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.
I got the fortunes of heaven in diamonds and gold
I got all the bonds baby that the bank could hold
I got houses 'cross the country honey end to end
And everybody buddy wants to be my friend
Well I got all the riches baby any man ever knew
But the only thing I ain't got honey I ain't got you
I got a house full of Rembrandt and priceless art
And all the little girls they want to tear me apart
When I walk down the street people stop and stare
Well you'd think I might be thrilled but baby I don't care
'Cause I got more good luck honey than old King Farouk
But the only thing I ain't got baby I ain't got you
I got a big diamond watch sittin' on my wrist
I try to tempt you baby but you just resist
I made a deal with the devil babe I won't deny
Until I got you in my arms I can't be satisfied
I got a pound of caviar sitting home on ice
I got a fancy foreign car that rides like paradise
I got a hundred pretty women knockin' down my door
And folks want to kiss me I ain't even seen before
I been around the world and all across the seven seas
Been paid a king's ransom for doin' what comes naturally
But I'm still the biggest fool honey this world ever knew
'Cause the only thing I ain't got baby I ain't got you
I got all the bonds baby that the bank could hold
I got houses 'cross the country honey end to end
And everybody buddy wants to be my friend
Well I got all the riches baby any man ever knew
But the only thing I ain't got honey I ain't got you
I got a house full of Rembrandt and priceless art
And all the little girls they want to tear me apart
When I walk down the street people stop and stare
Well you'd think I might be thrilled but baby I don't care
'Cause I got more good luck honey than old King Farouk
But the only thing I ain't got baby I ain't got you
I got a big diamond watch sittin' on my wrist
I try to tempt you baby but you just resist
I made a deal with the devil babe I won't deny
Until I got you in my arms I can't be satisfied
I got a pound of caviar sitting home on ice
I got a fancy foreign car that rides like paradise
I got a hundred pretty women knockin' down my door
And folks want to kiss me I ain't even seen before
I been around the world and all across the seven seas
Been paid a king's ransom for doin' what comes naturally
But I'm still the biggest fool honey this world ever knew
'Cause the only thing I ain't got baby I ain't got you
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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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.
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Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
I think there's a little more to it than that. This song dips into Bruce's personal life at the time. I think it sort of serves as a bridge between the commercial-success of the Born in the USA album and the central theme of the Tunnel of Love album. Bruce was coming off of his most highly $uccessful album but also during that time had to go through a devastating divorce...
This is isn't a simple song. Bruce isn't just pining after some girl like some pop song. Consider the context of his life at the time and the message of the whole Tunnel of Love album. I believe that when he says he "ain't got you" that he's talking about his wife at the time. He's got her (she's his wife) but he hasn't really got her, she hasn't fully opened up to him and he's lost his connection with her. Similar to the message in Brilliant Disguise - "Is that you baby, or just a brilliant disguise?". Ain't got you, means that he hasn't truly got her/she's not being completely true to herself when she's with him.
Beautiful song. Fairly self explanatory. He obviously is writing about some women he is mesmerized with.
This one is pretty simple when it comes to the lyrics. I also love it because it's so minimal, short, like a little introduction to the more complicated songs on the album (a lot of them I don't understand... by the way, if you're reading this I wouldn't mind if you could add some interpretations to the other Tunnel of Love songs... I feel kind of lost. The same with his song "Lucky Town). A great way to start the album!