This song is a mutherfuckin’ jam. Period. Not much else to say, really.
The song itself is about a woman deciding to have a night on the town either after having dumped her boyfriend/husband or while simply feeling stuck in a rut, and the overall feeling of the song is total liberation. It’s energetic and fun.
What really makes the song work, however, is the music and arrangements. Each instrument (banjo, mandolin, electric and acoustic guitar, bass, drums and fiddle) has a moment to shine and keep the song careening towards an inevitable explosion of sound. Just a great song.
Here’s a link to a live performance
And of course, the lyrics:
He pushed me ’round
Now I’m drawin’ the line
He lived his life
Now I’m gonna go live mine
I’m sick of wastin’ my time
Well now I’ve been good for way too long
Found my red dress and I’m gonna throw it on
‘Bout to get too far gone
Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition
Need a little BIT more of my TWELVE ounce nutrition
One more helpin’ of what I’ve been havin’
I’m takin’ my turn on the sin wagon
On a mission to make something happen
Feel like Delilah lookin’ for Samson
Do a little mattress dancin’
That’s right I said mattress dancin’
Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition
Need a little bit more
Of what I’ve been missin’
I don’t know where I’ll be crashin’
But I’m arrivin’ on a sin wagon
When it’s my turn to march up to glory
I’m gonna have one hell of a story
That’s if he forgives me
Oh lord please forgive me
Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition
Need a little bit more of that sweet salvation
They may take me
with my feet draggin’
I’ll fly away on a sin wagon
I’ll fly away on a sin wagon
Country Death Song may not be the darkest song ever written, but it’s certainly one of them. According to Wikipedia:
“Country Death Song,” for example, was based a true story from an 1862 news article about a man who intentionally threw his daughter into a well and then hung himself in his barn. It was written by Gano during his 10th grade study hall.
It’s quite interesting that this is based on a true story–presuming that Wikipedia is accurate. If so, Gordan Gano did a fabulous job of getting inside of the head of the murderer, making his craziness sound almost plausible.
The song itself is extremely well arranged. The stark sounding bass, the simple snare drum, and the sparse finger-picked guitar give the song a spacy, hollow feeling. However, what really makes it work is the banjo. Al Barger had this to say:
But this recording has a critical additional instrument: banjo. The more I listen to it, the more interesting Tony Trischka’s playing here becomes. The point of the song emotionally is despair, not typically an emotional territory associated with banjo playing. Indeed, Steve Martin got one of his funnier stand-up routines out of how nearly impossible it is to play sad songs on this happy instrument.
I agree completely: the banjo gives the song a certain flavor and feeling used as a counterpoint to the other instruments. Additionally, Gano’s plaintive vocals really put things in perspective.
Here’s a link to a tribute video
And of course, the lyrics:
I had me a wife, I had me some daughters.
I tried so hard, I never knew still waters.
Nothing to eat and nothing to drink.
Nothing for a man to do but sit around and think.
Nothing for a man to do but sit around and think.
Well, I’m a thinkin’ and thinkin’, till there’s nothin’ I ain’t thunk.
Breathing in the stink, till finally I stunk.
It was at that time, I swear I lost my mind.
I started making plans to kill my own kind.
I started making plans to kill my own kind.
Come little daughter,” I said to the youngest one,
Put your coat on, we’ll have some fun.
We’ll go out to mountains, the one to explore.
Her face then lit up, I was standing by the door.
Her face then lit up, I was standing by the door.
Come little daughter, I will carry the lanterns.
We’ll go out tonight, we’ll go to the caverns.
We’ll go out tonight, we’ll go to the caves.
Kiss your mother goodnight and remember that God saves.
Kiss your mother goodnight and remember that God saves.
A led her to a hole, a deep black well.
I said “make a wish, make sure and not tell and
close you’re eyes dear, and count to seven.
You know your papa loves you, good children go to heaven.
You know your papa loves you, good children go to heaven.
I gave her a push, I gave her a shove.
I pushed with all my might, I pushed with all my love.
I through my child into a bottomless pit.
She was screaming as she fell, but I never heard her hit.
She was screaming as she fell, but I never heard her hit.
Gather round boys to this tale that I tell.
You wanna know how to take a short trip to hell?
It’s guarenteed to get your own place in hell.
Just take your lovely daughter and push her in the well.
Take your lovely daughter and throw her in the well.
Don’t speak to me of lovers, with a broken heart.
You wanna know what can really tear you apart?
I’m going out to the barn, will I never stop in pain?
I’m going out to the barn, to hang myself in shame.
This is a great song, and the video is even better. If you’ve not seen it before, I definitely recommend clicking the link below.
I love the sense of humor of this song, as well as the genre styles of the band. Alternating from rock and funk to a bluegrass feel at times, this song is just plain fun. It’s your basic silly Primus song, seemingly about nothing other than a humorous double entendré, but it’s still got a depth of it’s own from within the music.
And of course, the lyrics:
Wynona’s got herself a Big Brown Beaver
and she shows it off to all her friends.
One day you know that beaver tried to leave her
so she caged him up with cyclone fence.
Along came Lou with the old baboon
and said “recognize that smell?”
“Smells like seven layers,
that beaver eats at Taco Bell.”
Now Rex was a Texan out of New Orleans,
and he traveled with the carnival shows.
He ran bumper cars, sucked cheap cigars,
and he candied up his nose.
He caught wind of the Big Brown Beaver
so he thought he’d take himself a peek.
But the beaver was quick and it grabbed ‘em by the kiwis
and he ain’t pissed for a week
(and a half)
Wynona took her Big Brown Beaver and
stuck ‘em up in the air.
Said, “I sure do love this Big Brown Beaver,
and I wish I did have a pair.”
Wynona loved her Big Brown Beaver
and she stroked ‘em all the time.
She pricked her finger one day,
and it ocured to her:
She might have a porcupine!