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.
Don't act like you can't act
I always think you do it
You better learn to shake hands
Treat me like your mother
Don't act like you can't act
Stand up like a man
You better learn to shake hands
And treat me like your mother
You came up, too late
You came up, too late now
You came up, too late
To do a thing
Come on look me in the eye
You wanna try to tell a lie
I'll bet you can't and you know why?
I'm just like your mother
Look me in the eye now
You wanna try to tell a lie
You can't and you know why?
I'm just like your mother
You came up, too late
You came up, too late now
You came up, too late
Play dumb, play dead, play straight
Who's got it figured out?
(Play dumb, play dead, play straight)
Who's got it figured out? play straight
Time to manipulate
M-a-n-i-p-u-late
M-a-n-i-p-u-late
M-a-n-i-p-u-late
M-a-n-i-p-u-late
Am I too,
Am I late
Am I too
Am I late
Am I, am I, am I, am I,
Am I too
Late
Who's got it figured out
Left right, left right got it figured out
Who's got it figured out play straight
Stand up like a man
You better learn to shake hands
Look me in the eye now
And treat me like your mother
Come on, look me in the eye
You wanna try to tell a lie?
You can't and you know why?
I'm just like your mother
Play dumb, play dead
Tryin' to manipulate
You blink when you breathe and you breathe when you lie
You blink when you lie
You blink when you breathe and you breathe when you lie
You blink when you lie
You blink when you breathe and you breathe when you lie
You blink when you lie
Who's got it figured out
Left right, left right got it figured out
Who's got it figured out, play straight
Tryin' to manipulate
Who's got it figured out
(Left, left right) left right left right
Who's got it figured out, play straight
Tryin' to manipulate
You blink when you breathe and you breathe when you lie
You blink when you lie
Who's got it figured out, play straight
I always think you do it
You better learn to shake hands
Treat me like your mother
Don't act like you can't act
Stand up like a man
You better learn to shake hands
And treat me like your mother
You came up, too late
You came up, too late now
You came up, too late
To do a thing
Come on look me in the eye
You wanna try to tell a lie
I'll bet you can't and you know why?
I'm just like your mother
Look me in the eye now
You wanna try to tell a lie
You can't and you know why?
I'm just like your mother
You came up, too late
You came up, too late now
You came up, too late
Play dumb, play dead, play straight
Who's got it figured out?
(Play dumb, play dead, play straight)
Who's got it figured out? play straight
Time to manipulate
M-a-n-i-p-u-late
M-a-n-i-p-u-late
M-a-n-i-p-u-late
M-a-n-i-p-u-late
Am I too,
Am I late
Am I too
Am I late
Am I, am I, am I, am I,
Am I too
Late
Who's got it figured out
Left right, left right got it figured out
Who's got it figured out play straight
Stand up like a man
You better learn to shake hands
Look me in the eye now
And treat me like your mother
Come on, look me in the eye
You wanna try to tell a lie?
You can't and you know why?
I'm just like your mother
Play dumb, play dead
Tryin' to manipulate
You blink when you breathe and you breathe when you lie
You blink when you lie
You blink when you breathe and you breathe when you lie
You blink when you lie
You blink when you breathe and you breathe when you lie
You blink when you lie
Who's got it figured out
Left right, left right got it figured out
Who's got it figured out, play straight
Tryin' to manipulate
Who's got it figured out
(Left, left right) left right left right
Who's got it figured out, play straight
Tryin' to manipulate
You blink when you breathe and you breathe when you lie
You blink when you lie
Who's got it figured out, play straight
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thedeadweather.com/treatmelikeyourmother/ Does this help anything?