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.
There's Frank James and Jesse James
Billy the Kid and all the rest
Supposed to be some bad cats
Way out in the West
If those cats could of dug me
And my gangster ways
They would have hung up their guns
And dug into their graves
Cause I'm a gangster
A gangster of love
I'm a gangster
A gangster of love
Now look here
When I go into a bar
Girls from near and far
Say I'm a gangster
A gangster of love
I jumped in my white horse Cadillac
I rode across the border line
I roped 55 girls
I kissed them all the same time
Took 25 or 30, put 'em all on a freight
There was a million dollar reward for me in each and every state
Sheriff says is your name Stevie "Guitar" Miller in a very deep voice
And I said yes sir brother sheriff, and that's your wife on the back of my horse
I can't help it
I'm a gangster
I can't help it
You know, I'm a gangster
Billy the Kid and all the rest
Supposed to be some bad cats
Way out in the West
If those cats could of dug me
And my gangster ways
They would have hung up their guns
And dug into their graves
Cause I'm a gangster
A gangster of love
I'm a gangster
A gangster of love
Now look here
When I go into a bar
Girls from near and far
Say I'm a gangster
A gangster of love
I jumped in my white horse Cadillac
I rode across the border line
I roped 55 girls
I kissed them all the same time
Took 25 or 30, put 'em all on a freight
There was a million dollar reward for me in each and every state
Sheriff says is your name Stevie "Guitar" Miller in a very deep voice
And I said yes sir brother sheriff, and that's your wife on the back of my horse
I can't help it
I'm a gangster
I can't help it
You know, I'm a gangster
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