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Dollar Bill Lyrics
Torn like an old dollar bill
Girl let them say what they will
That no one should hurt ya
And that's all I seem to do
That no one should desert ya
And that's all I seem to do
I gotta tell you, goodbye mama
We've taken this too far
Been trying to tell you what's going on
Trying to make it easy on ya
Trying to make it better, make it easier on ya
It's all I came to do, It's all I came to do
Now down in the light, and I must be dreaming
Cause I see clearly, I see angels
Bringing something to me
Mother Mercy, I told a lie, I didn't need it
Good bye mama, I've taken this too far
Been gone awhile, been gone a long way
I don't want to hurt ya, it's all I seem to do
Don't want to desert ya, it's all I seem to do
I gotta tell you, goodbye mama
I've taken this too far
Been down awhile, been down a long way
Trying to make it easy on ya
Trying to make it better, make it easier on ya
It's all I came to do (x 3)
Torn like an old dollar bill
Girl let them say what they will
That no one should hurt ya
And that's all I seem to do
That no one should desert ya
And that's all I seem to do
I gotta tell you, goodbye mama
We've taken this too far
Been trying to tell you what's going on
Trying to make it better, make it easier on ya
It's all I came to do, It's all I came to do
Now down in the light, and I must be dreaming
Cause I see clearly, I see angels
Bringing something to me
Mother Mercy, I told a lie, I didn't need it
Good bye mama, I've taken this too far
Been gone awhile, been gone a long way
Don't want to desert ya, it's all I seem to do
I gotta tell you, goodbye mama
I've taken this too far
Been down awhile, been down a long way
Trying to make it better, make it easier on ya
It's all I came to do (x 3)
Torn like an old dollar bill
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Seems like it's about leaving a girl who's fallen harder for you than you have for her, and being torn about whether it's the right or wrong thing to do.
He's saying to "let them say what they will/that no one should hurt ya" and then he sings in a lower tone, "that's all I seem to do," and then repeats it with "that no one should desert ya."
When he says "goodbye mama" he's not talking about his mom; it's like calling someone "baby." Back in the '50's, "mama" was used in a similar fashion... couples would call eachother "mama" and "papa." Things have gotten too serious for him and he's tried to tell her this but she hasn't wanted to hear it, hence "been tryin to tell you what's going on," and now it's getting to the point where he has no choice but to just call it quits.
And through the rest of the song that becomes obvious. He feels bad because he thought that a quick, easy romance would be a good thing but it's led to more pain.
Great song.
i love this song! i love this band! i wish more people did, but its nice that they are kindda small.
yeah it is really nice that they are small
they are a great band and deserve much more credit than they are given....if they're given any at all :-(
wowwww i love this so much. im an israeli guy and i heard about screaming trees from a friend. and i really like this band. the singer have really great voice, and the music is so beautiful.
it seems this song is about him being torn between his girlfriend or staying with his mom. he chooses moving away with his girl and he hurts his mom. "goodbye mama, we've taken this too far" "i dont want to hurt ya" lead me to believe its about that. this song holds precious memories for me, not dealing with the lyrics, but just memories of what was going on in my life when i first heard this song.
uhhh sicman, i don't think it's as complicated as you think. He's not sure if he should leave his girl because everyone says he's no good for her, or what he feels in his heart. He eventually caves into the pressure of the crowd. It was probably for the best that he did too :)
I love his voice. Reminds me of a more mellow eddie vedder. It's kind of weird considering the screaming trees were one of the most influential bands to kurt cobian, yet they weren't really popular. although i do have to say they're music videos could use a little help, actually you know how they say music videos sometimes kill the songs, we'll maybe if they were all erased.
noones even gone into the "Dollar Bill" bit yet? I always think of an old hobo (in the old, travelling bum sense, where it was a choice of lifestyle) called bill, old and crumpled from moving about. I also take the goodbye mama bit literally, like he has left his family behind, and doesnt want to hurt them by burdening them with his troubles. Maybe cos i just read Jack Kerouacs "on the road"
mama doesn't mea mother, it's probably his pet name for his girlfriend.