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Bad, Bad Levi Brown Lyrics

If I were a bear, I'd be the greatest of all
With a speech like god so dark and foreboding
Standing up tall from the top of that hill
I’d growl up your fears from down below
They’re restless spinning around
Twisting hungry spitting tongues are restless
In the form of the god that’s speaking out

Laying bricks, growing walls, clicking stone
And the sound that's awful in our ears
Forcing sprouts and speaking out

Like a carpenter
Like these weathermen
Like my brother
These hands they never sleep
Like the foundation
Like the frames that meet
Like these builders

If I were a god I'd be the greatest of all
With a speech so soft that loud it would kill you
Standing up tall from the top of that hill
I'd shout out commands to down below
They are restless tangled mess protests burned
And ears that bleed in rivers through the pipes
That heat your homes and families’ plates
Song Info
Submitted by
constant On Dec 16, 2005
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Cover art for Bad, Bad Levi Brown lyrics by Portugal. The Man

a song about an feared, powerful and corrupted leader. his speeches are so dark and brings out all our fears, including those burried deep inside of us.

and the leader's commands are countless demands (commands to down below, they are restless) to burn protesters, our families, our homes and our food.

Cover art for Bad, Bad Levi Brown lyrics by Portugal. The Man

beats me. but, i know his brother's name is levi, and he does say "my brother" at a few points in this song. so that may have something to do with it.

Cover art for Bad, Bad Levi Brown lyrics by Portugal. The Man

The title is actually an allusion to an old Jim Croce song called "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown"

Cover art for Bad, Bad Levi Brown lyrics by Portugal. The Man

I think this song is about the mess that organized religion is today. They use the bear as a symbol to show fear for God "With a speech like god so dark and foreboding" and "I’d growl up your fears from down below".

It then refers to the building walls around our neighbors due to religious differences:

"Laying bricks, growing walls, clicking stone"

and religion speaking out/protesting:

"And the sound that's awful in our ears Forcing sprouts and speaking out "

Then it talks from the perspective of God "if I were a god" and refers to the "tangled mess" the world is in and shows examples of the hateful acts being committed in the name of God:

"...protests burned And ears that bleed in rivers through the pipes That heat your homes and families’ plates"

Cover art for Bad, Bad Levi Brown lyrics by Portugal. The Man

The religion thing sounds pretty good. Carpenter = Jesus

Weathermen = Moses and Aaron(told pharoh about the plagues most of which could be mildly considered weather. They are also part of the "Levi / Levite" tribe.)

Brother = I don't have a good one for this other than it's us. Because Jesus claimed everyone to be his brother.

These hands they never sleep - God's hands never sleep according to most religions

Help me with the rest

Cover art for Bad, Bad Levi Brown lyrics by Portugal. The Man

Has anyone else ever heard the demo of this song - I find it to be amazing. The lyrics are vastly different. Here's what I could get out of it - corrections would be nice. I put brackets [ ] around anything I was unsure about.

If I were, if I were a bear, I would be The greatest of all, the greatest of all With a speech like God so Speech like God, so dark and foreboding I’d growl up your fears with Growl up your fears with These dark and foreboding eyes

In the deepest voice you’ve ever mustered Basements lurk with [deep heart things] Hopes to cover up our findings Uncomforting, comforting, comforting

[Climb along with] [Climb along with] a sense of urgency Dry glasses cover tables up In a home with some wooden fires White water rapids [unsure]

In the deepest voice you’ve ever mustered Basements lurk with [deep heart things] Hopes to cover up our findings Uncomforting, comforting, comforting

In the deepest voice you’ve ever mustered Basements lurk with… Hopes to cover up our…

In the deepest voice you’ve ever mustered Our smiles are made up of Swords and scissors and all things lovely too In the deepest voice you’ve ever mustered Our hands are made up of Twisting teeth, bite grip like vices

In the deepest voice you’ve ever mustered Our smiles are made up of Swords and scissors and all things dragging too In the deepest voice you’ve ever mustered Our hands are made up of Twisting teeth, bite grip like vices

In the deepest voice you’ve ever mustered Our smiles are made up of Swords and scissors and all things dragging too

Cover art for Bad, Bad Levi Brown lyrics by Portugal. The Man

Levi Brown is also an NFL player.

 
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