Both as a standalone and as part of the DSOTS album, you can take this lyric as read. As a matter of public record, Jourgensen's drug intake was legendary even in the 1980s. By the late 90s, in his own words, he was grappling with massive addiction issues and had lost almost everything: friends, spouse, money and had nearly died more than once. "Dark Side of the Spoon" is a both funny & sad title for an album made by a musical genius who was losing the plot; and this song is a message to his fans & friends saying he knows it. It's painful to listen to so I'm glad the "Keith Richards of industrial metals" wised up and cleaned up. Well done sir.
When are you gonna come down?
When are you going to land?
I should have stayed on the farm
I should have listened to my old man
You know you can't hold me forever
I didn't sign up with you
I'm not a present for your friends to open
This boy's too young to be singing the blues
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh
So goodbye, yellow brick road
Where the dogs of society howl
You can't plant me in your penthouse
I'm going back to my plow
Back to the howling old owl in the wood
Hunting the horny-back toad
Oh, I've finally decided my future lies
Beyond the yellow brick road
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
What do you think you'll do then?
I bet they shoot down the plane
It'll take you a couple of vodka and tonics
To set you on your feet again
Maybe you'll get a replacement
There's plenty like me to be found
Mongrels who ain't got a penny
Sniffing for tidbits like you on the ground
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh
So goodbye, yellow brick road
Where the dogs of society howl
You can't plant me in your penthouse
I'm going back to my plow
Back to the howling old owl in the wood
Hunting the horny-back toad
Oh, I've finally decided my future lies
Beyond the yellow brick road
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
When are you going to land?
I should have stayed on the farm
I should have listened to my old man
You know you can't hold me forever
I didn't sign up with you
I'm not a present for your friends to open
This boy's too young to be singing the blues
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh
So goodbye, yellow brick road
Where the dogs of society howl
You can't plant me in your penthouse
I'm going back to my plow
Back to the howling old owl in the wood
Hunting the horny-back toad
Oh, I've finally decided my future lies
Beyond the yellow brick road
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
What do you think you'll do then?
I bet they shoot down the plane
It'll take you a couple of vodka and tonics
To set you on your feet again
Maybe you'll get a replacement
There's plenty like me to be found
Mongrels who ain't got a penny
Sniffing for tidbits like you on the ground
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh
So goodbye, yellow brick road
Where the dogs of society howl
You can't plant me in your penthouse
I'm going back to my plow
Back to the howling old owl in the wood
Hunting the horny-back toad
Oh, I've finally decided my future lies
Beyond the yellow brick road
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
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Ministry
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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.
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Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
yeah it's such a perfect song about memory of past adoreable song ,,,,, don't miss it