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.
You climb six lonely sad stairs to your apartment
After another graveyard shift in the cold dull light of morning.
You walked in just in time to catch her as she's leaving
But the schedules and the conflicts kept the roof over our heads.
You said you were strong and naive and
If you were scared, well, I would understand.
I don't think I would have had the guts to handle it.
All we had were hand-me-downs.
And all we had was good will
And you always said it would get better.
"When you're young and you're poor, they hang on your failures."
And you always said it would get better.
We bought our first house at the advent of the 90s
A Cape Cod on a busy street that we swore we'd fix eventually.
Winter of '93, we got by with kerosene
A heater in the living room, we huddled around shivering and me
Trying to get to sleep.
My clothes will smell of smoke for weeks.
Just trying to get to sleep.
All we had were hand-me-downs.
All we had was good will
And you always said it would get better.
"When you're young and you're poor, they hang on your failures."
And you always said it would get better.
I'm sick of seeing ghosts. I won't be here forever.
My mother wore a sundress on the day that she got married.
They held the wedding in a backyard near the city.
I was just one then, I would never remember it
But I heard the voices and implications
Telling me who I could never be.
All we had were hand-me-downs.
And all we had was good will.
All we had were hand-me-downs.
And all we had was good will
And you always said it would get better.
"When you're young and you're poor, they hang on your failures."
And you always said it would get better.
After another graveyard shift in the cold dull light of morning.
You walked in just in time to catch her as she's leaving
But the schedules and the conflicts kept the roof over our heads.
You said you were strong and naive and
If you were scared, well, I would understand.
I don't think I would have had the guts to handle it.
All we had were hand-me-downs.
And all we had was good will
And you always said it would get better.
"When you're young and you're poor, they hang on your failures."
And you always said it would get better.
We bought our first house at the advent of the 90s
A Cape Cod on a busy street that we swore we'd fix eventually.
Winter of '93, we got by with kerosene
A heater in the living room, we huddled around shivering and me
Trying to get to sleep.
My clothes will smell of smoke for weeks.
Just trying to get to sleep.
All we had were hand-me-downs.
All we had was good will
And you always said it would get better.
"When you're young and you're poor, they hang on your failures."
And you always said it would get better.
I'm sick of seeing ghosts. I won't be here forever.
My mother wore a sundress on the day that she got married.
They held the wedding in a backyard near the city.
I was just one then, I would never remember it
But I heard the voices and implications
Telling me who I could never be.
All we had were hand-me-downs.
And all we had was good will.
All we had were hand-me-downs.
And all we had was good will
And you always said it would get better.
"When you're young and you're poor, they hang on your failures."
And you always said it would get better.
Lyrics submitted by Surgical_Tools, edited by tjwells
Teenage Parents Lyrics as written by
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
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Great version of a great song,
This might be my favorite from the new record. The emotion behind the line "All we had were hand me downs" KILLS me.
This song is defiantly about growing up poor and struggling. But being proud of it.
This song is obviously an homage of sorts to his parents (who, by the name of the song were likely teenagers when they had him) and the judgement and financial hardships they faced. It's a really touching song lyrically, and really fun to sing along to.
Also, they've been together for 25 years now so congratulations to them!
"You climb six lonely sad stairs to your apartment."