Sin City Lyrics
It'll swallow you in
If you've got some money to burn.
Take it home right away,
You've got three years to pay
But Satan is waiting his turn
It seems like this whole town's insane
On the thirty-first floor your gold plated door
Won't keep out the Lord's burning rain
It'll all wash away
But we don't believe any more
Cause we've got our recruits
And our green mohair suits
So please show you ID At the door.
Tried to clean up this town,
His ideas made some people mad.
But he trusted his crowd,
So he spoke right out loud
And they lost the best friend they had
Won't keep out the Lord's burning rain
The song is about Los Angeles, specifically the music industry in LA. Chris Hillman came up with the opening line and Gram Parsons helped him finish the song. Much of it is inspired by Chris Hillman reflecting on the bitter end of The Byrds. The Byrds manager Larry Spector had a condo on the 31st floor with a gold door, and Hillman felt that the industry had "swallowed in" his Byrds bandmate Gene Clark. I'm not sure what Robert F. Kennedy has to do with any of this, but apparently he is the "friend" that Parsons refers to in the last verse. Source: http://articles.latimes.com/2007/apr/22/entertainment/ca-socal22
This song may be thought to be about Las Vegas, but it's not. It's about L.A. What gives it away is the mention of the earthquakes. I think that the first verse suggests gambling, but it could be more complex. I'm not sure who the friend who came around was. I used to think it could be mario savio but i'm not sure. it could also be about martin luther king jr, but i don't think so.
@gulfman_74 I think, I’m not sure, but I believe it’s actually RFK, who was killed in Los Angeles, at the Ambassdor Hotel…
@gulfman_74 I think, I’m not sure, but I believe it’s actually RFK, who was killed in Los Angeles, at the Ambassdor Hotel…
Also, the rat-fuc who murdered him - imagine if there’d not been a Nixon victory in ‘68 - is up for parole, now, in 2021. I hope he rots til he’s dead, in fact I hope they keep him UNDER the prison, and can’t even get to him until he’s been dead for days…
Also, the rat-fuc who murdered him - imagine if there’d not been a Nixon victory in ‘68 - is up for parole, now, in 2021. I hope he rots til he’s dead, in fact I hope they keep him UNDER the prison, and can’t even get to him until he’s been dead for days…
But I digress
But I digress
this song is mentioned as playing on the radio in a Philip K. Dick book, I think it's A Scanner Darkly. I'll try to remember the passage and reproduce it here.
Anyway, nice hippie apocalyptic mood here.
Wasn't this about some record company executive in LA?
Great imagery, just terrific.
And play it with Las Vegas "No place for a poor boy like me".
Wasn't this about some record company executive in LA?
Great imagery, just terrific.
And play it with Las Vegas "No place for a poor boy like me".
I always sing " ... Lord'd burning rage." This fits "simpler" to me. Yes, the town and the people are selfish, and all your money and status-a high rise office-don't insulate you from the Lord. Right ? And he made this a waltz. What a great song !
And the poor guy-a number of his songs speak of sin, the devil, an uncaring woman, etc. I always assumed he grew up with good Christian parents, but he saw the corruption of fame. And he felt it as his lifestyle tempted him. Ironically,the devil took "his turn" and won. Well at least Gram died tragically too early. I'm sure we all pray the devil didn'y get his soul