George
Jude Lyrics


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George died in the fifth grade
No one ever knew why
He was out selling lemonade
On the Fourth of July, and he died

Sister Claire said that he was
An angel on Earth
She stood there and she told us
She had clearly rehearsed every verse
Of the lies that tie you down

And I've forgotten my first love
I haven't seen her since when
But there's a bum on the corner
He thinks that I'm his best friend, we pretend

He says the rapture is any day
That's when God's coming down
Although perhaps He should stay away
They'll run him right out of town, like a clown
With the lies that tie you down

There are times when a man feels
That it's him against the world
There are times when a man steals
From the love of his girl

There are days when a beast dies
Long before the gun
And there are days when a crow flies
Straight into the sun, to be done
With the lies that tie you down

The lies that tie you down
The lies that tie you down

Nineteen ninety...
Nineteen ninety...




Nineteen ninety-nine
It's almost time

Overall Meaning

The song George by Jude portrays the sad and mysterious death of a young boy named George, which happened when he was in fifth grade. The death of George seems to have been unexpected, and nobody knows the reason for it. The only thing that is known is that he was selling lemonade on 4th of July when he passed away. Sister Claire, a nun or a religious figure, calls him an angel on Earth, and she seems to have rehearsed her words as she speaks about him being called to heaven. The question arises - Who is to blame for George's death?


In the next verse, the singer discusses his experience of losing his first love, which he has not seen since then. He also meets a bum who considers him his best friend, although they only pretend to be. The bum talks about the rapture, and how God is coming down soon, but the singer thinks God will have to stay away since he will be run out of town like a clown. The singer then goes on to say that sometimes a man feels like it's him against the world and steals from his girl's love. There are also some days when a beast dies, and there are days when a crow flies straight into the sun.


The song's central theme seems to be the lies that tie us down. The lies that we tell ourselves and others to make ourselves believe one thing or another. They bind us to our past and control our future. The song also talks about how we feel alone and helpless during certain times in our lives, but we must find a way to free ourselves from the lies that shackle us. The song is quite insightful and inviting, inviting listeners to reflect on their lives and the things that hold them back.


Line by Line Meaning

George died in the fifth grade
George died at a young age while in grade school.


No one ever knew why
The cause of George's death remains unknown.


He was out selling lemonade
George was selling lemonade for possibly a Fourth of July celebration.


On the Fourth of July, and he died
George passed on the Fourth of July.


Sister Claire said that he was
Someone named Sister Claire shared details of George's death.


An angel on Earth
Claire characterized George as an angelic person who lived on Earth.


She stood there and she told us
Claire narrated the incident to the audience.


She had clearly rehearsed every verse
Claire may have prepared her statements beforehand.


Of the lies that tie you down
Claire may have manipulated or misconstrued the truth about George's death.


And I've forgotten my first love
The poet may have forgotten the memory of their first love.


I haven't seen her since when
The poet has not seen their first love for an extended period of time.


But there's a bum on the corner
The poet might have observed a homeless person on a street corner.


He thinks that I'm his best friend
The homeless person may believe the poet is their closest companion.


we pretend
The poet and the homeless person pretend to have a deeper connection than they actually do.


He says the rapture is any day
The homeless person believes that the end of the world is coming soon.


That's when God's coming down
The homeless person believes that God will return during the end of the world.


Although perhaps He should stay away
The poet thinks that God returning may cause chaos.


They'll run him right out of town
The people may not be welcoming to God's return.


like a clown
God's anticipated reception may be a comical sight.


With the lies that tie you down
The people's misbeliefs or misconceptions keep them closed-minded.


There are times when a man feels
There are instances when an individual feels alone in the world.


That it's him against the world
The person may perceive themselves as being in opposition to society.


There are times when a man steals
Some people make regrettable decisions, like stealing from their significant other.


From the love of his girl
The person may have stolen from someone they loved.


There are days when a beast dies
There are moments when animals pass away.


Long before the gun
The creatures may pass away from natural causes.


And there are days when a crow flies
There are instances where a bird, specifically a crow, flies without any restrictions.


Straight into the sun, to be done
The crow may fly directly into the sun till it perishes.


With the lies that tie you down
Falsehoods or untruths hold people back from reaching their full potential.


The lies that tie you down
The song's chorus repeats the theme of falsehoods holding people back.


Nineteen ninety...
The lyrics mention the year 1990.


Nineteen ninety...
The year 1990 gets repeated.


Nineteen ninety-nine
The song concludes on the year 1999, one year before the year 2000.


It's almost time
The year 2000 or a significant event may be close to taking place.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MICHAEL JUDE CHRISTODAL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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