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.
Do you believe I would take such a thing with me
And give it to a police man?
I wouldn't do that, I wouldn't do that
If I did that would you say, "sir come down and put the charge on me"?
I wouldn't do that, I wouldn't do that
I'm not a fool to hurt myself, but I was innocent to what they done to me
They were wrong, they were wrong
Give it to me, one time
Give it to me, two times
Give it to me, three times
Give it to me, four times
Oh 5446 what's my number? What's my number now?
Right now somebody else has that number
One more time 5447, what's my number? What's my number now?
Right now somebody else has that number
Say, Boops, say, one go with him up, yes
Say, Boops, say, want keep him, keep him on his back, sing!
Say, Boops, say, me want to take off her dress, huh
Say, Boops, say, I've kissed and caressed
Cause we're jillin' and we're chillin' into the club all night
We're jillin' and we're chillin' into the club all night, buds
Hearin the dogs, feeling the beat, into the dog pound
DJ, "Lord have his grilled cheese"
Some jealous punk
Snuck up around the back
Tried to take the lovin' over me
Lord I got into a fist fight
And wound up in jail all night
Ah give it to me one time (ohh yes, ooh my pussy)
Give it to me two times
Give it to me three time
Give it to me four time
People listen up don't stand to near
I've got something that you all should hear
All lies, all the lies she told to me
Make a little part of history
I was always taught that boy meets girl
Fall in love, get married and forget the world
Nine months later, the sweet baby's on the way
Kiss 'em on the cheek and life's okay
I don't feel, no pain. I don't have, no time
To listen to conflicting points of view
Oh it's a crazy world to live alone
A ball and chain I call my own
People listen up don't stand to close
I've got something that you all should know
Holy matrimony is not for me
Rather die alone in misery
I was always taught that boy meets girl
Fall in love, get married and forget the world
Nine months later, the sweet baby's on the way
Isn't that what they used to say?
With a girl that you knew,
And the bonds that we grew
Turned into a ball and chain
I step into the great unknown
On a ball and chain I call my own
Crazy world to live alone
With a girl
And the bonds that we grew
Turned into a ball and chain
Oh, I step into the great unknown
With a ball and chain I call my own
Because marriage doesn't work in the world today
It's an institution that is in decay
And if I have love I wish to portray
I will surely find another way
Because I was always taught that boy meets girl
Fall in love, get married and forget the world
Nine months later the sweet baby's on the way
Kiss 'em on the cheek and life's okay
I don't feel no pain, I don't have no time
To listen to conflicting points of view
I step into the great unknown
On a ball and chain I call my own
And give it to a police man?
I wouldn't do that, I wouldn't do that
If I did that would you say, "sir come down and put the charge on me"?
I wouldn't do that, I wouldn't do that
I'm not a fool to hurt myself, but I was innocent to what they done to me
They were wrong, they were wrong
Give it to me, one time
Give it to me, two times
Give it to me, three times
Give it to me, four times
Oh 5446 what's my number? What's my number now?
Right now somebody else has that number
One more time 5447, what's my number? What's my number now?
Right now somebody else has that number
Say, Boops, say, one go with him up, yes
Say, Boops, say, want keep him, keep him on his back, sing!
Say, Boops, say, me want to take off her dress, huh
Say, Boops, say, I've kissed and caressed
Cause we're jillin' and we're chillin' into the club all night
We're jillin' and we're chillin' into the club all night, buds
Hearin the dogs, feeling the beat, into the dog pound
DJ, "Lord have his grilled cheese"
Some jealous punk
Snuck up around the back
Tried to take the lovin' over me
Lord I got into a fist fight
And wound up in jail all night
Ah give it to me one time (ohh yes, ooh my pussy)
Give it to me two times
Give it to me three time
Give it to me four time
People listen up don't stand to near
I've got something that you all should hear
All lies, all the lies she told to me
Make a little part of history
I was always taught that boy meets girl
Fall in love, get married and forget the world
Nine months later, the sweet baby's on the way
Kiss 'em on the cheek and life's okay
I don't feel, no pain. I don't have, no time
To listen to conflicting points of view
Oh it's a crazy world to live alone
A ball and chain I call my own
People listen up don't stand to close
I've got something that you all should know
Holy matrimony is not for me
Rather die alone in misery
I was always taught that boy meets girl
Fall in love, get married and forget the world
Nine months later, the sweet baby's on the way
Isn't that what they used to say?
With a girl that you knew,
And the bonds that we grew
Turned into a ball and chain
I step into the great unknown
On a ball and chain I call my own
Crazy world to live alone
With a girl
And the bonds that we grew
Turned into a ball and chain
Oh, I step into the great unknown
With a ball and chain I call my own
Because marriage doesn't work in the world today
It's an institution that is in decay
And if I have love I wish to portray
I will surely find another way
Because I was always taught that boy meets girl
Fall in love, get married and forget the world
Nine months later the sweet baby's on the way
Kiss 'em on the cheek and life's okay
I don't feel no pain, I don't have no time
To listen to conflicting points of view
I step into the great unknown
On a ball and chain I call my own
Lyrics submitted by The Big Andowski
5446 That's My Number/Ball and Chain Lyrics as written by Frederick Hibbert
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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yeah, im happy atleast someone gave toots and the maytals the credit they deserve for writing 5446 was my number