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Ex Lion Tamer
Wire Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

There's great danger (danger)
For the loneliest ranger in town
No silver bullets (bullets)
Tonto's split the scene

Next week will solve your problems
But now
Fish fingers all in a line
The milk bottles stand empty
Stay glued to your T.V. set (T.V.)

There's great danger
And most caped crusader of all
No cloak of justice
Robin's quit the scene

Next week will solve your problems
But now
Fish fingers all in a line
The milk bottles stand empty
Stay glued to your T.V. set (T.V.)
(T.V.) stay glued to your T.V. set (T.V.) oh, oh
(T.V.) stay glued to your T.V. set (T.V.) oh, oh
(T.V.) stay glued to your T.V. set (T.V.) oh, oh
(T.V.) stay glued to your T.V. set (T.V.) oh, oh
(T.V.) stay glued to your T.V. set (T.V.) oh, why don't ya, don't ya, don't ya
(T.V.) stay glued to your T.V. set (T.V.)
(T.V.) stay glued to your T.V. set (T.V.) oh, why don't ya, don't ya, don't ya
(T.V.) stay glued to that and your T.V. set (T.V.)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the song Ex Lion Tamer appear to be a commentary on the cultural obsession with television and its impact on society. The first stanza warns of danger for the "loneliest ranger in town," who may be vulnerable without the protection of silver bullets and the support of Tonto and Robin who have "split the scene." The next stanza suggests that although there may be solutions to current problems in the future, for now, people are distracted by mindless activities like eating fish fingers and watching television. The line "The milk bottles stand empty" could also be interpreted as a reference to the decline of traditional milk delivery and the rise of processed food consumption.


The repetition of the line "Stay glued to your T.V. set" emphasizes the theme of detachment and disconnection from reality that comes with overconsumption of media. The absence of any hope or action in the lyrics suggests a certain resigned acceptance of this state of affairs. However, the urgency of the repeated command to stay glued to the TV set implies a fear of what may happen if people were to try to engage with the real world.


Overall, Wire's Ex Lion Tamer is an ominous and cautionary tale about the cultural impact of television and the danger of becoming too consumed by its distractions.


Line by Line Meaning

There's great danger
The situation is dangerous


For the loneliest ranger in town
Even the most isolated person is at risk


No silver bullets
There is no easy solution


Tonto's split the scene
Even the loyal companion has left


Next week will solve your problems
The future is promised to be better


But now
Currently


Fish fingers all in a line
Every option is the same


The milk bottles stand empty
There is nothing left


Stay glued to your T.V. set (T.V.)
Distract yourself with entertainment


And most caped crusader of all
Even the most heroic person is vulnerable


No cloak of justice
There is no protection


Robin's quit the scene
Even the faithful partner has left


(T.V.) stay glued to your T.V. set (T.V.) oh, oh
The repetition emphasizes the distractions of television


(T.V.) stay glued to that and your T.V. set (T.V.)
The singer encourages the listener to continue watching TV as a form of escape




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRUCE GILBERT, ROBERT GOTOBED, GRAHAM LEWIS, COLIN NEWMAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@petethebastard

"Ex Lion Tamer"

There's great danger (danger)
For the loneliest ranger in town
No silver bullets (bullets)
Tonto's split the scene

Next week will solve your problems
But now, fish fingers all in a line
The milk bottles stand empty
Stay glued to your TV set (TV)

There's great danger (danger)
At hand, most caped crusader of all
No cloak of justice (justice)
Robin's quit the scene

Next week will solve your problems
But now, fish fingers all in a line
The milk bottles stand empty
Stay glued to your TV set (TV)

Stay glued to your TV set, oh (TV)
Stay glued to your TV set, oh (TV)
Stay glued to your TV set, oh (TV)
Stay glued to your TV set, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh (TV)
Stay glued to your TV set, oh why don't ya, don't ya, don't ya? (TV)
Stay glued to your TV set (TV)
Stay glued to your TV set, oh why don't ya, don't ya, don't ya? (TV)
Stay glued onto your TV set (TV)



All comments from YouTube:

@Crazyfeline

That fuckin fuzz guitar just slays me.

@surfthestreets86

crazyfeline Worrrd

@dagoldrush

For some reason, the lead that just rips in the background gets me

@moss42069

the fact this is almost 50 years old is absolutely wild

@xaq7745

Sounds nothing like it.

@m00nracer

Masterpiece, the whole album. Been listening to it since the day it came out.

@dystopia7992

Stephen Romano
Good Man , I was the only kid on the block

@anthonysimpson6353

I am 40 now and i got into it around 13. I still listen to it. Cheers!

@patricklink8527

I don't know that that's true. You would have to be from a certain town in England most likely be associated with the and in some way. I would bet you $1,000 you could not name the date it came out without looking at Google. It sounds really cool but .. the very day. I just doubt that. Maybe the week or month but not the day come on?

@anthonysimpson6353

@@patricklink8527 1978 before my 7 surgeries I had it on vinyl. I got into them around 14 years old from a rough trade compilation. All my California friends are also really in to that record, desperate bicycles, and gang of 4 entertainment... Etc.

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