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Signs Lyrics
and the sign said long-haired, freaky people
need not apply
so i tucked my hair up under my hat
and i went in to ask him why
he said you look like a fine upstanding young man,
i think you'll do
so i took off my hat and said imagine that!
ha! me, working for you!
oh, sign, sign, everywhere a sign
blocking out the scenery, breaking my mind
do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign?
and the sign said anybody caught trespassing
would be shot on sight
so i jumped on the fence and i yelled at the house
hey! what gives you the right
to put up a fence to keep me out
or to keep mother nature in?
if god was here he'd tell you to your face
man you're some kind of sinner
sign, sign, everywhere a sign
blocking out the scenery breaking my mind
do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign?
now hey you mister, can't you read?
you got to have a shirt and tie to get a seat
you can't even watch, no you can't eat
you ain't supposed to be here
sign said you got to have a membership card to get inside
and the sign said everybody welcome
come in, kneel down and pray
but when they passed around the plate at the end of it all
i didn't have a penny to pay
so i got me a pen and a paper
and i made up my own little sign
i said thank you lord for thinking about me
i'm alive and doing fine
sign, sign, everywhere a sign
blocking out the scenery breaking my mind
do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign?
need not apply
so i tucked my hair up under my hat
and i went in to ask him why
he said you look like a fine upstanding young man,
i think you'll do
so i took off my hat and said imagine that!
ha! me, working for you!
blocking out the scenery, breaking my mind
do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign?
would be shot on sight
so i jumped on the fence and i yelled at the house
hey! what gives you the right
to put up a fence to keep me out
or to keep mother nature in?
if god was here he'd tell you to your face
man you're some kind of sinner
blocking out the scenery breaking my mind
do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign?
you got to have a shirt and tie to get a seat
you can't even watch, no you can't eat
you ain't supposed to be here
come in, kneel down and pray
but when they passed around the plate at the end of it all
i didn't have a penny to pay
so i got me a pen and a paper
and i made up my own little sign
i said thank you lord for thinking about me
i'm alive and doing fine
blocking out the scenery breaking my mind
do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign?
Song Info
Submitted by
lostyouth On May 12, 2002
More Five Man Electrical Band
I'm a Stranger Here
Signs [LP Version]
I'm a Stranger Here [LP Version]
Signs [Single Version]
I'm a Stranger Here [Single Version]
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The song's not really about signs, as such, the signs just happen to be the method of which it's being carried.
Specifically, it's more focused on restrictions, rules, subdividing, and essentially, a culture based upon splitting people apart, with an endless emphasis on whot yeu CAN'T do.
How many signs have positive messages? Other than ones held at rallies or marches, generally few, if any. Almost all signs are things which warn, things which note restrictions, or things which block access.
Is it a 'hippie' thing to be frustrated with such? To some degree, yes. On the other hand, should we really be so complacent with a culture which is founded on restrictions and subdividing groups apart?
That's pretty much the point that's trying to be made; the 'signs' are just a focal point to vent that frustration at.
This song is so epically rad, I do not know what to do with myself! Especially the part where he says, "you've got to have a membership card to get inside" along with "huh" really makes your hand just do some sort of spontainious, random, involuntary, obscene jesture involving the middle finger...it's sad!
Also, passing around the hat right after that and leaving a note evokes the same [...] to religion but with the whole reason for it the point.
Luv, love this song!!!
is
is
Oh, the ending: "I didn't have a penny to pay"... Well if he wasn't one of a long-haired freaky people or had gotten the job, then he would have... But otherwise, the sign, this time HIS OWN, does the trick! -- Dave
i think this song pretty much speaks for itself.
its a splendid song..
Bob and Tom's version is much better:
"and the sign said anybody caught trespassing would be shot on sight so i jumped on the fence and i yelled at the house 'hey! what gives you the...' " BANG!!! song abruptly ends lol
Havent heard this original. But I love Fatboy Slim's remix of it!
classic song..
Me and my mom and dad would dance to this song when i was little i espically liked the part that went "The sign says you gotta have a membership card to get inside... UHH!"
LOVED this song. Actually owned the record. I especially remember signing to it with a bunch of kids while at the beach on our 5th grade safety patrol field trip back in the 70's. I was wearing crushed velvet dark purple hot pants (shorts) lined with think black tassles and a stretchy black tank top (which sadly was all the rage:). I thought I was all that! The song is a true 'hippie' tune....rebelling against the status quo. Not wanting to be told what to say; how to dress; where to go...just to fit in to society's 'Leave It To Beaver' standard. The Vietnam War (brought into our living rooms with Walter Cronkite) hadn't ended all that long ago and rebellion was leading the youth movement.
Oh, cum on!
Oh, cum on!