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.
Well people look and people stare
Well I don't think that I even care
You work your life away and what do they give?
You're only killing yourself to live
Killing yourself to live
Killing yourself to live
Just take a look around you what do you see
Pain, suffering, and misery
It's not the way that the world was meant
It's a pity you don't understand
Killing yourself to live
Killing yourself to live
I'm telling you
Believe in me
Nobody else will tell you
Open your eyes
And see the lies, oh yeah
Smoke it, get high
You think I'm crazy and baby I know that it's true
Before that you know it I think
That you'll go crazy too
I don't know if I'm up or down
Whether black is white or blue is brown
The colors of my life are all different somehow
Little boy blue's a big girl now
So you think it's me who's strange
But you've never had to make the change
Never give your trust away
You'll end up paying till your dying day
Well I don't think that I even care
You work your life away and what do they give?
You're only killing yourself to live
Killing yourself to live
Killing yourself to live
Just take a look around you what do you see
Pain, suffering, and misery
It's not the way that the world was meant
It's a pity you don't understand
Killing yourself to live
Killing yourself to live
I'm telling you
Believe in me
Nobody else will tell you
Open your eyes
And see the lies, oh yeah
Smoke it, get high
You think I'm crazy and baby I know that it's true
Before that you know it I think
That you'll go crazy too
I don't know if I'm up or down
Whether black is white or blue is brown
The colors of my life are all different somehow
Little boy blue's a big girl now
So you think it's me who's strange
But you've never had to make the change
Never give your trust away
You'll end up paying till your dying day
Lyrics submitted by carlos_avdas
Killing Yourself to Live Lyrics as written by Terence Butler John Osbourne
Lyrics © T.R.O. INC.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think it's about killing yourself, possibly by drugs, because you would rather that than live in this evil world of ours.
You guys all try to adapt the song to what you think it means.... The song is written by Bill ward about drinking and using drugs in order to obtain sanity.
I think this song's about straining yourself working your ass off for your whole life, instead of enjoying life.
I agree with Zoso and koenig. To me this song is about how society makes us suffer so that we can survive, but we can't truly live. We all need to stop surviving and start living.
I believe that this song is about living up to your own expectations, living your life the way you want to, not the way that another person, or society asa whole expects you to live.
xl5ron nailed it. it's about having to get wasted just so that you can cope with how brutal reality can be. i mean, they make it obvious with the smoke it/get high thing.
anyways, classic song from an amazing band during their prime.
Cool interpretetations, when I heard "killing yourself to live" I thought of in video games when you're riskin your life to get another life lmao..
easy to explain the lyrics if you have read the 'national acrobat' posts.
briliant young man Geezer, you see the conflict of man!
I'm telling you believe in me,(any mortal young human being) Nobody else will tell you (system -older mens hides the truth) Open your eyes and see the lies, oh yeah
Do It
ydrohoos.gr
great song from a great cd ! it is about how straining life can be and yes you need to take drugs to find a way out this shit hole !
Heh, I love at how the threw in the smoke it, get high part in the song so casually.