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.
Give me a job, give me security
Give me a chance to survive
I'm just a poor soul in the unemployment line
My God I'm hardly alive
My mother and father, my wife and my friends
You've seen them laugh in my face
But I've got the power and I've got the will
I'm not a charity case
I'll take those (long nights, impossible odds)
Keeping my eye to the keyhole
If it takes (all that to be just what I am)
Well I'm gonna be a blue collar man
Make me an offer that I can't refuse
Make me a respectable man
This is my last time in the unemployment line
So like it or not
I'll take those (long nights, impossible odds)
Keeping my back to the wall
If it takes (all night to be just what I am)
Well I'm gonna be a blue collar man
Keeping my mind on a better life
Where happiness is only a heartbeat away
Paradise can it be all I heard it was
I close my eyes and maybe I'm already there
I'll take those (long nights, impossible odds)
Keeping my back to the wall
(All that to be just what I am)
Well I'm gonna be a blue collar man
You don't understand
I'll take those (long nights, impossible odds)
Keeping my eye to the keyhole
If it takes (all night to be just what I am)
Well I'm bound be a blue collar
Gotta be a blue collar man
Gonna be a blue collar man
Believe it
Give me a chance to survive
I'm just a poor soul in the unemployment line
My God I'm hardly alive
My mother and father, my wife and my friends
You've seen them laugh in my face
But I've got the power and I've got the will
I'm not a charity case
I'll take those (long nights, impossible odds)
Keeping my eye to the keyhole
If it takes (all that to be just what I am)
Well I'm gonna be a blue collar man
Make me an offer that I can't refuse
Make me a respectable man
This is my last time in the unemployment line
So like it or not
I'll take those (long nights, impossible odds)
Keeping my back to the wall
If it takes (all night to be just what I am)
Well I'm gonna be a blue collar man
Keeping my mind on a better life
Where happiness is only a heartbeat away
Paradise can it be all I heard it was
I close my eyes and maybe I'm already there
I'll take those (long nights, impossible odds)
Keeping my back to the wall
(All that to be just what I am)
Well I'm gonna be a blue collar man
You don't understand
I'll take those (long nights, impossible odds)
Keeping my eye to the keyhole
If it takes (all night to be just what I am)
Well I'm bound be a blue collar
Gotta be a blue collar man
Gonna be a blue collar man
Believe it
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