Green attended Emerson College briefly in 1998 before leaving to concentrate on his music, going on to co-found the anti folk group The Moldy Peaches with Kimya Dawson. In 2004 The Moldy Peaches went on hiatus and both Green and Dawson embarked on solo careers.
Green released several albums on Rough Trade Records. Among his better known songs are "Jessica" (about singer Jessica Simpson), "Novotel", "Friends of Mine", "Dance with Me", "Carolina" and "Emily", and, in Britain, his cover of The Libertines track "What a Waster".
Prior to Jacket Full of Danger in 2006, all of Green's albums had been released on the 22nd of the month. His latest album was released on March 18, 2008 and is titled Sixes & Sevens. Titles include "Morning After Midnight", "Twee Twee Dee", and "Drowning Head First", the latter a duet between Green and his girlfriend.
In January 2008, The Moldy Peaches began having a resurgence in popularity, due to their music being included in the hit indie film Juno.
Pay The Toll
Adam Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cut loose on an uptown stroll
How do you need me so much ?
No amount of love could satisfy you
I had to cut the cheese
I'm outta luck so I thank you please
How do you need me so much?
Media man ain't gonna give enough
Medicine man, you need to fill it up
How many drugs does it take to find something to do?
I made love 'til the breaking balls
How could you fake it when the cage, it calls?
How do you need a hotel
So big enough house for anybody else?
And I'm off the wall
So crazy in a vacant stall
Maybe you worry all the time
'Cause no-one is to know what goes on between the lines
Any kind of love is a needle in the hay
When you get down they need me day to day
How many drugs does it take to find something to say?
Shake another baby, tell another lie
When you was gone I bawled the passerby
How many drugs does it take to get you out of my mind, yeah?
No amount of hate get faded on the shelf
Any kind of love finds anybody else
How many drugs does it take to find something to do
Everybody, it takes two
The song "Pay The Toll" by Adam Green is a lyrical representation of various kinds of struggles that one may face in their life. The concept of toll here is a metaphor for the price or punishment that one has to bear for their actions. The first two lines of the song, "I had to pay the toll, cut loose on an uptown stroll," expresses the idea of being punished for something that one had to do. This could be an internal conflict or an external consequence that one has to bear for their actions. The following lines express the feeling of not being appreciated or valued enough in a relationship despite giving it all, "How do you need me so much? No amount of love could satisfy you."
The lyrics, "Media man ain't gonna give enough, medicine man, you need to fill it up, how many drugs does it take to find something to do?" could represent the feeling of being disillusioned with one's regular life, where nothing seems to be satisfying enough. This could also imply the idea of using drugs or any other means to escape the monotony of life. The following lines, "I made love 'til the breaking balls, how could you fake it when the cage, it calls? How do you need a hotel, so big enough house for anybody else?" talks about the idea of being trapped in a life that is not fulfilling enough. The metaphorical "breaking balls" which refers to reaching the peak of sexual pleasure, followed by a sense of emptiness and dissatisfaction, and the "cage" that calls, refers to the feeling of being trapped in societal norms and expectations.
The song ends with the lyrics "Any kind of love is a needle in the hay, when you get down they need me day to day, how many drugs does it take to find something to say?" which talks about the idea of love being elusive and hard to find. The usage of the phrase "needle in the hay" is a nod to the famous Elliott Smith song that dealt with themes of depression and loneliness. The lines that follow refer to the desperation of finding a way to escape the monotony of life, either by using drugs or by finding something to say to ones' self or others.
Line by Line Meaning
I had to pay the toll
I had to face the consequences of my actions
Cut loose on an uptown stroll
I am free but lost in the city
How do you need me so much ?
Why do you depend on me so heavily?
No amount of love could satisfy you
You have unrealistic expectations for love
I had to cut the cheese
I made a mistake or did something embarrassing
I'm outta luck so I thank you please
I am grateful for any help or kindness you can offer
Media man ain't gonna give enough
The media does not provide enough information or help
Medicine man, you need to fill it up
You need someone to help you find a cure
How many drugs does it take to find something to do?
You turn to drugs as a distraction from boredom or emptiness
I made love 'til the breaking balls
I had sex until I couldn't continue anymore
How could you fake it when the cage, it calls?
How could you pretend to be happy when you feel trapped?
How do you need a hotel
Why do you require a fancy or expensive place to stay?
So big enough house for anybody else?
Do you need a huge house just to show off to others?
And I'm off the wall
I am behaving strangely or unpredictably
So crazy in a vacant stall
I am acting insane while alone and bored
Maybe you worry all the time
You are constantly anxious or concerned
'Cause no-one is to know what goes on between the lines
You are hiding something or have secrets
Any kind of love is a needle in the hay
Finding love is difficult and rare
When you get down they need me day to day
When you are struggling, you rely on me heavily
How many drugs does it take to find something to say?
You turn to drugs as a way to feel more creative or expressive
Shake another baby, tell another lie
You use manipulation or lying as a tactic to get what you want
When you was gone I bawled the passerby
When you were absent, I reached out to anyone nearby for comfort
How many drugs does it take to get you out of my mind, yeah?
I cannot stop thinking about you or let go of our past relationship
No amount of hate get faded on the shelf
Holding onto anger or negativity does not fade over time
Any kind of love finds anybody else
Love is not limited to just one person or group
How many drugs does it take to find something to do?
You rely on drugs as a source of entertainment or stimulation
Everybody, it takes two
Both parties are responsible for a successful relationship
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Adam Green
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind