I've been sleeping in a cardboard box
Spending every dollar at the liquor shop
And even though I know I haven't got a lot
I'll try to give you love until the day you drop

I've been training like a Pavlov dog
Let my independence out to take a hike
All you got to do is activate my bell
And I'll fetch you anything you like

Going once, going twice
Every man here has a price
Over where? Over there, sold
To not a single lady in here

I've been in like a thousand times
Dated every woman in the atmosphere
I've been to every continent
Broken all the hearts in every hemisphere
And if I'm not the type of guy you like to circumvent
Just remember not to love me when I disa-

I graduated at the top
I like to take advantage of the bourgeoisie
So if you have a fantasy of being a queen
Maybe you should blow a couple bucks on me

Going once, going twice
Won't these gentlemen suffice
Any here? Any there?
Any motions anywhere?
Going twice going thrice
Guess this means we'll go four times a lady

I promise I'll be all you'll need, ever need
You'll never have to shop around (don't shop around)
And I'll give you all you'll ever need, ever need
Don't worry I will never let you down, let you down
Don't worry I will never let you down

So many ladies are wanting for mates
And the prospects are good but the date's never great
Over here over there over where? Anywhere
They're too busy with winning the bidding to care
And he's sold


Lyrics submitted by MXMissles

The Bidding Lyrics as written by Robert Cantor Joseph Robert Hawley

Lyrics © Royalty Network

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The Bidding song meanings
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9 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    "I've been here like a thousand times"

    should be

    "I've been in like a thousand times"

    Way cool song.

    Dance With Me Loison August 09, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    ok the scene it sets for you in your mind is that of an auction of men all these women bidding on men, but they don't care about them men that's why the prospects are great but the date's never great, all they care about is getting the man, dosn't matter if he's any good for her, or even the right kind of person for her they just want to snatch them up before someone else gets a chance at them

    pimaxcon July 27, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Great song. Pimaxc got it down, it's about just trying to get men with some sort of track record so she can brag about it instead of someone who'll really care for them.

    CFaz23on December 12, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    During the "I promise I'll be all you ever need," through the "I will never let you down," it sounds like they're sampling a song (probably a classical song). Could anybody tell me which?

    caelaeon May 10, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Has anyone else noticed that the melody they hum during the introduction is almost identical to the chant of the Wicked Witch of the West's guars in the Wizard of Oz movie?

    katisorensen89on January 04, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    "i graduated at the top, i like to take advantage of the bourgeoisie"

    Love that line, mostly the way he sings it. Well I just love Joe's voice in general.

    jmcieslakon January 19, 2011   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    I'm sorry...but if your mind is in the gutter..........male prostitution??

    I'm so bad but that's what I think of.

    Or that a lady is so picky that they're desperate enough to entice her with money

    Steampikachuon December 05, 2016   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Okay heres my in depth interpretation of the lyrics\nThere are multiple men being sold at an auction, none of good qualities, yet most promising many, "the prospects are good but the date\'s never great"\nWe are introduced to our first guy, who introuces himself as a homeless alchoholic who promises to "try" to give you love until the day "you" drop, implying hes saying you dont really matter too much and he just wants a lady in the nicest way possible.\nNobody seemingly auctions for him, and we move onto tbe next guy.\nOur second guy is clearly dissatisfied with his current career state "been training like a pavlov dog," "let my independence out to take a hike." He isnt really trying to win you over all to much, but promises easy services.\nHe is auctioned off after a long period of time, this period of time evidenced by the annoyed, sarcastic line of "and sold to not a single lady here."\nThe third guy is completely honest, sharing every bad quality before "dissapearing," and not getting to be auctioned off. Followed by the fourth, who introuces himself as a greedy rich guy, "graduated at the top, i like to take advantage of the bourgeoisie." promises to make you a "queen" with his riches, marketing himself towards the gold diggers in the crowd.\nHe is auctioned off after another back and forth between auctioning ladies, evidenced by another distressed sarcastic line of "guess this means we\'ll go four times a lady." \nOur fifth is the most kindly spoken, but suggests possible abusive behavior with his "dont shop around" and possible untrustworthyness with his "dont worry i will never let you down."\nThis man is the mentioned sold man at the end of the song.

    Gotem55on March 27, 2022   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning

    The meaning of this song is that its about slavery. Suggested by the title "the bidding" it takes place in a slave bidding location. The slaves are men as in the line "To not a single lady in here". and they are trained to be in a relationship told by the line "ive been training like a pavlov dog". thats what the setting of the song. the thing thats happening in the song is a man is trying to convince a woman is trying to buy him, while also saying that hes supposedly dated every woman in the world and that he wants to date her. supposedly and the end hes been sold to her

    TrollManon March 01, 2022   Link

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