I Hope This Whole Thing Didn't Frighten You
The Hold Steady Lyrics

I heard the Cityscape Skins are kinda kicking it again
I heard that the gang called Cityscape Skins is active again

Heard they finally got some discipline
I heard that they gained some self-control or structure

Running up the score and stocking up like it's World War IV
They're scoring points and accumulating resources as if preparing for a war

I heard that some are getting sprung and some are back in
I heard that some members were released from jail and others rejoined the gang

You know it's always back and forth
It's an ongoing cycle of conflict and reconciliation

And most of them are dead
Many former members of the gang are deceased

And some don't even live here anymore
Others have left the city altogether

So when I brought you back here for Christmas
When I brought you to my hometown for the holidays

I didn't think we would see them
I didn't expect to run into the gang members

I guess I should've explained
Perhaps I should have warned you

There was a side of this city I didn't want you to see
I didn't want you to witness this dangerous aspect of my hometown

There's just these guys that I know, we go back pretty deep
I have a history with these gang members

And I hope this whole thing didn't frighten you
I hope encountering the gang didn't scare you too much

There were times that it terrified me
I admit that I was afraid of them at times

I know what they said, I don't know if it's true
I heard their rumors but can't verify their accuracy

They're building a bunker down by the river
The gang members are constructing a shelter near the waterway

And someone said that that's where they've been getting together
Rumor has it that their meetings happen there

They got masks for the gas, they're sleeping in their bulletproof vests
They own gas masks and wear bulletproof vests while sleeping

I guess Shepard came out of St. Cloud with a little ideology
There's a guy named Shepard from a neighboring town who introduced some new beliefs

Some new way of thinking, man
There's a new philosophy or ideology influencing the gang

A view to the future
This ideology is an aspiration for the future

Jesus, this might be a mess
This situation is dangerous and chaotic

For me, it was mostly the music
My interest in them was mainly due to their music

I couldn't go to the shows with
I wasn't able to attend their concerts anymore

I guess I should've explained
I should have given you context beforehand

They never care if it's true
They don't care if their rumors or stories are factual

As long as they got something to prove
They feel compelled to prove themselves or their toughness

And they always got something to prove
It's a constant pressure in their culture

And the room full of dudes
The gathering was predominantly male

And they cranked up the tunes
They turned up the music

I could tell this whole thing kind of frightened you
You seemed a bit scared by the whole situation

I saw you look at his shoes, I saw you look at their teeth
You were examining their belongings and appearance carefully

So you tapped me on the arm like you wanted to cruise
You signaled me to leave and go somewhere else

I could tell this whole thing kind of frightened you
Your fear was palpable to me