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.
Dirty belly of a secret town
Cheap trick hookers that are hanging out at the bar
In the Greyhound station
And the bare-chested boys are going down
On every thing that the momma believes
Pack of smokes and a little bump of cocaine
Help you feel not so strange
Said old Pa, she don't get off, unless somebody standing near her
And she'll shine, once she's crossed the line
'Cause all tied to the chair
Oscillating on the ground, blowing white noise sound
Like a tranny on ten
All the bubbas got their heads in a nod
They don't know what they love or deserve to get
Chances are they tab their worm in a slab
Doesn't even know which fish that he like to bite tonight
Ah tonight, tonight, tonight
Ah maybe tonight
Said old Pa, she don't get off, unless somebody standing near her
And she'll shine, once she's crossed the line
Hands all tied to the chair
Oscillating on the ground, blowing white noise sound
Like a tranny on ten
Cops are on call, weeding out the freaks
Fingers in the dirt, and he's spitting out his teeth
Spitting out his teeth
Cops are on call, weeding out the freaks
Fling him in the dirt and he's spitting out his teeth
Said old Pa, she don't get off, unless somebody standing near her
And she'll shine, once she's crossed the line
Hands all tied to the chair
Oscillating on the ground, blowing white noise sound
Like a tranny on ten
Oscillating on the ground, blowing white noise sound
Like a tranny on ten
Oscillating on the ground, blowing white noise sound
Like a tranny on ten
Oscillating on the ground, blowing white noise sound
Like a tranny on ten
Oscillating on the ground, blowing white noise sound
Like a tranny on ten
Oscillating on the
Cheap trick hookers that are hanging out at the bar
In the Greyhound station
And the bare-chested boys are going down
On every thing that the momma believes
Pack of smokes and a little bump of cocaine
Help you feel not so strange
Said old Pa, she don't get off, unless somebody standing near her
And she'll shine, once she's crossed the line
'Cause all tied to the chair
Oscillating on the ground, blowing white noise sound
Like a tranny on ten
All the bubbas got their heads in a nod
They don't know what they love or deserve to get
Chances are they tab their worm in a slab
Doesn't even know which fish that he like to bite tonight
Ah tonight, tonight, tonight
Ah maybe tonight
Said old Pa, she don't get off, unless somebody standing near her
And she'll shine, once she's crossed the line
Hands all tied to the chair
Oscillating on the ground, blowing white noise sound
Like a tranny on ten
Cops are on call, weeding out the freaks
Fingers in the dirt, and he's spitting out his teeth
Spitting out his teeth
Cops are on call, weeding out the freaks
Fling him in the dirt and he's spitting out his teeth
Said old Pa, she don't get off, unless somebody standing near her
And she'll shine, once she's crossed the line
Hands all tied to the chair
Oscillating on the ground, blowing white noise sound
Like a tranny on ten
Oscillating on the ground, blowing white noise sound
Like a tranny on ten
Oscillating on the ground, blowing white noise sound
Like a tranny on ten
Oscillating on the ground, blowing white noise sound
Like a tranny on ten
Oscillating on the ground, blowing white noise sound
Like a tranny on ten
Oscillating on the
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
great song, ridiculous comments. "its a transvestite" "ten is a measurement of coke" "he's saying gin/tin"
the lyrics are "oscillating on the ground, blowing white noise sound, like a trani on ten" it's a description of an overdose. oscillating on the ground is pretty obvious. a 'trani' is a transistor radio, 'on ten' refers to full volume - common rock n roll slang as most amps go up to ten. hence if you turn a transistor radio up to full volume it kinda crackles and sounds like white noise and sounds altogether pretty fucked up - as i'm sure a person would sound while OD'ing.
the first verse sets the scene. the second verse describes a girl who only takes drugs when there's people to witness it - the song seems to be about young people getting mixed up in grimy stuff just sort of for the sake of it, out of confusion, not really having a purpose or direction in their lives, and it all ending pretty tragically. hence it's a sad and angry song, and seeing these people ruin their lives really affected him.
that's my two cents anyhow.
@spinnact sorry but no, its about transvestite hookers. Drugs, prostitution, police harrassment, etc. They're spitting out there teeth because they got bashed. Nobody says "trani" or talks about transistor radios anymore.
To me the debate on Trani is quite simple (I may have it wrong) however in Oz we call an old radio a trani (from transister radio). So a trani has a tinny sound anyway, thus in a tin shed or on a tin roof sounds even worse. Hence "a white noise sound, like a trani on tin".
Dude he's talking about trani- a transvestite on drugs
fortunatus: hands down, is totally right. sometimes people read WAAAY too much into KOL songs. a lot of them are very literal. this song is about a TRANI ON TEN. but again, kudos fortunatus. your the only one that really impressed me. good words, excellent interpretation. and those of you who said its better live: hell yes. caleb gets crazy. love it.
:]
this song is unbelievably good
these lyrics are unbelievably wrong
and its orgasmic when they play it live.
Agreed! Have you heard the Live @ Bonnaroo version? It's amazing! (and on itunes haha)
Check out this live version on youtube (that's been mentioned above):
youtube.com/watch
For me this is the best version around (even surpassing the studio version), a song developed to perfection over the years. Here's my attempt at the lyrics from the concert:
A dirty belly of a secret town: Cheap trick hookers are hanging out in the bars at the greyhound station; Bare-chested boys are going down on everything that their mamma believes. A pack of smokes and little bump of cocaine Help you feel not so strange.
I said "Ol' Pa, she don't get off Unless somebody is standing near her, And she'll shine once she's crossed the line, And's all tied to a chair" -I said laying on the ground, blowing white noise sound, like a trani on ten.
We'll the bubba's got their heads in a nod, They don't know what they love or deserve to get, Chances are that that worm in his lap doesn't even know which fish he'd like to bite tonight, Oh tonight, tonight, tonight, Oh maybe tonight...
Cops on the call, Weeding out the freaks, Fingers in the dirt, Spitting out his teeth, spitting out his teeth...
I think it's definately 'a little ditty about transvestite hookers from the first album'. I like the transister radio interpretation, but I don't think it works as well. Here's my ramblings on a transvestite interpretation.
It all happens in the 'dirty belly of a secret town'. It's 'secret' not only because it has a 'dirty', illegal underworld hidden away, but because its where people secretly go to enjoy this underworld - to live a part of their life thats hidden and kept secret from others. So (to pick an example totally at random), where a man might go to express his transvesticism, secretly dressing up as a woman without others knowing.
What if the 'she' that's referred to is this guy's secret side, it's the woman that he dresses up as, its himself? It's as if he's telling his 'Pa' about himself as a transvestite hooker, pretending she's another person entirely (though it does seem a bit wierd that he'd tell his Pa about his time with a prostitute or his furniture-based bondage sessions). How he describes her makes sense, then, as she only 'gets off' when there are other people near her - is only turned on when there are guys close by who think she is genuinely a woman. She 'gets off' even more when she's 'crossed the line' - when she's getting it on with a guy who still thinks she's really a woman.
I love the line 'Chances are that that worm in his lap doesn't even know which fish he'd like to bite tonight', like the nodding bubbas in the crowd are looking up at the dancing hookers and don't even care which one they get (and so end up getting with a transvestite!). But it could equally be referring to the transvestite hooker himself, who's up on the stage dancing, looking down at the crowd of nodding bubbas, not caring which one he reels in. The transvestite is fishing for a guy, and doesn't know or care which one he'd like to bite his worm. The line 'Oh maybe tonight...' suggests that it doesn't happen a lot, or maybe hasn't happened at all yet.
This works with the line 'weeding out the freaks' as well, as if the transvestite is discovered and kicked out, the police turning up and just kicking the shit out of him. That would be why he's 'laying on the ground blowing out white noise sound' - when he's trying to speak he's gasping and wheezing, gurgling and choking on blood, and spluttering through cracked teeth. He's not only LIKE a transvestite on a 'ten' of cocaine, he IS a trani on ten.
totally agree with the words, great interpretation, and I do agree totally, but I believe theres a double meaning, a play on words so to speak. The spelling, the ten, and the white noise all is literally about the transistor radio, but it works so well in a visual/lyrical sense, thats why this song is a perfect example of calebs genius. and whats better than a song that can be interpreted a million different ways?
I too agree! This song aint about no radio.
Fortunatus, you are correct about 95%. (1) It absolutely is about a transvestite. Caleb said during KOL's show at Bonnaroo in 2007.. "this one's about a cross-dresser's life in a small town, it's called Trani". Most everyone knows that "trani" is an abbreviation for 'transvestite'. But for those who didn't, you do now. Anyway, (2) the first hiccup in your synopsis of the lyrics is where you said he's 'laying on the ground'. That's incorrect, it's "oscillatin on the ground". Imagine a transvestite doing an act on stage, gyrating back and forth (oscillating) on his knees, lip-syncing a pop song.. really over-doing it (if you've ever seen a live show featuring transvestites you know they go all out).But in this small town, none of the patrons know the trani is not a girl (well, some bubba's may know or suspect, but would act like the didn't). (3) "ten" has nothing to do with cocaine. Remember, he only had a '"little bump" of cocaine'. Nobody can O-D on just a little bump. No, the word ten in "like a Trani on 10" is referring to a transvestite that is maxed out (like when you crank a stereo to it's loudest setting) going overboard in every possible way. So, if you gauge his actions from 1-10, he's turned all the way up, exaggerating everything. (4) "Blowing white noise sound" {and I'm guessing on this one} When a trani lip-syncs a song (as I mentioned earlier) he has to really belt it out to make it believable, BUT he can't make any noise or it will be heard over the accompanying music. So, the only sound he makes is 'white noise' - just a powerful airy sound. Finally, kudos to you for understanding the line "cops on the call, weeding out the freaks". Most people get that wrong. And, my take is similar to yours, whereas the trani (freak) gets his ass kicked by the cops and is left on the ground.. I picture a transvestite missing his wig, smeared makeup, his dress is ripped, and he's on his hands and knees in the dirt, bleeding from the mouth and spitting out teeth. This is a tremendously powerful and imaginative song. One of the Kings best. IMO
So, I basically signed up just so I could comment on this song. :P
I think oscillatin' sounds better, mainly because oscillation (oscillatin') means to rock back and forth. "Oscillatin' on the ground, blowing white noise sound, like a trani on ten" someone who is on cocaine, rocking back and forth, and/or having a seizure. That's just my personal opinion. He's using "Like a trani on ten." As a simile to define his previous statement. I get that I'm probably one of those people where you're going to be like, shut up, stop looking so deep, but I'm not really. I'm just saying that "oscillatin" sounds better, because of the way it is used. :)
Peace <3
Shared how painful it was to watch his dad hang out a humiliate his mom. A part of his childhood. Intimate. Comes home on call. AINT THAT THE PEACE? Shes been blowing white noise he feels like a trani on 10 ITS WAY DEEPER THAN THAT.... HE AINT SHARING THE BACK STORY. IEven at 53 I remember the feeling but no words UNTIL NOW.
@jamie10426 Transvestite and blow job's? NOPE
In the KOL documentary talahina sky this song plays while it shows a montage of people being ”slain by the spirit,” a concept in charismatic Christianity where a person is so overcome by the Holy Spirit that they may ”oscillate on the ground,” it looks kind of disturbing and like a seizure and I think most of the time people are faking it or it isn’t spirit induced (I’m a Christian but don’t know how I feel about the concept) but it seems the song describes what it’s like to witness one being slain by the spirit