Dollar Signs
Snailhouse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I get so much done with my eyes on the prize
Everybody knows it can't be good to spend all your money on what you should
I woke up this morning with razor blades in my ears
Something so familiar, are you reeling in the years?
I try to make sense of the voice I heard, a beautiful mosquito or an ugly bird
Burn all yours
Shake that thing
This is how we overthrow the king
All around the castle
We overturn the soil
Set free all the horses and fill the moat with oil
So burn all yours
Shake that thing
This is how we overthrow the king
In "Dollar Signs", Snailhouse talks about the dangers of materialism and capitalism. He uses the metaphor of "dollar signs in my eyes" to describe how we get so caught up in the idea of money that we lose sight of what really matters. The song reflects on the harmful effects of a society that places so much emphasis on money and personal gain, bringing up issues of greed and societal unrest. He emphasizes the importance of shaking wealth and power, and encourages listeners to overthrow the king and start anew. There is a suggestion here that by burning the bridges that keep us tied to the old ways, we can create a brighter future for ourselves and our communities built on more meaningful values.
The second verse of the song is more abstract, but seems to describe the act of disconnecting from societal expectations and listening to one's true inner voice. The imagery of razor blades in one's ears is disturbing and perhaps suggests the need to cut ourselves off from external distractions in order to focus on self-discovery. The voice that Snailhouse hears could be interpreted as a representation of his own desires, an external influence or the collective voice of society. The message seems to be that we have the power to choose which voice we listen to and what kind of life we want to lead.
Line by Line Meaning
I woke up this morning with dollar signs in my eyes
Today, I am filled with greed and ambition; a desire to succeed and acquire wealth.
I get so much done with my eyes on the prize
I am more productive when I stay focused on achieving my goals and acquiring wealth.
Everybody knows it can't be good to spend all your money on what you should
It is a common knowledge that it is unwise to spend all your money on things that do not matter and should be avoided.
I woke up this morning with razor blades in my ears
I woke up with sadness and pain in my heart due to a familiar voice that reminded me of past regrets and disappointments.
Something so familiar, are you reeling in the years?
This voice from the past reminds me of the years (time) that have passed, which I have not fully taken advantage of in achieving my goals.
I try to make sense of the voice I heard, a beautiful mosquito or an ugly bird
I am struggling to understand the prominence and implications of the voice that spoke to me, whether it is bringing me positive or negative messages.
Burn all yours
Destroy all that you have and start anew.
Shake that thing
Move and dance freely, expressing yourself without inhibition.
This is how we overthrow the king
By destroying the existing system and starting anew, we have the power to take control and create a new regime with different rules that align with our values and beliefs.
All around the castle
The action is taking place around the king's castle, which represents the established rules and system we are trying to overthrow.
We overturn the soil
We are digging and disturbing the ground, symbolizing the destruction of the existing system and creating space for the new one.
Set free all the horses and fill the moat with oil
We are freeing the existing resources (horses) and blocking the existing protection (moat) by filling it with oil, a disrespectful and non-conventional approach to bring change.
So burn all yours
Once again, emphasizing the need to destroy what exists and start anew.
Shake that thing
Repeating the call to dance freely, expressing oneself fully.
This is how we overthrow the king
The refrain to remind us that our actions are geared towards destroying the existing system and replacing it with a new one that corresponds to our values and beliefs.
Contributed by Jackson T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.