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.
We were born
Born in the fifties
Born
Born in the fifties
Born
Born in the fifties
Born
Born in the fifties
My mother cried
When president Kennedy died
She said it was the communists
But I knew better
Would they drop the bomb on us
While we made love on the beach
We were the class they couldn't teach
'Cause we knew better
We were born
Born in the fifties
Born
Born in the fifties
Born
Born in the fifties
Born
Born in the fifties
They screamed
When the Beatles sang
And they laughed when the King fell down the steps
Oh they should've known better
Oh we hated our Aunt
Then we messed in our pants
Then we lost our faith and prayed to the TV
Oh we should've known better
We were born
Born in the fifties
Born
Born in the fifties
Born
Born in the fifties
Born
Born in the fifties
We freeze like statues on the pages of history
Living was never like this when we took all those G.C.E.'s
Oh you opened the door for us
And then you turned to dust
You don't understand us
So don't reprimand us
We're taking the future
We don't need no teacher
Born
Born in the fifties
Born
Born in the fifties
Born
Born in the fifties
Born
Born in the fifties
Born
Born in the fifties
Born
Born in the fifties
Born
Born in the fifties
Born
Born in the fifties
Born in the fifties
Born
Born in the fifties
Born
Born in the fifties
Born
Born in the fifties
My mother cried
When president Kennedy died
She said it was the communists
But I knew better
Would they drop the bomb on us
While we made love on the beach
We were the class they couldn't teach
'Cause we knew better
We were born
Born in the fifties
Born
Born in the fifties
Born
Born in the fifties
Born
Born in the fifties
They screamed
When the Beatles sang
And they laughed when the King fell down the steps
Oh they should've known better
Oh we hated our Aunt
Then we messed in our pants
Then we lost our faith and prayed to the TV
Oh we should've known better
We were born
Born in the fifties
Born
Born in the fifties
Born
Born in the fifties
Born
Born in the fifties
We freeze like statues on the pages of history
Living was never like this when we took all those G.C.E.'s
Oh you opened the door for us
And then you turned to dust
You don't understand us
So don't reprimand us
We're taking the future
We don't need no teacher
Born
Born in the fifties
Born
Born in the fifties
Born
Born in the fifties
Born
Born in the fifties
Born
Born in the fifties
Born
Born in the fifties
Born
Born in the fifties
Born
Born in the fifties
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae
Born in the 50's Lyrics as written by Gordon Sumner
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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These lyrics make me cringe...
GCE = General Certificate of Education en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Certificate_of_Education
It's about his generaton, and how they felt about the world they were living in. A funny song. It always makes me laugh
"My mother cried When president Kennedy died She said it was the Communists But I knew better ... And they laughed when the King fell down the stairs Oh they should've known better"
I can't say I was born in the 50's, but I can relate to what this song says, because I always think "I know better". AND I DO :P
So if there are any flaws on the album at all, it's only (a) that many of these songs, good as they are, still don't stand the competition with later Police classics (after all, there were bands who could do 'Next To You', but there wasn't anybody who could do 'Don't Stand So Close To Me'), and (b) a couple of the songs are indeed sub-par: 'Born In The 50's' isn't bad melodically, but the lyrical message and the arrogance of the number are kinda dumb, almost fit for a generic arena rocker … [George Starostin]
psssst! He's being sarcastic. The song isn't arrogant, it's self-effacing. "Weren't we so dumb and arrogant, we thought we knew better."
A question that has nagged me for years: what is a G.C.E.? Is it a British thing? And when did the king fall down the stairs?
These geezers were born in '52, '51, and 1942. Were they trying to be as young as punks in England at the time? Dave Vanian and Johnny Rotten were born in 1956, putting two punks square in the '50s. Police: suspect.
Er... George Starostin, are you the same George Starostin who did those reviews for that site? Wow... You're not dead.
Okay, on topic:
The song is pretty catchy, so I ignore the annoyoing lyrics, but looking at them now, I see waht you mean. They are really arrogant. >>;; Why would anyone want to brag about being born in the 50's anyway? The 50's were critically lacking in a sense of humor.
Other than beatniks. Beatniks are funny.
Oh and the Cold War. That was a riot.
And all the blatant segregation, racism, and sexism. That was pretty fun... for white men.<br /> <br /> I hate people who look at old 50's propaganda films and says "I wish life like that, all cheery and happy and everyone was nice to each other." <br /> <br /> Total crock of shit.