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I returned a bag of groceries
Accidentally taken off the shelf
Before the expiration date
I came back as a bag of groceries
Accidentally taken off the shelf
Before the date stamped on myself
Did a large procession wave their (Did a)
Torches as my head fell in the basket, (large pro-)
And was everybody dancing on the casket? (cession dance?)
Now it's over I'm dead and I haven't done anything that I want (now it's over)
Or, I'm still alive and there's nothing I want to do
I will never say the word
"Procrastinate" again; I'll never
See myself in the mirror with my eyes closed
I didn't apologize for
When I was eight and I made my younger brother
Have to be my personal slave
Did a large procession wave their (Did a)
Torches as my head fell in the basket, (large pro-)
And was everybody dancing on the casket? (cession dance?)
Now it's over I'm dead and I haven't done anything that I want (now it's over)
Or, I'm still alive and there's nothing I want to do
(So) So I won't
(Sit) sit at home
(And) anymore
(And) and you won't
(And) see my head in
(And) the window
(And) and I won't
(And) be around
(And) ever anymore
(And) and I'll be up there on the wall at the store
I returned a bag of groceries
Accidentally taken off the shelf
Before the expiration date
I came back as a bag of groceries
Accidentally taken off the shelf
Before the date stamped on myself
Did a large procession wave their (Did a)
Torches as my head fell in the basket, (large pro-)
And was everybody dancing on the casket? (cession dance?)
Now it's over I'm dead and I haven't done anything that I want (now it's over)
Or, I'm still alive and there's nothing I want to do
Now it's over I'm dead and I haven't done anything that I want (now it's over)
Or, I'm still alive and there's nothing I want to do
Accidentally taken off the shelf
Before the expiration date
I came back as a bag of groceries
Accidentally taken off the shelf
Before the date stamped on myself
Did a large procession wave their (Did a)
Torches as my head fell in the basket, (large pro-)
And was everybody dancing on the casket? (cession dance?)
Now it's over I'm dead and I haven't done anything that I want (now it's over)
Or, I'm still alive and there's nothing I want to do
I will never say the word
"Procrastinate" again; I'll never
See myself in the mirror with my eyes closed
I didn't apologize for
When I was eight and I made my younger brother
Have to be my personal slave
Did a large procession wave their (Did a)
Torches as my head fell in the basket, (large pro-)
And was everybody dancing on the casket? (cession dance?)
Now it's over I'm dead and I haven't done anything that I want (now it's over)
Or, I'm still alive and there's nothing I want to do
(So) So I won't
(Sit) sit at home
(And) anymore
(And) and you won't
(And) see my head in
(And) the window
(And) and I won't
(And) be around
(And) ever anymore
(And) and I'll be up there on the wall at the store
I returned a bag of groceries
Accidentally taken off the shelf
Before the expiration date
I came back as a bag of groceries
Accidentally taken off the shelf
Before the date stamped on myself
Did a large procession wave their (Did a)
Torches as my head fell in the basket, (large pro-)
And was everybody dancing on the casket? (cession dance?)
Now it's over I'm dead and I haven't done anything that I want (now it's over)
Or, I'm still alive and there's nothing I want to do
Now it's over I'm dead and I haven't done anything that I want (now it's over)
Or, I'm still alive and there's nothing I want to do
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That's just what I get from it, anyway.
I also figured it was sort of asking if you think people will be sad if you're gone, or will they be glad to be rid of you (see: chorus).
I love this song, chiefly because I think it's cool how virtually because it's sung almost entirely in harmony.
Groceries: person.
Shelved groceries: idle/bored/depressed person.
groceries are useful until their expiration date, that is if they are taken off the shelf.
'accidently' taken off the shelf means that there's no intent or purpose behind being useful.
coming back may mean reincarnation or rebirth... either from the dead (you can interpret this alongside easter religious philosophy or snapping out of a depressed funk...
This seems to me like this person was executed by a riot (á la the French Revolution). "wave their torches" conjures up images of an unruly riot just as "head fell in the basket" makes me think of a disembodied head rolling off a guillotine into a basket.
Anyway, the gist of the song is a procrastinator who is too lazy to do the things he wants/doesn't have anything they want to do. In the end they die and regret not doing anything. TMBG use the metaphor of a 'bag of groceries' (the person) 'taken off the shelf' (passed away) 'before the expiration date' (early).
One line that puzzles me is "I came back as a bag of groceries'. Does anyone have any personal interpretations?
Anyway, one of my favourite TMBG songs - although there are so many greats to choose form though :(
That part about not procrastinating and taking a real look at oneself instead of just an imaginary one is a positive thing here: A
pep talk into getting up and doing something and positive introspection.
What do you think about the bit "I'll never see myself in the mirror with my eyes closed"? Maybe he has no concept of what he should be/do? kinda like how you fell just after highschool.
I wonder if theres any specific signifigance to the enslaving the younger brother thing? or if its just an example of a general regret?
and I'd have to agree with t4r, lots of artists have said that to avoid things like controversy, or debte, or maybe they just didnt want to explain it. could be lots of reasons for saying that besides it being true.
Are you high? Both Johns have said MULTIPLE TIMES that virtually none of their songs have any meaning. And yes, they've actually said which ones too. This is not one of them."
You're pretty naive if you take that at face value.
Rodan2000