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Rats In The Cellar Lyrics
Goin' under, rats in the cellar
Goin' under, skin's turnin' yellow
Nose is runny, losin' my connection
Losin' money, getting no affection
New York City blues
East side, West side blues
Throw me in the slam
Catch me if you can
Believe
That you're wearing
Tearing me apart
Safe complaining, 'cause everything's rotten
Go insanin', and ain't a thing forgotten
Feelin' cozy, Rats In The Cellar
Cheeks are rosy, skin's turning yellow
Loose and soggy, lookin' rather lazy
See my body, pushin up the daisies
New York City's dues
East side, west side news
Throw me in the slam
Catch me if you can
Believe
That you're wearing
Tearing me apart
New York City blues
East side, west side blues
Throw me in the slam
A catch me if you can
Believe
That you're wearing
Tearing me apart
Goin' under, skin's turnin' yellow
Nose is runny, losin' my connection
Losin' money, getting no affection
East side, West side blues
Throw me in the slam
Catch me if you can
Believe
That you're wearing
Tearing me apart
Go insanin', and ain't a thing forgotten
Feelin' cozy, Rats In The Cellar
Cheeks are rosy, skin's turning yellow
Loose and soggy, lookin' rather lazy
See my body, pushin up the daisies
East side, west side news
Throw me in the slam
Catch me if you can
Believe
That you're wearing
Tearing me apart
East side, west side blues
Throw me in the slam
A catch me if you can
Believe
That you're wearing
Tearing me apart
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Sounds like drug addiction
37 years after its release, I never thought of the counterpoint connection to Toy's in the Attic. Makes sense. I find it even more intriguing. A fav from one of the great rock albums of all time.
Going under: Meaning going to get likely coke and heroin ; Rats in the cellar : rats scurry and run into spots like dope fiends gather to purchase
Then the lyrics talk about withdraw symptoms like runny nose mental distress skin discoloration, no money left after the drug binge. I'm sure they received as many cash advances as possible but some days they were cash poor until they can get it out of their bank accounts....so even rich rockers can have cash flow issues when they blow through their regular checks.
Lyric "no affection" Drug users eventually live insolitue and avoid relationships ...
Next the lyrics talk about getting caught with drugs and sent to the slam or slammer ... Over time the lifestyle wears on you as the lyrics state. Then they describe the reeling thoughts of remorse and regret. BUT then "cozy " rat who's high and cozy coming out of the cellar... As we established rats represent addicts . Eventually the song ends in the foreshadowed death of the narrator inevitably after a long cycle of self abuse and low self image as they refer to themselves as a Rat a negative symbol for addict.
Written as Tom Hamilton describes it, "taking this thing the Yardbirds created, and making it balls to the wall", it was also conceived as a counterpart to Toys In The Attic.
i love the duality in the second verse. the first couple of lines, he is talking about complaining. He remembers every dumb move, he's pulled at parties, but the he get's rats in the cellar (drugs of course) then hes "feelin' cosy". By the way, I am pretty sure, the last line goes: soon my body will be pushin' up the daisies. makes more sense too. :)
Great yet simple instrumental in this song and as great climax to finish.
Just love this song.
This song is actually in reference to there drug dealer at the time, who passed away, so that's basically about it, there you go.