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.
Say a word for Jimmy Brown
He ain't got nothing at all
Not the shirt right off his back
He ain't got nothing at all
And say a word for Ginger Brown
Walks with his head down to the ground
Took the shoes right off his feet
Threw the poor boy right out in the street
And this is what he said
Oh, sweet nothin'
She ain't got nothin' at all
Oh, sweet nothin'
She ain't got nothin' at all
Say a word for Pearly May
She can't tell the night from the day
They threw her out in the street
But just like a cat, she landed on her feet
And say a word for Joana Love
She ain't got nothing at all
'Cause everyday she falls in love
And every night she falls
And when she does, she says
Oh, sweet nothin'
You know she he ain't got nothing at all, whoa-whoa
Oh, sweet nothin', yeah
She ain't got nothin' at all
Oh, let me hear you
Oh, say a word (oh, sweet nothin')
Say a word for Jimmy Brown
He ain't got nothin' at all, not a thing
Not the shirt, shirt on his back (oh, sweet nothin')
No, he ain't got nothing at all
And say a word for Ginger (oh, sweet nothin')
He walks (he ain't got nothin' at all)
With his head down to the ground
They took the shoes (oh, sweet nothin')
Took the shoes from his feet, from his feet
And threw poor boy (he ain't got nothin' at all)
Out into the street, and then he said
Oh, sweet, sweet nothin'
She ain't got, she ain't got
She ain't got nothin' at all
Sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet nothin'
(Ain't got nothing at all) she ain't got
Sweet, sweet nothin' (oh, sweet nothin')
Sweet, sweet nothin' (she ain't got nothin' at all)
Uh, sweet, sweet nothin, got nothin'
Oh, sweet nothin', whoa
(Ain't got nothin' at all) sweet nothin' at all
Oh, let me hear ya
She ain't got nothin' at all
She ain't got nothin' at all
She ain't got nothin' at all
She ain't got nothin' at all
She ain't got nothin' at all, sweet nothin'
Ain't got nothin' at all, sweet, sweet nothin'
She ain't got nothin' at all
He ain't got nothing at all
Not the shirt right off his back
He ain't got nothing at all
And say a word for Ginger Brown
Walks with his head down to the ground
Took the shoes right off his feet
Threw the poor boy right out in the street
And this is what he said
Oh, sweet nothin'
She ain't got nothin' at all
Oh, sweet nothin'
She ain't got nothin' at all
Say a word for Pearly May
She can't tell the night from the day
They threw her out in the street
But just like a cat, she landed on her feet
And say a word for Joana Love
She ain't got nothing at all
'Cause everyday she falls in love
And every night she falls
And when she does, she says
Oh, sweet nothin'
You know she he ain't got nothing at all, whoa-whoa
Oh, sweet nothin', yeah
She ain't got nothin' at all
Oh, let me hear you
Oh, say a word (oh, sweet nothin')
Say a word for Jimmy Brown
He ain't got nothin' at all, not a thing
Not the shirt, shirt on his back (oh, sweet nothin')
No, he ain't got nothing at all
And say a word for Ginger (oh, sweet nothin')
He walks (he ain't got nothin' at all)
With his head down to the ground
They took the shoes (oh, sweet nothin')
Took the shoes from his feet, from his feet
And threw poor boy (he ain't got nothin' at all)
Out into the street, and then he said
Oh, sweet, sweet nothin'
She ain't got, she ain't got
She ain't got nothin' at all
Sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet nothin'
(Ain't got nothing at all) she ain't got
Sweet, sweet nothin' (oh, sweet nothin')
Sweet, sweet nothin' (she ain't got nothin' at all)
Uh, sweet, sweet nothin, got nothin'
Oh, sweet nothin', whoa
(Ain't got nothin' at all) sweet nothin' at all
Oh, let me hear ya
She ain't got nothin' at all
She ain't got nothin' at all
She ain't got nothin' at all
She ain't got nothin' at all
She ain't got nothin' at all, sweet nothin'
Ain't got nothin' at all, sweet, sweet nothin'
She ain't got nothin' at all
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Step
Ministry
Ministry
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Great song, love it.
Just thought I'd post to say that the guitar solo is actually played by Doug Yule.
On this track, Lou and Doug play guitars, while Sterling Morrison plays bass.