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Nickels and Dimes Lyrics
I'm a Cadillac tramp at the end of his road
A swap meet rat who's sitting on gold, yeah baby
I'm a guitar gangster without a tune
I'm a baseball bat just waiting to swing
Your loan-shark friend with the broken knees, yeah baby
I'm a penthouse pauper with nothing to lose
I'm chasing nickels and dimes
The rest of the world passes me by
I'm just wasting my time
I'm just sitting here wondering why
I'm the high roller creep that's in too deep
With the slicked-back hair and the silver teeth, yeah baby
I'm a beggin' for a king with a stolen crown
I'm a jailhouse poet, a genius, a fool
I'm the pimp who's lost his cool, yeah baby
Like a first class taste in a second class town
I'm chasing nickels and dimes
The rest of the world passes me by
I'm just wasting my time
I'm just sitting here wondering why
I'm a loaded gun pointed at the mirror
A drugstore cowboy whose end is near, yeah baby
I'm a big time skater with broken down dreams
I'm a derelict rebel without a cause
I ain't the cat with the sharpest claws, no baby
'cause sometimes life just ain't what it seems
I'm chasing nickels and dimes
The rest of the world passes me by
I'm just wasting my time
I'm just sitting here wondering why
I'm just sitting here wondering why
And just like you, I'm wondering why
A swap meet rat who's sitting on gold, yeah baby
I'm a guitar gangster without a tune
I'm a baseball bat just waiting to swing
Your loan-shark friend with the broken knees, yeah baby
I'm a penthouse pauper with nothing to lose
The rest of the world passes me by
I'm just wasting my time
I'm just sitting here wondering why
With the slicked-back hair and the silver teeth, yeah baby
I'm a beggin' for a king with a stolen crown
I'm a jailhouse poet, a genius, a fool
I'm the pimp who's lost his cool, yeah baby
Like a first class taste in a second class town
The rest of the world passes me by
I'm just wasting my time
I'm just sitting here wondering why
A drugstore cowboy whose end is near, yeah baby
I'm a big time skater with broken down dreams
I'm a derelict rebel without a cause
I ain't the cat with the sharpest claws, no baby
'cause sometimes life just ain't what it seems
The rest of the world passes me by
I'm just wasting my time
I'm just sitting here wondering why
I'm just sitting here wondering why
And just like you, I'm wondering why
Song Info
Submitted by
alucard On Sep 26, 2004
More Social Distortion
Ball and Chain
Story of My Life
When the Angels Sing
Don't Drag Me Down
Reach for the Sky
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its about being a the end of the road, or having something accomplished, but now you're just down & out.
If you notice all the lines that start with "I'm a" he says one thing, then makes it redundant by saying another.
by "chasing nickels and dimes" it means its like chasing nothing, its worthless, and he's wondering why he is doing it.
the end.
This is one of my all time favorite Social D tunes!! Especially now, at 49 years old. My favorite line of ANY song is “I’m a derelict rebel without a cause, I ain’t the cat with the sharpest claws” I feel that way right now.
I lurrrve this song. It's just so fun to listen to and sing along with.
"I'm a jailhouse poet, a genius, a fool" reminds me of my dad.
Oh, and I love the line "I've got first class taste in a second class town".
I love this song, though, I'm not entirely sure what it means.
I got a correction for the lyrics, its not "I'm a beggin' for a king with a stolen crown"
It is, "I'm a vagabond king with a stolen crown."
this song is about the little things in life and not caring about what happens in the rest of the world and wishin that you could do better but not caring enough to do anything about it
This song is just about living life, trying to enjoy yourself, the little things, rockin', just throwing up your hands when life gets confusing and saying "fuck it".
Hope they play this at Roseland this year.