Every sick, fickle fucker
Childhood's what makes ya
'Til they treat ya like tundra
Weigh those opinions

More like air than lead
Every planned occupation
Surefire disappointment up ahead
'Til they treat ya like desert

See mirages of friendship, face turns read
Here's the soon to be anchor
Build bridges to nothing, you'll get nowhere
Every governor's mother knows

That their bread is buttered by Sam
And what about science?
they find proof and let you make your own decisions
Every childstar wonders

If they have a future up ahead
Every kindhearted banker
I don't think there is one
Every winning opinion

Stand on platforms in water
Filling jars full of silence you'll get nowhere


Lyrics submitted by PLANES, edited by tejedu

Tundra/Desert Lyrics as written by Isaac Brock Eric Judy

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Tundra/Desert song meanings
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56 Comments

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  • +3
    General Comment

    i still have yet to hear any song that has more truth in its lyrics..

    there ain't no fuckin' kind-hearted banker and there never will be...

    lagwagon182on December 25, 2008   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    I don't believe the same things as the people in Modest Mouse. But, I can't get over their brutal honesty to what they see in the world. This is what keeps drawing me back and back to their songs.

    kedronhouseon May 20, 2010   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    Isaac Brock is, like,... a fucking messiah.

    justletgoandbeLIFTEDon June 19, 2011   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    This song is awesome. It reminds me of pent up frustration just exploding. When you finally get tired of the bullshit, boredom, bullshit, boredom, bullshit and just freak the fuck out, even if you're only screaming in your head.

    OhFuckItIGuessILoston October 14, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I heard somewhere that this is the finale to most of their concerts.

    God, what an awesome song. Definitely the best song to get yourself motivated to.

    Theo Reoon September 28, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    this is my version, everyone was from my own

    Every sick, fickle fucker Childhood's what makes ya Till they treat ya like tundra Weigh those opinions More like air than lead Every planned occupation Surefire disappointment up ahead Till they treat ya like desert See mirages of friendship, face turns read

    -aaawww shit!

    I don't feel and that feels fine, save twenty dollars (and you should rest fine?) I don't Like-

    Here's the soon to be anchor Build bridges to nothing, you'll get nowhere

    -I don't feel and that feels fine i don't feel and that feels fine-

    Every governor's mother knows That their bread is buttered by Sam

    -crook takes, crook Takes green out of wallet-

    And what about science? they find proof and let you make your own decisions

    -There are (answers to our reasons worthwile to find?)

    Every childstar wonders If they have a future up ahead

    -King Takes Queen, Takes Queen Out Game It's Alright It's Alright-

    Every kindhearted banker I don't think there is one (i take you out) Every winning opinion i wish i had one

    -I took you out for out on a night on the town I took my wallet out __ __ [covered up by next line] Every winning opinion i- i wish i had one

    Cummmooonnn

    You know what (?) life's just bullshit

    Stand on platforms in water Filling jars full of silence you'll get nowhere

    You're balancing balls on your nose Alright! I don't mind I don't Mind So? Sometimes you want your own space That's Alright, Right? Right!

    get too creative. ordering our drinks and mine stinks, my mistakes get creative ording our drinks and your stinks your stinks your stinks (??) we get too creative we get too creative

    any coments or corrections cowboydann@gmail.com this was orignally posted on a modest mouse LJ community 5 months ago at least :| thanks for the help folks

    CowboyDannon July 22, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this song rules because it so unexpected how it starts off calm and then it gets crazy..very typical of modest mouse but nonetheless its awesome

    PLANESon May 31, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    fucking this song fucking rocks. ahhhhhhhhhh SHIT! it's my fav track off of this long drive is for someone with nothing to think about. it sure kicks talking shit about a pretty sunset's ass. this song is soo underrated...

    oh man, and when the song gets all quirky, WHOA

    Isaac writes some of the most thought provoking lyrics ever

    AlmostFreeSpiriton September 29, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Does anyone know waht he says right after "ahhhhh SHIT!" he says somehtign i can't make out and then something like 'give twenty dollars and you will rise to suprise. before that.

    anyone?

    awaitworthwhileon March 05, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I love this song, It's definetly one of my favorites my modest mouse. The decent into madness is suprising and wonderful.

    It would be great to listen to on a long drive, when i'm thinking about nothing.

    Nitzon April 07, 2004   Link

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