There's a saltwater film on the jar of your ashes
I threw them to sea, but a gust blew them backwards
And the sting in my eyes, which you then inflicted
Was par for the course, just as when you were living
It's no stretch to say you were not quite a father
But a donor of seeds to a poor single mother
That would raise us alone, we never saw the money
That went down your throat through the hole in your belly

Thirteen years old in the suburbs of Denver
Standing in line for Thanksgiving dinner
At the Catholic church, the servers wore crosses
To shield from the sufferance plaguing the others
Styrofoam plates, cafeteria tables
Charity reeks of cheap wine and pity
And I'm thinking of you, I do every year
When we count all our blessings and wonder what we're doing here

You're a disgrace to the concept of family
The priest won't divulge that fact in his homily
And I'll stand up and scream if the mourning remain quiet
You can deck out a lie in a suit, but I won't buy it
I won't join in the procession that's speaking their piece
Using five-dollar words while praising his integrity
And just 'cause he's gone, it doesn't change the fact
He was a bastard in life, thus, a bastard in death, yeah


Lyrics submitted by jephque, edited by JamesO

Styrofoam Plates Lyrics as written by Christopher Walla Benjamin Gibbard

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

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Styrofoam Plates song meanings
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117 Comments

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  • +4
    General Comment

    the song is about his dad. i think the rest can be comprehended by the lyrics. the only part that stumps me is the line "we never saw the money that went down your throat through the hole in your belly." the only thing i can make of it is he was an alcoholic. it's on a guess. anyone know the real meaning?

    gangstaprankstaon October 17, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    this song has so much meaning its incredible. 'it's no stretch to say you were not quite a father but a donor of seeds to a poor single mother'.. i love that. i love this song.. i love death cab... how can you resist?

    intoyoulikeatrainon April 19, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    i totally love the beginning of this song. every verse flows into the next. i love death cab!

    fotoon May 01, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    yeah, this song is beautiful. "just because he's gone it doesn't change the fact: he was a bastard in life thus a bastard in death". i love that line. and the intro. and the entire song. soooo great.

    deliriumtriggeron May 27, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This song makes me sad, mostly because I have a half brother who I've never met. My life's been pretty good financially wise but I know he lived with his mother. I have no clue if my dad sent money and I know they barely visited. It makes me wonder...

    XmisfitXgirlXon June 03, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    this song is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard, it just penetrates you.

    alphabeticalon June 09, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    beautiful song... i love it

    teKion June 11, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    of course. of there was a better word to describe this song, other than beautiful, i think everyone would use it.

    thePIXIEprincesson June 19, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    this song is great! it's like a story being told, and it's done great. i think his voice sounds VERY nice in this song.

    sayitainthalighon July 04, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    this song is so amazing. i have nothing else to say. I'm speechless

    Badfish2on July 19, 2002   Link

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