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Total ratings: 2289
Length: 3:33
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Cause our better is their worst reckonin'
And our fine-feathered friends will sing until they bleed
And how will we replace that symphony?
I've got the blackest boots, the whitest skin
Satisfy my sugar tongue again
Sing me lullabies of shoe-shine days
Gilded verses for your ethylene
And sing it to me free and clean
All the kids come home with foreign limbs
from hunting trips abroad they lose again
and we'll teach them how to talk
and whistle while they walk
and do the dirty work of battle hymns
I've got the blackest boots, the whitest skin
Satisfy my sugar tongue again
Sing me lullabies of shoe-shine days
Gilded verses for your atheling
And sing it to me free and clean
Drinking tea with milk and Janjaweed
Pontificate on genocide or greed
With a spoonful of dissent
For the orchestra of need
Is just enough to please this colony
I've got the blackest boots, the whitest skin
Satisfy my sugar tongue again
Bring me lullabies and morphine dreams
Belladonna with her atropine
And sing it to me free and clean
The music and words bring tears.
The First Ladies of melody.
Yeah...I like that. They got it down, don't they?
Keep thinking I'm hearing the Finn brothers when this comes on. I'm not the only one, right?
A beautiful melody with chilling lyrics. I love the Indigo Girls' work.
I could be wrong, but I think the lyrics refer to the slave trade that grew up in the early colonial sugar industry, which was indeed brutal.
Cheers to all RP listeners!
Try this:
And their lyrics have gotten more profound and crytpic compared to their first album in 1986.
ath·el·ing/ˈaTHəliNG/nounHISTORICAL
a prince or lord in Anglo-Saxon England.
underrated ; they made a lot of very good music...
![music](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_music.gif)
Love their singing too.
Right you are. thanks.
There's another one in there.
![whipit](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_whipit.gif)
![{#Arrowd} {#Arrowd}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_arrowd.gif)
If your definition of "genocide" includes the eradication of animals, then YES!!! We agree!!!
You're both correct. The last verse "Drinking tea...." is referencing the Darfur genocide in the Sudan, Africa.
Where's Mr. Lazarus been lately? Holed up in a hotel somewhere? Some of us (ME!) are missing your gypsy mule-skinning bucknaked dancing!! Long Live RP!!
If that's what the artist intended the lyrics would be:
tra la la la la la la
la la la la la la la
doo di doo dah di doo doo di day
Go deep people.
Or not. It's your mind.
I could be wrong, but I think the lyrics refer to the slave trade that grew up in the early colonial sugar industry, which was indeed brutal.
Cheers to all RP listeners!
Such soft beautiful melody, with such powerful lyrics.
This song inspired me to do the same and pickup an IG album.
I did the same 7 years ago after hearing this on RP. Awesome album.
Wow!
I normally do not like the Indigo Girls, but this tune really grabbed me - and now, seeing these lyrics. . .wow! It reminds me of some Steely Dan tunes, . . . light, (albeit musically complex) happy melody, with some kinda light, semi cryptic lyrics about some really nasty stuff. Love it. . . I will be picking up my first IG CD
This song inspired me to do the same and pickup an IG album.
I totally agree that most of what Lazarus says is nonsense. However I cant help but feel that the world would be a greyer less interesting place without him and others like him. I’ve never seen a posting from him that rubbishes anyone and I for one wouldn’t want to live in a world that cant accommodate amusing head cases like Lazarus.
No disrespect intended Lazarus.
None taken... everybody in my galactic presidential campaign loves this song... we be dancing like Willy Shakes... keep on rockin' in the free world, ScottishWillie... time flies when we're having fun...
Ya gotta keep evolving. Get busy living or get busy dying.
![{#Arrowd} {#Arrowd}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_arrowd.gif)
I totally agree that most of what Lazarus says is nonsense. However I cant help but feel that the world would be a greyer less interesting place without him and others like him. I’ve never seen a posting from him that rubbishes anyone and I for one wouldn’t want to live in a world that cant accommodate amusing head cases like Lazarus.
No disrespect intended Lazarus.
![{#Arrowd} {#Arrowd}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_arrowd.gif)
Beg to differ. It's about how humans consume the Earth at the peril of fin and feather.
If your definition of "genocide" includes the eradication of animals, then YES!!! We agree!!!
Aren't you the same &*#@! who bitches at Lazarus for posting comments and links about current events on song boards?
This song is marvelous... everybody in my alien space craft loves this song... hope you be having a splendid time right this minute, kcar...
![{#Daisy} {#Daisy}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/daisy.gif)
![{#Daisy} {#Daisy}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/daisy.gif)
![{#Clap} {#Clap}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_clap.gif)
About the horrors of civil war.
![{#Daisy} {#Daisy}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/daisy.gif)
![{#Daisy} {#Daisy}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/daisy.gif)
![{#Clap} {#Clap}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_clap.gif)
This song is about genocide. See my comment below.
![{#Arrowd} {#Arrowd}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_arrowd.gif)
This song is marvelous... everybody in my homeless camp loves this song... hope you be having a splendid time right this minute, rdo...
Right you are. thanks.
marvelous... love this song...
This song is about genocide. See my comment below.
![{#Arrowd} {#Arrowd}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_arrowd.gif)
Everybody in my church loves this song... sure wish Sugar were here...
Such things are not possible...
love this marvelous song...
Yes, I agree... love this song....
Well said, Romeo.
Regarding the song...I too am of the opinion that this song is an Indigo Girls highlight.
Thanks! Hope you are having a great time right now... this is one sweet song... love it...
A "poacher" is by definition "one who hunts or fishes illegally on the property of another"... and that is not some derogatory name someone else calls you— that is your name for yourself... you call yourself a common thief... if you have no respect for yourself, how can we expect you to have respect for others?
These song forums are for song comments, and I am an honest commentator... this song is absolutely marvelous...
Well said, Romeo. ^
Regarding the song...I too am of the opinion that this song is an Indigo Girls highlight.
This song is soooo delicious...
Everybody in my church loves this song... sure wish Sugar were here...
I'm sure you were only joking....but it got me wondering all the same. Here's what I found:
What about the title of this album...there's a reference to Poseidon in your song "Fleet of Hope," but what was the impetus behind the title of the record?
Mitchell Froom came up with that and it was a joke, really. We were just sitting around doing pre-production for the record and he said, "You should call it Poseidon and the Bitter Bug," and we all burst out into laughter. For whatever reason it stuck with us. I like it because I think it's quite whimsical. And I like the fact that Poseidon is from my song and bitter bug is from Amy's song. We've never done that before. I like the joining of the two lyrics. It's fun, it's playful. The artwork is hand-drawn by our graphic artist friend, and there's a bit of whimsy to it. You can't quite put your finger on it and I like that.
The full lyric is Drinking Tea with Milk and Janjaweed.
When I first wrote this, I was kind of joking, thinking that it just sounded like Janjaweed, the genocidal militia from Sudan. In fact, the lyric is the genocidal militia from Sudan.
![Indigo Indigo](https://i46.tinypic.com/4snrll.png)
I echo your sentiments in that I am not a fan but find this one sweet...
most excellent. love the tune. very catchy...
Yes, isn't this song awesome? Good to see you here...
Yes, Awesome...
![{#Nyah} {#Nyah}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_nyah.gif)
I hear that too. Give it a 7 first listen (that I remember anyway).
Everybody in my hotel room loves this song...
everyone in my Vegas hotel room does also.... of course, that's only me.
/sarc
I am right here... hope everything is going well for you!
I love this song...
Going great...love this song ass well.
Don't encourage him, he pollutes enough without it.
This is one fine groove... love this song...
I, too, agree, RT.
bokey wrote:
That'll never happen for some odd reason.
Foiled again.
That'll never happen for some odd reason.
Why'd you tell me this...
anyone?
Egad, you're right! Maybe that's why I keep thinking this song is a cover.
yup... love it...
excellent base line
Foiled again.
I like the cover art. Looks like a Hokusai (my fave.)
Agreed. Strangely, I heard some Crowded House here, but I was tired and half-delirious from a fever, so I was probably mistaken. Like this song. It's not what I'm used to hearing from Indigo Girls, but that's a good thing!
Not crazy or delirious or prejudiced for being from New Zealand. If someone told me Neil Finn wrote this I would have said sure.
Why'd you tell me this...
anyone?
I never would have guessed it was Indigo Girls
Good stuff
Agreed. Strangely, I heard some Crowded House here, but I was tired and half-delirious from a fever, so I was probably mistaken. Like this song. It's not what I'm used to hearing from Indigo Girls, but that's a good thing!
I'm happy to say that it was a joy to listen tonight.
Sounds like The I.G.s have gotten a little Beth Orton-y. Which I wouldn't expect to work, but it really does.
I think it's safe to say that Beth Orton got a little Blue Girlie ;)
I do agree though, this whole album was a left hook from a band I thought I had said everything they had to say...
I never would have guessed it was Indigo Girls
Good stuff
Sounds like The I.G.s have gotten a little Beth Orton-y. Which I wouldn't expect to work, but it really does.
Downloaded this album and never regretted it. Every song is good.
All the fur and fin will lose again
Cause our better is their worst reckonin'
Haha... got to you anyway didn't they? Lowered your rating because you didn't like the message eh? Seems like some latent guilt to me.
Right on, banana! CH and IG are two of my favorites. I would so love to hear Neil Finn cover this song.
Cause our better is their worst reckonin'
And our fine-feathered friends will sing until they bleed
And how will we replace that symphony? I've got the blackest boots, the whitest skin
Satisfy my sugar tongue again
Bring me love that buys us shoe-shine days
Guilded verses for your ethylene
And sing it to me free and clean All the kids come home with foreign limbs
from hunting trips abroad they lose again
and we'll teach them how to talk
and whistle while they walk
and do the dirty work of battle hymns I've got the blackest boots, the whitest skin
Satisfy my sugar tongue again
Sing me love that buys us shoe-shine days
Guilded verses for your ethylene
And sing it to me free and clean Drinking tea with milk and Janjaweed
Pontificate on genocide or greed
With a spoonful of descent
For the orchestra of need
Is just enough to please this colony I've got the blackest boots, the whitest skin
Satisfy my sugar tongue again
Bring me lullabies and morphine-dreams
Belladonna with her atropine
And sing it to me free and clean
Wow!
I normally do not like the Indigo Girls, but this tune really grabbed me - and now, seeing these lyrics. . .wow! It reminds me of some Steely Dan tunes, . . . light, (albeit musically complex) happy melody, with some kinda light, semi cryptic lyrics about some really nasty stuff. Love it. . . I will be picking up my first IG CD
I still think it's him for the first few bars
And for exactly the same reason 6 —> 8!
Drinking tea with milk and Janjaweed
Pontificate on genocide or greed
With a spoonful of descent
For the orchestra of need
Is just enough to please this colony I've got the blackest boots, the whitest skin
Satisfy my sugar tongue again
Bring me lullabies and morphine-dreams
Belladonna with her atropine
And sing it to me free and clean