Bags of Gold
Jay Jay Pistolet Lyrics
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You clench your nails and your knuckles in your hand
Oh, come on take a shot for the proletariat
You've a knife in your pocket and a feather in your cap
Oh, I was very serious with books about my head
I couldn't write, but read 'em all before I went to bed
Didn't I
Bags of gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
There are pretty ways to get your gold for free
You can wonder at the bottom of the deep hollow tree
It climbed the bark and scared the branch
It grows in all the leaves
And now its ripe for the picking for the other petty fees
Oh, I am in the city now I'm slaving for a wage
If I ever want a bag of gold I'll have to wait an age
Bags of gold
Bags of gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Oh, gold
Oh, bags of gold
Cape a ball of direction
Oh, any honest man
I will keep on working for them anybody can
Bags of gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
In "Bags of Gold", Jay Jay Pistolet sings about the struggle to obtain wealth and the different ways people go about doing so. The song opens with a description of a tough, brusque man who seems to be willing to do whatever it takes to get ahead. Pistolet depicts him as a member of the proletariat, or working class, who may resort to violence in order to advance his position in life. Pistolet contrasts this character with himself, as he describes his own more cerebral approach to life and his own inability to write, even though he is well-read.
Pistolet then speaks about the different methods people use to obtain wealth, including taking advantage of opportunities to accumulate money without having to work for it. He speaks of a "deep hollow tree" where gold can be found, but also notes that obtaining wealth in this way often requires a certain amount of cunning and risk-taking ("It climbed the bark and scared the branch / It grows in all the leaves / And now it's ripe for the picking for the other petty fees").
The song closes with Pistolet's acknowledgement that in his current circumstances, he is forced to work for a living like everyone else, and that obtaining "bags of gold" will not be easy.
Line by Line Meaning
You are a regular brute of a man
You have a tough and rough personality
You clench your nails and your knuckles in your hand
You show signs of anger and frustration through body language
Oh, come on take a shot for the proletariat
Encouragement to support the working class
You've a knife in your pocket and a feather in your cap
A symbol of readiness to handle a situation and a sign of achievement
Oh, I was very serious with books about my head
I used to be serious about books and education
I couldn't write, but read 'em all before I went to bed
Although I couldn't write, I read many books before going to sleep
Didn't I
A rhetorical question to emphasize the point made in the previous lines
There are pretty ways to get your gold for free
There are easy and pleasant ways to obtain wealth without much effort
You can wonder at the bottom of the deep hollow tree
One way to get rich quickly is by seeking treasure buried in deep hollow tree trunks
It climbed the bark and scared the branch
The treasure hunter climbed up the tree trunk and scared the branches
It grows in all the leaves
The treasure is hidden in every part of the tree
And now its ripe for the picking for the other petty fees
The treasure is now available for whoever is willing to pay for its retrieval
Oh, I am in the city now I'm slaving for a wage
I currently live in the city and work tirelessly to earn a living
If I ever want a bag of gold I'll have to wait an age
It will take a long time for me to accumulate wealth without shortcuts
Cape a ball of direction
Unclear meaning; this line could be interpreted in a few ways
Oh, any honest man
An honest man would understand the struggle of making a living
I will keep on working for them anybody can
I will continue working hard despite the difficulties, and anyone else can do the same
Bags of gold
An aspiration to attain wealth
Gold
A symbol of value and prosperity
Gold
A symbol of value and prosperity
Gold
A symbol of value and prosperity
Oh, gold
A statement expressing admiration for wealth
Oh, bags of gold
A statement expressing a desire to acquire wealth
Contributed by Mia O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
annie541
Very proud to say that my Grandfather, who I never met, took this footage. Amazing to see my family's old video footage - even my Dad hadn't seen it in colour before. And put to this song, just wow.
Clement Mutabazi
Is there any way I can get to footage. I want to work on some hand drawn stills from this, it's so authentic an beautiful.
uheather83
words cannot describe how much I love this song (and video). It somehow takes me back to a place where I've never been.
8R014V
man... if this is really your old home footage, then you've got a sweet life. I wish i was alive during those times. people just looked so much more innocent back then. life seemed more relaxed then, compared to now.... beautiful song by the way
b
The video was really prettily put together and so much better than so many other song's :)
esharp211
such a beautiful song, does anyone happen to know what type of camera this is likely to have been filmed using? Thanks :)
Sebastien Angel Epic Music Composer
This is such a sweet song !
Michael Sergison
He gave such a beautiful performance in February =] Mx
Juan Sebastián Cassiani
So retro, love it
MitsukoSuki
50s ..Life back then must have been so peaceful and happy..even world seemed more beautiful