From the top of the ocean, yeah
From the bottom of the sky, goddamn
Well I get claustrophobic
I can you know that I can

From the top of the ocean, yeah
From the bottom of the sky, goddamn
Well I get claustrophobic
I can you know that I can

And he said
"I am not allowed much danger
Keep in line you're an old friend stranger
You'll burn me in effigy and I'll burn you in effigy"
A rattle snake up in Buffalo Montana
He bit the leg of the old sheriff
Ha that boy fell down on his harelip -ow! Ow!
Well I I, might be wrong
But you you tag along
And we we all been wronged
And I get dizzier by the mile
Said hell the money's spent
Went to the county line and paid the rent said "uh-oh"
I said "uh-oh"

Oh if you could compact your conscience
Oh and you might
Oh if you could bottle and sell it you might have done
Oh and you might
Oh if you could compact your conscience
And sell it save it for another time
You know you might have to use it

And the televisions gone
Go to the grocery store, buy some new friends
And find out the beginning, the end, and the best of it
Well, do you need a lot of what you've got to survive?

Here's the man with teeth like god's shoeshine
He sparkles shimmers shines
Let's all have another Orange Julius
Thick syrup standing in lines
The malls are the soon to be ghost towns
Well so long, farewell, goodbye

Take 'em all for the long ride
And you'll go around town No one wants to be uptight anymore
You can be ashamed Or be so proud of what you've done
But not no one, not now, not ever or anyone

Take 'em all for the sense of happiness
That comes from hurting deep down inside
Or you could add it up and give a shit, give a shit
Go to the family doctor It's all worth it, all worth it
All, all wrong, and it's all, all gone
Or you could add it up and give a shit, give a shit
I'm on the corner of this and this and this and this
All, all wrong, and it's all, all wrong

Here's the man with teeth like God's shoeshine
He sparkles, shimmers, shines
Let's all have another Orange Julius
Thick syrup standing in lines
The malls are the soon-to-be ghost towns
Well, so long, farewell, goodbye

And the telephone goes off
Pick the receiver up, try to meet ends
And find out the beginning, the end and the best of it
Oh my, God damn!

Take 'em all for the long ride
And you'll go around town no one wants to be uptight anymore
You could be ashamed or be so proud of what you've done
But not no one, not now, not ever or anyone


Lyrics submitted by PLANES, edited by Kafari, JushBrungmun

Teeth Like God's Shoeshine Lyrics as written by Isaac Brock Eric Judy

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Teeth Like God's Shoeshine song meanings
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    General Comment

    I like the part where he starts with "take them on the long ride" then goes from there. I think its pretty much about how corperations manipulate their consumers into buying shit that is not good for them or they don't need. the man with teeth like gods shoeshine is the sales man, whose job is to manipulate. I also think that the song says that some of these people have a conscience, and when it wakes up, they will live in regret of what they have done.

    XeF4on February 02, 2005   Link

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