with their pistol. The loud parts of the song is their mind, and them trying to come to terms. At the end lyrics, they find a 'burning rose' (a person/family they can be with and trust) and they won't be packing 'little pistols' (defense mechanisms.). Beautiful song.