My daughter Mary Belle turned me on to Modest Mouse, and now they are one of my favorite bands. Their music is very different in that there isn't much in the way of traditional structure going on. But their lyrics are my favorite. Here is a sample of a great song called "Teeth Like God's Shoeshine" (edited for repeats) that I really relate to. (I know, kind of scary)
From the top of the ocean — Yeah!
To the bottom of the sky — Goddamn!
Well I get claustrophobic
I can, you know that I can; well!
And she said…
"I am not allowed much danger!
Keep in line you're an old friend stranger;
you'll burn me in effigy, and I'll burn you in effigy!"
A rattlesnake up in Buffalo, Montana
he bit the leg of the old sheriff
Ha! That boy fell down on his harelip: Ow! — Ow!
Well I, I might be wrong,
but you, you tag along,
and we, we’ve all been wronged,
and I feel dizzier by the mile
Said hell! The money's spent.
Went to the county line
and paid the rent I said, "Uh-oh!"
I said "Uh-oh!"
Oh! If you could compact your conscience —
Oh! And you might…
Oh! If you could bottle and sell it you might have done —
Oh! And you might…
Oh! If you could compact your conscience —
and sell it; — save it for another time,
you know you might have to use it…
And the televisions on.
Go to the grocery store, buy some new friends,
and find out the beginning, the end, and the best of it.
Well, do you need a lot of what you've got to survive?
Here's the man with teeth like God's shoeshine;
he sparkles; shimmers; shines…
Let's all have another Orange Julius —
Thick syrup standin’ in lines.
The malls are the soon-to-be ghost towns,
well so long, farewell, good-bye.
Take 'em all for the long ride!
and you'll go around town
no one wants to be uptight anymore.
You can be ashamed
or be so proud of what you've done
but not no one, not now, not ever or anyone.
Take 'em all for the sense of happiness
that comes from hurting deep down inside.
Or you can add it up and give a shit, give a shit,
go to the family doctor it’s all worth it, all worth it —
All, all wrong, and its all, all gone.
And the telephone goes off.
Pick the receiver up, try to meet ends
and find out the beginning, the end and the best of it
OH MY GODDAMN!!
Posted by Mary at May 27, 2005 09:12 AM