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.
When I grew up, well it felt great
I watched how others took their fate
Some felt afraid and undefended, so they got mean
And they pretended what they knew made them belong more than you.
I'm sure you know there's lots to learn
But that's not your fault, that's just your turn, yeah, yeah
Teenagers, kick our butts, tell us what the future will bring
Teenagers look at us, we have not solved everything
We drink and smoke to numb our pain
We read junk novels on the plane
We use authority for show so we can be a little smarter
We still can grow, and many do
It's when we stop we can't reach you
We feel the loss, you feel the blame
We're scared to lose, don't be the same, hey hey
Teenagers, kick our butts, tell us what the future will bring
Teenagers, look at us, we have not solved everything
The hometown brought its hero in
To speak at the high school gym
He took a breath, he took a chance
He strode up in his leather pants
And said, "Gee, thanks... but
I'm here today because I fought for what I felt and what I thought
They put me down they, were just wrong
And now it's they who don't belong, oh, oh
Teenagers, kick our butts, tell us what the future will bring
Teenagers look at us, we have not solved everything
And when the media tries to act your age
Don't be seduced, they're full of rage
Find your voice, do what it takes
Make sure you make lots of mistakes
And find the future that redeems
Give us hell, give us dreams
And grow and grow and grow
And someday when some teenagers come to kick your butts
Well then like I do try to
Love
Kick our butts
Love
Kick our butts
Oh I love
Kick our butts
I watched how others took their fate
Some felt afraid and undefended, so they got mean
And they pretended what they knew made them belong more than you.
I'm sure you know there's lots to learn
But that's not your fault, that's just your turn, yeah, yeah
Teenagers, kick our butts, tell us what the future will bring
Teenagers look at us, we have not solved everything
We drink and smoke to numb our pain
We read junk novels on the plane
We use authority for show so we can be a little smarter
We still can grow, and many do
It's when we stop we can't reach you
We feel the loss, you feel the blame
We're scared to lose, don't be the same, hey hey
Teenagers, kick our butts, tell us what the future will bring
Teenagers, look at us, we have not solved everything
The hometown brought its hero in
To speak at the high school gym
He took a breath, he took a chance
He strode up in his leather pants
And said, "Gee, thanks... but
I'm here today because I fought for what I felt and what I thought
They put me down they, were just wrong
And now it's they who don't belong, oh, oh
Teenagers, kick our butts, tell us what the future will bring
Teenagers look at us, we have not solved everything
And when the media tries to act your age
Don't be seduced, they're full of rage
Find your voice, do what it takes
Make sure you make lots of mistakes
And find the future that redeems
Give us hell, give us dreams
And grow and grow and grow
And someday when some teenagers come to kick your butts
Well then like I do try to
Love
Kick our butts
Love
Kick our butts
Oh I love
Kick our butts
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It's sort of an imperative that I wanted to communicate,'' Williams says, laughing again,That they should just be their awkward, exploring, really curious selves, and see what they can make of the world . . . and try to get to the stuff that's more raw, that they can really question. I think in the suburbs you encounter people who have an awful lot of power,'' she said, ``and for all that power, there's also a lot of fear. Teenagers are the scapegoats of adults who are afraid of their own power.''