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Coattails of a Dead Man (feat. Martina Topley-Bird & Tom Waits) Lyrics
He wasn't lookin' for fanfare or fame but it
all came around just the same. He then
met a girl with desire in her eye, he gave
her love, she took his name.
The times they were good, the times they
were bad, most times it was just in
between. The hard pill he swallowed was
the times that they had, she put on display
for all to be seen.
Some find their solace in work or the lord,
she was quite content in her dream. When
his eyes they burned from the bright lime
light, he found comfort in the bottle of Ol'
Jimmy Beam.
One day from the depths of his deep
darkened hole, he reached out for
something to feel. She offered back nothin'
but lack of respect so he left himself out
with two barrels of steel.
She cried in the day, she cried in the night.
She cried loudest when someone was near.
Whether crying for him or she cried for
herself, the bigger the camera, the bigger
the tear.
Most folks agree that she was living a hell
and publicly she showed her pain. And
never once was there a thought for
herself, and the ever-growing slices of
fortune and fame.
Now on the coattails of a dead man she'll
ride on the coattails of a dead man she'll
ride. On the coattails of a dead man she'll
ride she'll ride, on the coattails of a dead
man she'll ride she'll ride high.
all came around just the same. He then
met a girl with desire in her eye, he gave
her love, she took his name.
were bad, most times it was just in
between. The hard pill he swallowed was
the times that they had, she put on display
for all to be seen.
she was quite content in her dream. When
his eyes they burned from the bright lime
light, he found comfort in the bottle of Ol'
Jimmy Beam.
darkened hole, he reached out for
something to feel. She offered back nothin'
but lack of respect so he left himself out
with two barrels of steel.
She cried loudest when someone was near.
Whether crying for him or she cried for
herself, the bigger the camera, the bigger
the tear.
and publicly she showed her pain. And
never once was there a thought for
herself, and the ever-growing slices of
fortune and fame.
ride on the coattails of a dead man she'll
ride. On the coattails of a dead man she'll
ride she'll ride, on the coattails of a dead
man she'll ride she'll ride high.
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But apart from all that it's a very well constructed song - I like the way the chorus is repeated over & over at the end instead of between the verses as you might expect. And Tom Waits' backing vocals are sublime. He sounds like he's having a whale of a time! Re the Cobain/Love angle: I'm neutral on that, but songs have to take a stand somewhere. Primus & Waits think this - anybody's free to disagree. Makes for a good, contentious song.
I have no idea if it is about Cobain/Love.. and I really don't think it is for my own reasons.
cutebabydoll: «"He wasn't looking for fanfare or fame" Oh SURE that's what you want to believe. Sure turn Kurt into the poor tortured saint again who never ever wanted to be a rock star or carried an ounce of ambition in him.»
You must be on dumb chick. Do you even know who Kurt Cobain is?
I kinda get the feeling:
"you're" the one who likes all our pretty songs And (s)he likes to sing along And (s)he likes to shoot his gun But (s)he don't know what it means
"Rock & roll loves to hate it's women" man you are one dumbass chick!
Improve our species, shoot yourself today. Thank you.
cutebabydoll: "Don't worry Courtney & Yoko I will defend you."
cutebabydoll: "Don't worry Courtney & Yoko I will defend you."
First, do you really think they need you to defend them? Who the hell are you other than someone who thinks too highly of herself?
First, do you really think they need you to defend them? Who the hell are you other than someone who thinks too highly of herself?
Second, have you ever heard Yoko "sing". If you had, little child, you wouldn't defend her, you'd cry for those minutes of your life that were lost. I have to skip every other track on my Double Fantasy LP thanks to Yoko's dying-dolphin cries.
Second, have you ever heard Yoko "sing". If you had, little child, you wouldn't defend her, you'd cry for those minutes of your life that were lost. I have to skip every other track on my Double Fantasy LP thanks to Yoko's dying-dolphin cries.
To everyone else: I was listening to the Primus discography and heard "Coattails..." for the first...
To everyone else: I was listening to the Primus discography and heard "Coattails..." for the first time. I instantly thought of Kurt/Courntey and came here to see if I was correct in the meaning. As I was reading CUTEBABYDOLL's whining and "defending," I had to laugh at the ending of the song blaring through my speakers, "It's just a matter of opinion..." LOL
-D
P.S. - Nice reply, PAPOSECO! :)
@paposeco Holy balls, calm down sonny jim :)
@paposeco Holy balls, calm down sonny jim :)
You do realize that this is just a song don't you? Take a few deep breaths and carry on with your life.
This song is about Kurt Kobain/Courtney Love
I very much agree. At first I just thought it was telling a regular story, but then I saw that documentary on Kurt Kobain.
This song is awesome. It really is like a sea shanty or something. Primus is awesome
it does sound like a sea shanty kind of
it does sound like a sea shanty kind of
I don't suppose you have any links that would confirm that? It makes perfect sense and I'd never looked at it that way before, but I was just wondering if one of the guys had explicitly said that.
ha ha ha yeh, it fits perfectly. And by the way, Tom Waits rules! What would this song be without him?
WOAH, this could be about Cobain/Love.
It is.
it full on is, its clear.