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.
Open the basket
Listen to the flute play
Open the basket
Listen to the flute play
Toot toot toot play
Snakes in the basket
Lie to lead you astray
Snakes in the basket
Force to make you betray
Your innermost truth hidden away
Now you're falling down to the underground
Slither down to your lair
Hidden in the many trenches of a hopeless war
Those who were sold out by a corporate board
Carry the casket
Never mind the gun spray
Bury the casket
Pawns in someone's gameplay
Shoot shoot shoot, obey
Now you're falling down to the underground
Slither down to your lair
Hidden in the many trenches of a hopeless war
Those who were sold out by a corporate board
Listen to the flute play
Listen to the flute play
Listen to the flute play
(La la la la la la la)
Subscription to the spreading of lies
Soldier catches on a glimpse of his demise deep down inside
Even he knows snakes come in many shapes and sizes
Many shapes and sizes
Snakes have no hands to be tied
Concoction of malicious lies
Deep inside the general despises himself
Listen to the flute play
Another reptile in line
Snakes without grass cannot hide
Now you're falling down to the underground
Slither down to your lair
Hidden in the many trenches of a hopeless war
Those who were sold out by a corporate board
Falling down to the underground
Slither down to your lair
Forked tongues spread the poison with another toxic sting
So much pain their serpentine inhibitions bring
(La la la la la la la)
Oh, listen to the flute play
(La la la la la la la)
Listen to the flute play
(La la la la la la la)
Listen to the flute play
(La la la la la la la)
Listen to the flute play
(La la la la la la la)
Open the basket
(La la la la la la la)
Open the basket
(La la la la la la la)
Listen to the flute play
(La la la la la la la)
Open the basket
(La la la la la la la)
Listen to the flute play
(La la la la la la la)
Listen to the flute play
(La la la la la la la)
Go ahead
Listen to the flute play
Open the basket
Oh, open the basket
Listen to the flute play
Open the basket
Listen to the flute play
Toot toot toot play
Snakes in the basket
Lie to lead you astray
Snakes in the basket
Force to make you betray
Your innermost truth hidden away
Now you're falling down to the underground
Slither down to your lair
Hidden in the many trenches of a hopeless war
Those who were sold out by a corporate board
Carry the casket
Never mind the gun spray
Bury the casket
Pawns in someone's gameplay
Shoot shoot shoot, obey
Now you're falling down to the underground
Slither down to your lair
Hidden in the many trenches of a hopeless war
Those who were sold out by a corporate board
Listen to the flute play
Listen to the flute play
Listen to the flute play
(La la la la la la la)
Subscription to the spreading of lies
Soldier catches on a glimpse of his demise deep down inside
Even he knows snakes come in many shapes and sizes
Many shapes and sizes
Snakes have no hands to be tied
Concoction of malicious lies
Deep inside the general despises himself
Listen to the flute play
Another reptile in line
Snakes without grass cannot hide
Now you're falling down to the underground
Slither down to your lair
Hidden in the many trenches of a hopeless war
Those who were sold out by a corporate board
Falling down to the underground
Slither down to your lair
Forked tongues spread the poison with another toxic sting
So much pain their serpentine inhibitions bring
(La la la la la la la)
Oh, listen to the flute play
(La la la la la la la)
Listen to the flute play
(La la la la la la la)
Listen to the flute play
(La la la la la la la)
Listen to the flute play
(La la la la la la la)
Open the basket
(La la la la la la la)
Open the basket
(La la la la la la la)
Listen to the flute play
(La la la la la la la)
Open the basket
(La la la la la la la)
Listen to the flute play
(La la la la la la la)
Listen to the flute play
(La la la la la la la)
Go ahead
Listen to the flute play
Open the basket
Oh, open the basket
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And No Doubt's political side comes out.
Snakes represent hate and war. Just play the flute, open the basket, and they'll come out and spread their poison. Ordinary people "fall down to the underground", get caught up in it, and terrible things happen. It's references to corporate boards and generals show that this song is critical of both sides of a war, specifically the United States.
Somebody please play this for George W!
I saw "HELLBOY" today...maybe its just an influence from that...kinda sounds like it's talking about nazis.
^^ what "whatslifelike" said.
It makes me think of the many songs that came out during the Vietname War. It could be about anything that happened in the 80's, however.
Subscription to the spreading of lies Soldier catches a glimpse of his demise Deep down inside even he knows Snakes come in many shapes and sizes snakes have no hands to be tied
Concoction of malicious lies deep inside the general despises himself... listen to the flute play another reptile in line Snakes without grass cannot hide
such great lines!!! I LOVE ND!!
I first heard this on the Beavis and Butthead Do America Soundtrack, and I must say that I have never been a big fan of No Doubt, but I do like this song a lot.
I thought the line "Those who were sold out by a corporate board" applies to the music industry, as No Doubt went indie for this album.
@seeing they weren't really sold out though. Their first album didn't sell, so they were dropped by their label (Interscope). They went back to Interscope for the rest of their albums ... so doubt they were taking a swipe at the hand that fed them.