Frank Black

Don't Ya Rile 'Em

3 Meanings

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Don't Ya Rile 'Em Lyrics

I'm seeing how boring it gets
Back where the sun never sets
And a day is really two days
I was feeling so tired inside
My eyes were stitched open so wide
It was making me kind of uptight

And the power man says
Don't Ya Rile 'Em
Going asylum
Don't Ya Rile 'Em
Going asylum
Tonight
Tonight

I've been working my way back to sane
I'ts coming back to me again
Old navigational ways
Back in time where I belong
They're playing my favorite song
That whistling meteorite

And the power man says
Don't ya rile 'em
Going asylum
Don't ya rile 'em
Going asylum
Don't ya rile 'em
Going asylum
Don't ya rile 'em
Goin asylum
Tonight
Tonight

Submitted by

voltabolta On Oct 28, 2006

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voltabolta

Submitter

2006-10-28 14:09:24

3 Meanings

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by chineselaundry

19y ago

I always thought this song was an argument for the benefits of stargazing. Black belongs "back in time" when the stars were gazed upon for directions and people were still captivated with the sky and outer space. He refers to electrical light turning one day and one night into two days and no night and that the lack of the day/night cycle is slowly making us go crazy. Really cool song. Anyone else have a different take on it?

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by jimjeske

18y ago

"This is a song about the advent of electricity and artificial light into modern life."

Frank on stage, 5/93

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by stavogrin

18y ago

That's amazing, I never would have thought of that but it makes sense when you look at it. I thought the song was about going to Alaska or Norway in the summer, but your interpretation makes the song a lot more compelling. It does kind of have that driving under starlight feel.

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