The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
*hello there paul. i had a take and i listend to it and i was ready to send it then i thought, you know...it could be done better. so here it is then. now i have my boots on, which always garuntees a good showing.*
you must try to lead a good life
you must do unto others
as you would have them do
so that when you die
you'll find golden boy peanuts
waiting in the afterlife for you
there are no pan-asain supermakets
down in hell
so you can't buy golden boy peanuts
there are no pan-asain supermakets
down in hell
so you can't buy golden boy peanuts
yeah
if thine enemy oppresses you
you must
let him opress you some more
so that when you go shoping in paradise
you'll find those magnificent peanuts
from singapore
with the drawing of the
young chinese farmer
eastern sun behind him
smiling at you from the shelves
if we want to spend eternaty in happynes
we are going to have to watch ourselves
you must give to the march of dimes
you must be on gaurd against wickednes
at all times
and you will
find that your efforts
have brought you great joy
when your
spirit is munching on that
golden boy
there are no pan-asain supermakets
down in hell
so you can't buy golden boy peanuts
there
but the
streets of heaven are lined with shells
and there's billboards of the golden boy
everywhere
there are no pan-asain supermakets
down in hell
so you can't buy golden boy peanuts
there are no pan-asain supermakets
down in hell
so you can't buy golden boy peanuts
go!
*spoken*
you must try to lead a good life
you must do unto others
as you would have them do
so that when you die
you'll find golden boy peanuts
waiting in the afterlife for you
there are no pan-asain supermakets
down in hell
so you can't buy golden boy peanuts
there are no pan-asain supermakets
down in hell
so you can't buy golden boy peanuts
yeah
if thine enemy oppresses you
you must
let him opress you some more
so that when you go shoping in paradise
you'll find those magnificent peanuts
from singapore
with the drawing of the
young chinese farmer
eastern sun behind him
smiling at you from the shelves
if we want to spend eternaty in happynes
we are going to have to watch ourselves
you must give to the march of dimes
you must be on gaurd against wickednes
at all times
and you will
find that your efforts
have brought you great joy
when your
spirit is munching on that
golden boy
there are no pan-asain supermakets
down in hell
so you can't buy golden boy peanuts
there
but the
streets of heaven are lined with shells
and there's billboards of the golden boy
everywhere
there are no pan-asain supermakets
down in hell
so you can't buy golden boy peanuts
there are no pan-asain supermakets
down in hell
so you can't buy golden boy peanuts
go!
*spoken*
Lyrics submitted by fuckedupdog
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B*llocks to the deeper meaning, he just likes Golden Boy Peanuts and Christianity. It's just a joke. Its just like Seed Song and lots of others on his early stuff:
and i know you're waiting for the ironic ending and i know you're waiting for the punchline and i know you're waiting for the rain to come by so am i
Completely pointless lyrically but still genius in every way.
Yes it's centered around a product, but I think the song itself poses an interesting question. What exactly is the reward for leading a good and moral life? The concept of the afterlife is only sustained by belief and individual perception. Some might have no better delight in life than chewing on some peanuts. It's not so critical of religion in general as it is simply posing John's own humorous vision of life after death.
Right on.
I definately think there is some criticism of a certain type of religious thinking here. The passage: <br /> <br /> 'if thine enemy oppresses you<br /> you must<br /> let him opress you some more'<br /> <br /> seems critical in that regard. As does the childishness of the promised reward and the didactic tone (all the 'you must's). It seems Darnielle is satirising religion promising rewards in the afterlife in return for obedience to a church-prescribed lifestyle in this life. Oh, and it IS damn funny :).
It's a joke...plain and simple...
I have no idea if John Darnielle is a huge christian, or an atheist.
Considering how many songs he has dedicated to defiance against Christianity (Wizard Buys a Hat, Heretic Pride, 1 Samuel 15:23) I'd wager that he's an atheist or agnostic with Christian roots.
sounds me to like a parody of Christian dogma, maybe a really oversimplified and trivialized version for children etc. Don't know, but either way it sounds kind of critical of religion to me.
but why peanuts and why Singapore???
He was contracted to write this song, as I recall. It is literally a plug, albeit a song he performs.
Nawman! I read from the Internet that it's just some song he wrote for a themed compilation. PRODUCT THEMED!
And it's fucking genious!
It's a joke...plain and simple...
Golden Boy peanuts are a brand they sell in Cali. here is the website: goldenboyfoods.com/store/ this song isnt about anything other than the peanuts. it isnt a joke, and it isnt a plug, he is just singing about peanuts that he ate as a child.