Bull In The Heather

Sonic Youth

[Kim]
10, 20, 30, 40
tell me that you wanna hold me
tell me that you wanna bore me
tell me that you gotta show me
tell me that you need to slowly
tell me that yr burning for me
tell me that you can't afford me
time to tell yr dirty story
time f'r turning over and over
time f'r turning four leaf clover

betting on the bull in the heather

10, 20, 30, 40
tell me that you wanna scold me
tell me that you a-dore me
tell me that you're famous for me
tell me that yr gonna score me
tell me that you gotta show me
tell me that you need to sorely
time to tell yr love story
time f'r turning over and over
time f'r turning four leaf clover
betting on the bull in the heather


Lyrics submitted by shut

Bull In The Heather song meanings
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32 Comments

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  • +6
    General CommentI think this song is about wanting something (sexually) that odds are very against you actually getting. It's about pure and desperate yet unrequited and unrealistic desire. I also get the feeling that deeper down it's about the constant and the very childish need for positive reinforcement. Everyone wants to constantly be told that they are good and desirable etc. but no one really gets it. In a way it's about insecurity.
    sygirl10on March 13, 2008   Link
  • +4
    General Comment'makersandwater' is correct.
    it's about a horse called "bull in the heather" whos odds of winning the race were something like 29:1 and it did win. the horserace footage and horse in the video are respectively from that, as well as the hints of luck (ie four leaf clover) since those are incredible odds to overcome, and most obviously "bettin' on the bull in the heather."
    xautumnsxon March 29, 2007   Link
  • +3
    General CommentBull In The Heather was in fact the name of a race horse; Bob Nastovich from Pavement is a big horse racing fan, and apparently he gave Kim and Thurston a bumper sticker with the horse's name on it. I don't think the song is actually about the horse though; it seems more like they're either using betting on horses as an obtuse sex/prostitution metaphor or they just thought it'd make a cool song title and decided to work it into an otherwise unrelated set of lyrics.
    destroyalltacoson March 06, 2008   Link
  • +2
    General Commentthere was a horse a few years ago called "bull in the heather." that's what this song is about.

    the video makes that obvious.
    makersandwateron August 21, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General CommentIt talks about the pleasures of being submissive in a S&M relationship. It's a very cool song very sexy and appealing.
    hyepon April 16, 2003   Link
  • +1
    General Commentyeah truly about desire, pleasure, SEX !
    Kim's voice is fabulous in this song, she really play with the rhyme and her sensual intonation, the guitar in the background are awesome too, this song is great and be part of an excellent album !
    cipheron December 19, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General CommentYeah! Thats all about living with someone dont leting the things get boring and showing that the girl is special !!!
    ;)
    Greengoon December 07, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General CommentYou idiots, you are way off.
    ZEROpumpkinson October 09, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General CommentI think the last 2 posts are on to something--it's about a need for attention and constant reinforcement that leads people to sell out (either sexually or artistically).
    dontkillwhiteyon March 16, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General CommentBeing Passive and not participating in the male dominated world. But the lyrics are what Kim used to see when the boys in the band would attract women. She was married to Thurston but that wouldn't stop fans telling him and the others how much they loved them. Still it's always been different for her.
    robbie27on June 16, 2021   Link

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