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.
how many girls stay awake all night
too scared to sleep and too scared to fight back
i know you know what i'm talking about
another woman killed and hardly a pout about it
green river killer my fucking ass
the cops have gotta be deaf, dumb, and spastic
to not catch the killer(s) of one hundred woman
i guess it'd be different if they thought we were human
i wanna know what love is
what the fuck if we all got guns
to off the fucking pigs and all the other motherfuckers
raping the children they paint like dolls
jon benet didn't scream because she never fucking was
come on now the police aren't gonna save you
they're part of the problem that society gave you
locking up black men for whistling in the wind
you see a mirage when you call the cop your friend
i wanna know what love is
the killers and the cops give us special advice
like cross your legs and act fucking nice
while they kill us off old and fucking young
for breathing, relieving, and having fun
they'll keep you scared so you have to have a boyfriend
and take your kids away if you're a la la lesbian
arrest you for whoring then rape you in the car
it's time we point the finger at who the real criminals are
i wanna know what love is
i want you to show me
so i'll stay awake almost every night
a pen in my hand and in the other a knife
because i'd rather be scared and fight back
than be some dick's maid, babe or wife
i don't care how we get it but we'll get it someday
too scared to sleep and too scared to fight back
i know you know what i'm talking about
another woman killed and hardly a pout about it
green river killer my fucking ass
the cops have gotta be deaf, dumb, and spastic
to not catch the killer(s) of one hundred woman
i guess it'd be different if they thought we were human
i wanna know what love is
what the fuck if we all got guns
to off the fucking pigs and all the other motherfuckers
raping the children they paint like dolls
jon benet didn't scream because she never fucking was
come on now the police aren't gonna save you
they're part of the problem that society gave you
locking up black men for whistling in the wind
you see a mirage when you call the cop your friend
i wanna know what love is
the killers and the cops give us special advice
like cross your legs and act fucking nice
while they kill us off old and fucking young
for breathing, relieving, and having fun
they'll keep you scared so you have to have a boyfriend
and take your kids away if you're a la la lesbian
arrest you for whoring then rape you in the car
it's time we point the finger at who the real criminals are
i wanna know what love is
i want you to show me
so i'll stay awake almost every night
a pen in my hand and in the other a knife
because i'd rather be scared and fight back
than be some dick's maid, babe or wife
i don't care how we get it but we'll get it someday
Lyrics submitted by riotkitten
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
I think it's a great song, and I like how it uses the chorus, "I wanna know what love is." because to me this relates to the foreigner song, how as women we want to know love, but we can't know love when there is all these bad things going on.
@xcats ~ 15 years on... <br /> <br /> Sounds like "safety." And safety should never = love. :)
kathleen hanna + hip hop= fucking awesome
'so i'll stay awake almost every night a pen in my hand and in the other a knife because i'd rather be scared and fight back than be some dick's maid, babe or wife'
great sentiment.
Great song about violence against women. I love it, and I'm a dude.
I love how she sings in this song <33
Almost like a rap.
this song rocks, i love julie ruin so much. violence against women sucks also. glad somebody's gonna sing against it.
this song is pretty awesome! shows that violence against women should not be taken lightly, even though it usually is.
I love her message in here, that we women need to stop allowing our fears to prevent us from doing what we want, and to face our fears alone, instead of being completely dependent on men. To me, she's singing about finding our inner strength and courage.
the point she is trying to get acrossed is fucking great. i appreciate her and this song!
fuck police brutality and fuck sexism