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.
(Dicky Barrett/Joe Gittleman)
standing stiff on a cliff and I'm not gonna leap,
checked out the water but it's much too deep
no going back there's no turning around,
so I'll stay here and wait God I hope that I'm found
my [7x] thoughts were in knots but I couldn't get to sleep,
went up to the attic to see what to keep
threw out the useless and now it's bone-dry,
but I still couldn't die and couldn't figure out why
no way, no how, no what? what now?
the place is packed I needed that
the bottles cracked I'm glad for that
a good nights rest? forget about that
I feel alive in this dive so I'll drink to that
the place is packed I needed that
the bottles cracked I'm glad for that
a good nights rest? forget about that
I feel alive in this dive so I'll drink to that
the attic was empty and my eyes were shut,
I had to do soemthing but I didn't know what
the darkness was nice but it wasn't enough,
the clock wasn't stopping so I had to get tough
get tough, get up, get out, get tough!
the place is packed I needed that
the bottles cracked I'm glad for that
a good nights rest? forget about that
I feel alive in this dive so I'll drink to that
the place is packed I needed that
the bottles cracked I'm glad for that
a good nights rest? forget about that
I feel alive in this dive so I'll drink to that
got up and out and found out it was raining,
the car lived then died but I wasn't complaining
hell bent for action and it had to be out there,
I walked then I ran hoping something was somewhere
before too long it didn't take long,
this place came along and I ended up here
the place is packed I needed that the bottles cracked
I'm glad for that a good nights rest? forget about that
I feel alive in this dive so I'll drink to that
the place is packed I needed that the bottles cracked
I'm glad for that a good nights rest? forget about that
I feel alive in this dive so I'll drink to that
standing stiff on a cliff and I'm not gonna leap,
checked out the water but it's much too deep
no going back there's no turning around,
so I'll stay here and wait God I hope that I'm found
my [7x] thoughts were in knots but I couldn't get to sleep,
went up to the attic to see what to keep
threw out the useless and now it's bone-dry,
but I still couldn't die and couldn't figure out why
no way, no how, no what? what now?
the place is packed I needed that
the bottles cracked I'm glad for that
a good nights rest? forget about that
I feel alive in this dive so I'll drink to that
the place is packed I needed that
the bottles cracked I'm glad for that
a good nights rest? forget about that
I feel alive in this dive so I'll drink to that
the attic was empty and my eyes were shut,
I had to do soemthing but I didn't know what
the darkness was nice but it wasn't enough,
the clock wasn't stopping so I had to get tough
get tough, get up, get out, get tough!
the place is packed I needed that
the bottles cracked I'm glad for that
a good nights rest? forget about that
I feel alive in this dive so I'll drink to that
the place is packed I needed that
the bottles cracked I'm glad for that
a good nights rest? forget about that
I feel alive in this dive so I'll drink to that
got up and out and found out it was raining,
the car lived then died but I wasn't complaining
hell bent for action and it had to be out there,
I walked then I ran hoping something was somewhere
before too long it didn't take long,
this place came along and I ended up here
the place is packed I needed that the bottles cracked
I'm glad for that a good nights rest? forget about that
I feel alive in this dive so I'll drink to that
the place is packed I needed that the bottles cracked
I'm glad for that a good nights rest? forget about that
I feel alive in this dive so I'll drink to that
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Words missing (at least as compared to the studio recording).
After "Couldn't figure out why" there should be:
No way, no how Know what? What now?
After "So I had to get tough" there should be:
Get tough, get up Get out, get DRUNK!