Classic love story true to his western tx roots. One of my favorites as a story, but I think there are alot of songs that are amazing not even listed on this site. I guess I should figure out how to add them, because I have about 8 REK cd's.
Peter said to Paul "All those words that we wrote
Are just the rules of the game and the rules are the first to go"
But now talkin' to God is Laurel beggin' Hardy for a gun
I got a girl in the war, man I wonder what it is we done
Paul said to Peter "You gotta rock yourself a little harder,
Pretend the dove from above is a dragon and your feet are on fire"
And I got a girl in the war, Paul the only thing I know to do
Is turn up the music and pray that she makes it through
Because the keys to the kingdom got locked inside the kingdom
And the angels fly around in there, but we can't see them
And I got a girl in the war, Paul I know that they can hear me yell
If they can't find a way to help, they can go to Hell
If they can't find a way to help her, they can go to Hell
Paul said to Peter "You gotta rock yourself a little harder,
Pretend the dove from above is a dragon and your feet are on fire"
But I got a girl in the war, Paul her eyes are like champagne
They sparkle, bubble over, and in the morning all you got is rain
Sparkle, bubble over, and in the morning all you got is rain
They sparkle, bubble over, and in the morning all you got is rain
Are just the rules of the game and the rules are the first to go"
But now talkin' to God is Laurel beggin' Hardy for a gun
I got a girl in the war, man I wonder what it is we done
Paul said to Peter "You gotta rock yourself a little harder,
Pretend the dove from above is a dragon and your feet are on fire"
And I got a girl in the war, Paul the only thing I know to do
Is turn up the music and pray that she makes it through
Because the keys to the kingdom got locked inside the kingdom
And the angels fly around in there, but we can't see them
And I got a girl in the war, Paul I know that they can hear me yell
If they can't find a way to help, they can go to Hell
If they can't find a way to help her, they can go to Hell
Paul said to Peter "You gotta rock yourself a little harder,
Pretend the dove from above is a dragon and your feet are on fire"
But I got a girl in the war, Paul her eyes are like champagne
They sparkle, bubble over, and in the morning all you got is rain
Sparkle, bubble over, and in the morning all you got is rain
They sparkle, bubble over, and in the morning all you got is rain
Lyrics submitted by angryostrich, edited by soso104
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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.
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
I interpret the song as a clear anti-war statement.
The reference to breaking the rules of the game and the “girl in the war” suggests a breaking of a “no women, no children” type of statute. In our current wars, we see our international rules of conduct being broken and civilian casualties often outnumber those of military forces.
A second reference to Laurel and Hardy (Thin Blue Line – “…even Laurel begs Hardy for vengeance”) links the two songs which support each other in their anti-war sentiment.
The need to “rock yourself a little harder” and the reference to a dove suggests to me the need to actively protest and not just believe blindly in peace (e.g. the [peace] dove). Paul suggests that you must do whatever you have to in order to get fired up and move (“pretend your feet are on fire”). Peter has not been able to find a way to do this, and has been effectively sticking his head in the sand as he turns up the music and hopes for the best (e.g. that the war will end, that she will be okay, that peace will come).
As a side-note, a confrontation between the apostles has ‘historic’ reference as Paul confronted Peter in Galatians 2:11-18 when Peter was accused of Judaizing due to his reluctance to share a meal with gentile Christians.
“I know that they can hear me yell” (i.e., I know that they can hear my protests) and if they [powers that be] can’t find a way to stop what we are opposed to then they can go to hell. To fail to do so will result in great loss.