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Cool Dry Place Lyrics

Well I woke up this morning
The place was such a reck
I couldn't reach the bathroom
Thought I'd better clear the deck
I tried to call the lawyer
And ask him what to do
He referred me to his doctor
Who referred me back to you
And when you checked the manual
You kept in side the case
It said put it in a cool dry place

I drove around the city
Looking for a room
That was high above the water
Where my things could be in tune
There was noone to help me
Nobody even cared
I had to got through hell
To get those things up there
I paid my first subscription
Then I joined the idle race
and they said "store it in a cool dry place"

I got guitar, basses, amplifiers and drums
Accordions and Mandolis and things that sometimes hum
Cymbals and Harmonicas, capos by the score
And lots of things in boxes laying all around the floor

Some places they get mildew
And others get too hot.
Some places are so damp that
Everything you got just rots
All kinds of condensation
Directories of the rain
There's not much compensation
When everything's been stained
Some have sentimental value that
Cannot be erased
Go store it in a cool dry place

We got solids and acoustics
And some from flowered board
And some are trimmed in leather
And some are made with gourds
There's organs and trombones
And reverbs we can use
Lots of dx-7s
And old athletic shoes
I bought a great big building
It took up one whole block
I made an inventory
Of all the things in stock
The place was getting longer
I was up all night
I used up all my pencils
But I went onto spite
The blury of my vision
The sweat upon my face
I've got to put this stuff away
I mustn't leave a trace
The landlord's breathing down my neck
He say's it's a disgrace
So I said "put it in a cool, dry, place"
Song Info
Submitted by
ruben On Jun 09, 2002
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8 Meanings

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Cover art for Cool Dry Place lyrics by Traveling Wilburys, The

Certainly it's just a "story song", but I also think it may be referencing TOm Petty's house fire. Fairly certain it happened before this song came out, but if your home burns down, I could see having an experience something like the one told in the song. Just a guess.

It wouldn't be the first time that a fiery disaster has been made into a song eg. Smoke On The Water.

Not Valid
Cover art for Cool Dry Place lyrics by Traveling Wilburys, The

No idea on this one, really. Where the hell ARE they going with it?

I like it anyway.

Cover art for Cool Dry Place lyrics by Traveling Wilburys, The

is it about being on the road or trying to start there carrer and money is tight and crap so they have to live inderilict houses and the conditions suck and it makes them depressed? could the lawyer ,doctor part be about they got kicked out of the houses by landlords and they try to complain its unfair but the lawyer thinks they might have depression or mental issues that causes the landlords to get sick of them>? its a mystery but a great song :)

Cover art for Cool Dry Place lyrics by Traveling Wilburys, The

i always think of this song when im cleaning my room and theres just shit all over the place

Cover art for Cool Dry Place lyrics by Traveling Wilburys, The

for sure about petty's house fire. so sad. didn't he stay with dylan after this happened? man i wonder what they'r conversations must be like.... oh yeah back to the song-it rocks!! =)

"i had to go through hell to get those things up there" haha that's definitely a thought i would have after seeing my house burn down lol

Cover art for Cool Dry Place lyrics by Traveling Wilburys, The

Before I'd read about Tom Petty's housefire I thought this song was just about how to store and properly take care of things. My favorite verse is the "some places they get mildew..." verse, something about how the words sound when they are sung together in the song. Great stuff.

Cover art for Cool Dry Place lyrics by Traveling Wilburys, The

I think this song is just a joke on the listener. It sounds like there's some kind of elaborate metaphor being set up but as you listen closer you realize that it's really just about putting stuff in storage.

Cover art for Cool Dry Place lyrics by Traveling Wilburys, The

I think you guys are reading way too much into it. From what I’ve read about the TW, they were having a fun, casual, relaxing time, enjoying each other’s company.  They were being goofy, writing whimsical songs about silly things: Handle With Care — literally inspired by a sticker on a box from across the room; Dirty World — singing random phrases from torn magazine pages. And I have no doubt the words “Cool Dry Place” were seen on something nearby. There was so much talent in the room, they could literally write a hit song about anything and nothing. And they proved it.