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.
Too many puppies are being shot in the dark.
Too many puppies are trained not to bark.
At the sight of blood that must be spilled so that we may maintain
Our oil fields.
Too many puppies.
Too many puppies.
Too many puppies are taught to heal.
Too many puppies are trained to kill.
On the command of men wearing money belts that buy mistresses
Sleek animal pelts.
Too many puppies.
Too many puppies.
Too many puppies.
Too many puppies.
Skinny was born in a bathtub
And he grew so incredibly thin
Even the tide from the eyedropper sucked him in
Skinny never knew any questions
Skinny never looked alike
Skinny sold somethin' every single night
Skinny sold a soldier to me
Skinny sold the wife
Skinny sold a suction cup and a knife
Skinny found a hello dolly record in the house.
Sold it to a truck driver in the night.
Too many puppies with guns in their hands.
Too many puppies in foreign lands.
Are dressed up sharp in suits of green and placed upon the war machine.
Too many puppies are just like me.
Too many puppies are afraid to see.
The visions of the past brought to life again,
Too many puppies, too many dead men.
Too many puppies are trained not to bark.
At the sight of blood that must be spilled so that we may maintain
Our oil fields.
Too many puppies.
Too many puppies.
Too many puppies are taught to heal.
Too many puppies are trained to kill.
On the command of men wearing money belts that buy mistresses
Sleek animal pelts.
Too many puppies.
Too many puppies.
Too many puppies.
Too many puppies.
Skinny was born in a bathtub
And he grew so incredibly thin
Even the tide from the eyedropper sucked him in
Skinny never knew any questions
Skinny never looked alike
Skinny sold somethin' every single night
Skinny sold a soldier to me
Skinny sold the wife
Skinny sold a suction cup and a knife
Skinny found a hello dolly record in the house.
Sold it to a truck driver in the night.
Too many puppies with guns in their hands.
Too many puppies in foreign lands.
Are dressed up sharp in suits of green and placed upon the war machine.
Too many puppies are just like me.
Too many puppies are afraid to see.
The visions of the past brought to life again,
Too many puppies, too many dead men.
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It's about the Gulf War. "So that we may maintain our oil fields." It's a protest against the complete pointlessness of sending our young soldiers to Saudi Arabia just to get a bit more shite to ruin the world.
@ThePython This song was actually written around six years before the first Gulf War. Claypool wrote it in the 80s. Possibly about all of the violent action in those regions at the time, the Soviet-Afghan war, Iran-Iraq war, etc. It is undoubtedly eerily prophetic.
Damn, didn't see someone beat me to it.
Damn, my old friend Josh sang this song along to this song one day while we were hanging out... and this song brings back my friendship with him... It's a great song. I don't know much about what it means, but it's pretty cool.
If you watch the music video, it shows a man dressed like a baby putting on battle make up, so it's obvious that that's a representation of all the young soldiers going out to war. He talks about how the war is fought by the poor, young men of the world, while the rich bask in it's luxuries. He also says "trained not to bark", which I think refers to either the soldier who only speaks when spoken to, or possibly it could mean the people who aren't allowed to protest. I believe there was a period of time, around the same time, when the freedoms to protest and of speech were basically revoked.
I don't know. I wasn't even alive then, but one thing I can tell you is, Les really knows how to use the weirdest metaphors
This song can be applied to any war, because its always an old man's war and a young man's fight. We brainwash our children and turn them into soldiers. Soldiers are trained to kill on behalf of the politicians who start the wars. Politicians start the wars to make money. War = profit. Primus takes a staunch anti-war stance and I praise them for it! Way to go guys!
Not many of you understand.. Most of Primus's songs are foggy when it comes to the meanings, but this has to be one of the most clear. So..
It is about how too many of the nation's youth is sent into war. Youth = Puppies (Ya know, because puppies are the child or baby form of dogs)
So, instead of the deserving and old(er), the puppies are put in the battlefield.
Too many puppies are being shot in the dark, too many puppies are trained not to bark at the sight of blood that must be spilled (possibly to speak up, or to physically trained for what they are put through, maybe even because it is "at the blood that must be spilled", its almost like people expect the "puppies" to sort of, "suck it up", and ignore, just keep shooting)
umm... "On the command of men wearing money belts" perhaps this is symbolism for the rich, and scared (possibly) who will sit back and send in the "puppies" I think my point or theory is very clear. For a 13 year old.
"Too many puppies with guns in their hands" is very clear and obvious.
greatest song ever!
obviously puppies are a metaphor for a younger generation of youth and how the government is fucking them up
umm Moofer seems somewhat right, although I think it's about young people going into the army and stuff.
About young men in the military. "Dressed up sharp is suits of green and placed upon the war machine."
definetly about war of some kind.