Lyrics

Recent Activity

Following

Cover art for Paper and Iron (Notes and Coins) lyrics by XTC

XTC

Paper and Iron (Notes and Coins)

3 Meanings

Add Yours

Follow

Share

Q&A

Paper and Iron (Notes and Coins) Lyrics

Paper, iron, won't buy Eden
working for paper and for iron
work for the right to keep my tie on
working for paper and for iron
work for the unicorn and lion

I pray the kids aren't starving
no chicken for the Sunday carving
I'll stay for one more farthing

I take home my notes and coins every week
I'm told I'm worth much more
but the Church says turn the other cheek
the other cheek
paper, iron, won't buy Eden.

I know the family needs me
can't moan, the factory feeds me
won't bite the hand that bleeds me

I take home my notes and coins every week
I'll inherit the earth I'm told
but the Church says to remain this meek
remain this meek
I'm still a proud man.
Won't show anybody else my wage
a blend in the crowd man
is this anybody's golden age
is this anybody's golden age
is this anybody's golden age
or am I dreaming of a golden cage

La la lo it's paper
la la lo it's iron
la la lo just paper
la la lo just iron

Submitted by

pumkinhed On Feb 10, 2005

Album art

Album art

Making Plans For Nigel

Album art

The Ballad Of Peter Pumpkinhead

Album art

Senses Working Overtime

Album art

Lyrics saved successfully! Thanks!

These lyrics are currently locked and can only be edited by moderators and administrators.

You must be logged in to edit lyrics.

Unable to save lyrics. Please try again.

Lyrics cannot contain links.

Lyric edit submitted successfully and is pending approval. Approvals usually take 24 hours.

Keep it true to the song

Fix what’s wrong, but don’t rewrite what the artist wrote. Stick to the official released version — album booklet, label site, verified lyric video, etc. If you’re guessing, pause and double-check.

Respect the structure

Songs have rhythm. Pages do too. Leave line breaks where they belong. Don’t smash things together or add extra empty space just for looks.

Punctuation counts (but vibe-editing doesn’t)

Correct typos? Yes. Re-punctuating a whole verse because it ‘looks better’? Probably not. Keep capitalization and punctuation close to the official source.

Don’t mix versions

If you’re editing the explicit version, keep it explicit. If it’s the clean version, keep it clean. No mashups.

Let the lyrics be lyrics

This isn’t the place for interpretations, memories, stories, or trivia — that’s what comments are for. Keep metadata, translations, and bracketed stage directions out unless they’re officially part of the song.

Edit lightly

If two lines are wrong… fix the two lines. No need to bulldoze the whole page. Think ‘surgical,’ not ‘remix.’

When in doubt, ask the crowd

Not sure what they’re singing in that fuzzy bridge? Drop a question in the comments and let the music nerds swarm. Someone always knows.

pumkinhed

Submitter

2005-02-10 20:20:23

3 Meanings

Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.

Sort by

Cover art for Paper and Iron (Notes and Coins) lyrics by XTC

by The Distorted

19y ago

Great anti-monetary song.

I think the lyrics however, are "but the Church says to remain discrete, remain discrete" in place of "but the Church says to remain this meek, remain this meek ".

0

Users:

Reply · 0 Share

Cover art for Paper and Iron (Notes and Coins) lyrics by XTC

by The Distorted

19y ago

Sorry, you are indeed correct. I read the booklet's lyrics and it is as you stated :|

0

Users:

Reply · 0 Share

Cover art for Paper and Iron (Notes and Coins) lyrics by XTC

by jkisau

16y ago

its about money

0

Users:

Reply · 0 Share

Questions and Answers

Ask specific questions and get answers to unlock more indepth meanings & facts.