Warren wanted a Beach Boys thing for this one, and Carl Wilson and Billy Hinsche came in, with Carl arranging the vocal parts. The other harmony vocalists (credited as the "Gentlemen Boys") were Jackson Browne, J.D. Souther, Zevon's longtime backers Waddy Wachtel and Jorge Calderon, and Linda Rondstadt/Stone Poneys guitarist Kenny Edwards.
Compete, compete, do it for the boys
Empty barrels make the most noise
You're always on the move
You've always got something to prove
What the fuck are you fighting for?
Is it because you're five foot four?
You better be happy with what you've got
You'll never get anymore
You laugh at a man when he tries
You're always trying to make up for your size
To you life is a rivalry
Keep a step ahead of me
What the fuck are you fighting for?
Is it because you're five foot four?
You better be happy with what you've got
You'll never get anymore
Small man, big mouth
Small man, big mouth
Small man, big mouth
Small man, big mouth
Empty barrels make the most noise
You're always on the move
You've always got something to prove
What the fuck are you fighting for?
Is it because you're five foot four?
You better be happy with what you've got
You'll never get anymore
You laugh at a man when he tries
You're always trying to make up for your size
To you life is a rivalry
Keep a step ahead of me
What the fuck are you fighting for?
Is it because you're five foot four?
You better be happy with what you've got
You'll never get anymore
Small man, big mouth
Small man, big mouth
Small man, big mouth
Small man, big mouth
Lyrics submitted by black_cow_of_death
Small Man, Big Mouth Lyrics as written by James Brian Baker Ian T G Mackaye
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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The way this song speaks to me🥺🥺when I sing it I feel like I relate
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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.
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
I think it has something to do with napolean , he's short, he did alot of battling "compete compete do it for the boys" to win public favor.