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.
I don't mind waiting in line
No, no
I don't mind if the bills pile up and the work is slow
I don't mind the gas or the groceries or the drive
Gone inside with you I'm having a good time
I don't mind the stoner waiter or the poorly cooked food
I don't mind little miss kitty or her knucklehead dude
I don't mind if every last person here is ugly and rude
Long as I'm with you I got a good attitude
Long as I'm with you
We could be stuck in traffic for over a week
With a car full of quintuplets who are all cutting teeth
And around my neck could be a flaming Christmas wreath
And I'd be smiling under
Smiling underneath
I don't mind waking up early for a flight that's delayed
I don't mind our weeks vacation was chilly and gray
I don't mind the traffic cops or the TSA
Long as I'm with you I'm having a good day
Long as I'm with you
I don't mind spilling my hot sauce on my white shirt
I don't mind that twinge when I walk in that knee that I hurt
I don't mind my gums peeling back or my hair getting thin
Long as I'm with you, I win
Long as I'm with you
We could be stuck in traffic for over a week
With a car full of Quintuplets who are all cutting teeth
And around my neck could be a flaming Christmas wreath
And I'd be smiling under
Smiling under
Smiling underneath
No, no
I don't mind if the bills pile up and the work is slow
I don't mind the gas or the groceries or the drive
Gone inside with you I'm having a good time
I don't mind the stoner waiter or the poorly cooked food
I don't mind little miss kitty or her knucklehead dude
I don't mind if every last person here is ugly and rude
Long as I'm with you I got a good attitude
Long as I'm with you
We could be stuck in traffic for over a week
With a car full of quintuplets who are all cutting teeth
And around my neck could be a flaming Christmas wreath
And I'd be smiling under
Smiling underneath
I don't mind waking up early for a flight that's delayed
I don't mind our weeks vacation was chilly and gray
I don't mind the traffic cops or the TSA
Long as I'm with you I'm having a good day
Long as I'm with you
I don't mind spilling my hot sauce on my white shirt
I don't mind that twinge when I walk in that knee that I hurt
I don't mind my gums peeling back or my hair getting thin
Long as I'm with you, I win
Long as I'm with you
We could be stuck in traffic for over a week
With a car full of Quintuplets who are all cutting teeth
And around my neck could be a flaming Christmas wreath
And I'd be smiling under
Smiling under
Smiling underneath
Lyrics submitted by stagemanager86
Smiling Underneath Lyrics as written by Ani Difranco
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I fell in love with Ani shortly after the release of Not a Pretty Girl, while I was still in high school, for its politically charged lyrics that still mark many of her new releases to this day.
This is not one of those songs, and the subject matter is actually even on par with the same reason I couldn't stand Dilate when it first came out.
But, with that said, I was a self-righteous angsty 16 year old then, and now I'm 27 years old, recently wed to someone who actually incites those same feelings of "smiling underneath", and even just listening to this song on my commute this morning made me forget to frown and panic long enough to adorn a few carefree, grateful smiles for a change;)