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.
Oh, I just don't get it, can't seem to make sense
I got some jumbled up thoughts in my jumbled up head
I keep stumbling around on some jumbled up legs
I keep grumbling out some jumbled up text
Holding up both sides on the side of the road
Holding up your store, holding up your home
With the evening news of filth and wounds
A picket and a funeral on Sunday afternoon
Oh, that light shines bright in your eyes
You gotta find your confidence, learn your lines
Pick your class, pick your crime
Better take a breath, take it quick
'Cause it's piling up, yeah, the layer's getting thick
And, oh, I just can't seem to find the time
Alligator skin
Oh yeah, you know that's how it is
Rubber-necking
Oh yeah, you know that's how it is
Trash piling
Oh yeah, you know that's how it is
When it's all so boring, 99 cents
Up in your face, you know they got it
Got plastic stacked on cheap bank cubes
A perfect place for them to hang their noose
And everyone's got a buy and they talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk about it
And they draw some line and make some point
Which way is right
And, oh, I just can't seem to find the time and that light shines bright in your eyes
Alligator skin
Oh yeah, you know that's how it is
Rubber-necking
Oh yeah, you know that's how it is
Trash piling
Oh yeah, you know that's how it is
Alligator skin
Oh yeah, you know that's how it is
Rubber-necking
Oh yeah, you know that's how it is
Trash piling
Oh yeah, you know that's how it's got to be
Oh no!
Yeah, it's got to be
Oh no!
That's how it's got to be
That's how it's got to be
I got some jumbled up thoughts in my jumbled up head
I keep stumbling around on some jumbled up legs
I keep grumbling out some jumbled up text
Holding up both sides on the side of the road
Holding up your store, holding up your home
With the evening news of filth and wounds
A picket and a funeral on Sunday afternoon
Oh, that light shines bright in your eyes
You gotta find your confidence, learn your lines
Pick your class, pick your crime
Better take a breath, take it quick
'Cause it's piling up, yeah, the layer's getting thick
And, oh, I just can't seem to find the time
Alligator skin
Oh yeah, you know that's how it is
Rubber-necking
Oh yeah, you know that's how it is
Trash piling
Oh yeah, you know that's how it is
When it's all so boring, 99 cents
Up in your face, you know they got it
Got plastic stacked on cheap bank cubes
A perfect place for them to hang their noose
And everyone's got a buy and they talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk about it
And they draw some line and make some point
Which way is right
And, oh, I just can't seem to find the time and that light shines bright in your eyes
Alligator skin
Oh yeah, you know that's how it is
Rubber-necking
Oh yeah, you know that's how it is
Trash piling
Oh yeah, you know that's how it is
Alligator skin
Oh yeah, you know that's how it is
Rubber-necking
Oh yeah, you know that's how it is
Trash piling
Oh yeah, you know that's how it's got to be
Oh no!
Yeah, it's got to be
Oh no!
That's how it's got to be
That's how it's got to be
Lyrics submitted by bakedalaska
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"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
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"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
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This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Mental Istid
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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it's about the music industry
"When it's all so boring, 99 cents Up in your face, you know they got it Got plastic stacked on cheap bank cubes A perfect place for them to hang their noose"
"And everyone's got a buy and they talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk about it And they draw some line and make some point Which way is right"
This is the most fun song on the new album in my opinion. It's got all the TATW aspects that we've come to know and love. (tap dancing, male vocals, guitar, keys, fun etc.)
I'm kind of disappointed with this song....the lyrics seem very juvenile, like they didn't put much thought into it....i don't know, it just isn't that great of a song in my opinion
i thought the lyrics had something to do with putting up a barrier to deal with problems in their life, but eventually it gets too thick and restricts him, and leaves him a breathless, rubbernecking spectator to life.
Also its a fun playful song.
I always listen to this whilst doing my homework. Trash piling = all the crap I've not done and need to get through. Doubt it's the original meaning, but it works for me. And it's so great to tap dance to!
I think the existing comments are wonderful!