It could be, as DeMinor put it, a metaphor about turning tables in society. But since I am reading "Psychic Confusion: The Sonic Youth Story" by Stevie Chick, I have been learning a lot about the transition many "indie" bands made to mainstream labels on the 88-94 era and how in many cases these bands were shocked by the inhumanity of these big conglomerates. The lyrics to "Cooling Card" fit that atmosphere of ambivalence towards a step that could be the walk of a promised idillic way of making music or a corporate trap which makes you become a numb dollar-making machine. This is specially true for the lines that mention guarantees and the attack to the "stern old men" who "make the bed" as in the preparations they did in order to assure a new band or artist signed a contract for them.
It could be, as DeMinor put it, a metaphor about turning tables in society. But since I am reading "Psychic Confusion: The Sonic Youth Story" by Stevie Chick, I have been learning a lot about the transition many "indie" bands made to mainstream labels on the 88-94 era and how in many cases these bands were shocked by the inhumanity of these big conglomerates. The lyrics to "Cooling Card" fit that atmosphere of ambivalence towards a step that could be the walk of a promised idillic way of making music or a corporate trap which makes you become a numb dollar-making machine. This is specially true for the lines that mention guarantees and the attack to the "stern old men" who "make the bed" as in the preparations they did in order to assure a new band or artist signed a contract for them.