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.
Listen to the victim abused by a system
The basis is racist, you know that we must face this
It can't happen here (oh, yeah?)
Just take a look around at the cities and the towns
See 'em huntin', creepin', sneakin', breedin'
Fear and loathing with the lies they're speakin'
The knife, the gun, broken bottle, petrol bomb
There is no future when the past soon come
And when they come to ethnically cleanse me
Will you speak out? Will you defend me?
Or laugh through a glass eye as they rape our lives?
Trampled under foot by the rise on the right
(You call us)
Ich bin ein Ausländer
(You call us what?)
Ich bin ein Ausländer
(You call us)
Ich bin ein Ausländer
(You call us what?)
Ich bin ein Ausländer
Welcome to a state where the politics of hate shout loud in the crowd
Watch 'em beat us all down
There's a rising tide on the rivers of blood
But if the answer isn't violence, neither is your silence
If they come to ethnically cleanse me
Will you speak out? Will you defend me?
Freedom of expression doesn't make it alright
Trampled under foot by the rise of the right
(You call us)
Ich bin ein Ausländer
(You call us what?)
Ich bin ein Ausländer
(You call us)
Ich bin ein Ausländer
(You call us what?)
Ich bin ein Ausländer
Ich bin ein Ausländer
Ich bin ein Ausländer
Ich bin ein Ausländer
Ich bin ein Ausländer
Ich bin ein Ausländer
Ich bin ein Ausländer
Ich bin ein Ausländer
Ich bin ein Ausländer
The basis is racist, you know that we must face this
It can't happen here (oh, yeah?)
Just take a look around at the cities and the towns
See 'em huntin', creepin', sneakin', breedin'
Fear and loathing with the lies they're speakin'
The knife, the gun, broken bottle, petrol bomb
There is no future when the past soon come
And when they come to ethnically cleanse me
Will you speak out? Will you defend me?
Or laugh through a glass eye as they rape our lives?
Trampled under foot by the rise on the right
(You call us)
Ich bin ein Ausländer
(You call us what?)
Ich bin ein Ausländer
(You call us)
Ich bin ein Ausländer
(You call us what?)
Ich bin ein Ausländer
Welcome to a state where the politics of hate shout loud in the crowd
Watch 'em beat us all down
There's a rising tide on the rivers of blood
But if the answer isn't violence, neither is your silence
If they come to ethnically cleanse me
Will you speak out? Will you defend me?
Freedom of expression doesn't make it alright
Trampled under foot by the rise of the right
(You call us)
Ich bin ein Ausländer
(You call us what?)
Ich bin ein Ausländer
(You call us)
Ich bin ein Ausländer
(You call us what?)
Ich bin ein Ausländer
Ich bin ein Ausländer
Ich bin ein Ausländer
Ich bin ein Ausländer
Ich bin ein Ausländer
Ich bin ein Ausländer
Ich bin ein Ausländer
Ich bin ein Ausländer
Ich bin ein Ausländer
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