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.
April 29th, 1992
There was a riot on the streets
Tell me where were you?
You were sittin' home watchin' your TV
While I was participating in some anarchy
First spot we hit it was my liquor store
I finally got all that alcohol I can't afford
With red lights flashin' time to retire
And then we turned that liquor store into a structure fire
Next stop we hit it was the music shop
It only took one brick to make that window drop
Finally we got our own P.A.
Where do you think I got this guitar that you're hearing today?
Because as long as I'm alive, I'ma live illegal
When we returned to the pad to unload everything
It dawned on me that I need new home furnishings
So once again we filled the van until it was full
Since that day my livin' room's been more comfortable
'Cause everybody in the hood has had it up to here
It's getting harder and harder and harder each and every year
I go in the store where their mother and kids
And I saw her when she came out she was gettin' some pampers
They said it was for the black man
They said it was for the mexican, but not for the white man
But if you look at the streets, it wasn't about Rodney King
It's bout this fucked up situation and these fucked up police
It's about coming up and staying on top
And screamin' 187 on a mother fuckin' cop
It's ain't in the paper, it's on the wall
So national guard, smoke from all around!
Homicide, never doing no time
Give me my share, my share
Gimme my share, I want it
Gimme my share, I need it now, I need it now
My share, a wicked one who doesn't wanna see me go
Just gimme my share, I want it, gimme my share
But you don't want to give it to me
You don't wanna see me go
Gimme my share, I want it, gimme my share
But there is a wicked one
There was a riot on the streets
Tell me where were you?
You were sittin' home watchin' your TV
While I was participating in some anarchy
First spot we hit it was my liquor store
I finally got all that alcohol I can't afford
With red lights flashin' time to retire
And then we turned that liquor store into a structure fire
Next stop we hit it was the music shop
It only took one brick to make that window drop
Finally we got our own P.A.
Where do you think I got this guitar that you're hearing today?
Because as long as I'm alive, I'ma live illegal
When we returned to the pad to unload everything
It dawned on me that I need new home furnishings
So once again we filled the van until it was full
Since that day my livin' room's been more comfortable
'Cause everybody in the hood has had it up to here
It's getting harder and harder and harder each and every year
I go in the store where their mother and kids
And I saw her when she came out she was gettin' some pampers
They said it was for the black man
They said it was for the mexican, but not for the white man
But if you look at the streets, it wasn't about Rodney King
It's bout this fucked up situation and these fucked up police
It's about coming up and staying on top
And screamin' 187 on a mother fuckin' cop
It's ain't in the paper, it's on the wall
So national guard, smoke from all around!
Homicide, never doing no time
Give me my share, my share
Gimme my share, I want it
Gimme my share, I need it now, I need it now
My share, a wicked one who doesn't wanna see me go
Just gimme my share, I want it, gimme my share
But you don't want to give it to me
You don't wanna see me go
Gimme my share, I want it, gimme my share
But there is a wicked one
Lyrics submitted by The Big Andowski
April 29, 1992 (Leary) Lyrics as written by Bradley Nowell Marshall Goodman
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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