The music is marked by multi-part vocal harmonies and intricate picking lines, but they are most well known for their satirical lyrics and will lampoon anyone or anything. Subjects range from the big political targets like Gingrich and Reagan to unknown cactus pluggers and from obscure locales like the Chester Nimitz Oriental garden in Fredericksburg, Texas to entire genres as in The Grunge Song.
Founded when songwriting pals Hank Card and Conrad Deisler met up with Tom Pittman at the University of Texas in Austin, the group was soon joined by bassist Boo Resnick of Detroit. Card most often leads the vocals, but Diesler, Pittman, and Resnick carry their share of the load, particularly on songs they each penned. Card and Diesler play guitar while Pittman splits his time between pedal steel guitar, banjo, and dobro. The role of fiddle player has had some turnover in the past decade, and is now occupied by German hip-hop afficianado Korey Simeone who will also pick up a Mandolin on occasion.
Last Words
Austin Lounge Lizards Lyrics
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And my friends are all here at my side.
Are those the sweet voices of angels
As I rise on that heavenly tide?
All hearts overflowin? with sadness
And those words left so often unsaid
Then I could hear a voice whispering softly,
?Could I have your TV and your pickup?
And I?ve always admired your shoes.
Could I have that old dining room table?
And there?s a couple of chairs I could use.?
?Well, you know that you?re headed to glory,
And like a star, up to heaven you?ll shoot
When they write the last page of your story,
Could I try on that seersucker suit??
It was the voice of my dear brother Thomas.
He was kneelin? down close by my side.
His breath had just come from a funeral
For a mouth full of teeth that had died.
Well, I prayed my last prayer for salvation.
I was feelin? the touch of God?s hand.
But I could still hear the voice of my brother
As they struck up that old angel band.
?Could I have your old ski boots and surf board?
And maybe that four-poster bed?
Would you mind if I took a few records?
Just Nirvana, The Stones, and the Dead.?
Well, you know that you can?t take it with you
To your heavenly home up on high.
When you pass through those gates, and they had you your wings,
Could I have all your stuff when you die?
But the angels consulted St. Peter
And flew me back to my hospital bed.
My life was a new day a-dawning,
And the angels took Tommy instead.
The song Last Words by Austin Lounge Lizards is a dark, humorous take on death and the final moments of life. The first verse sets the stage for a dying person surrounded by loved ones, wondering if they are hearing the voices of angels as they pass away. However, this moment of solemnity is quickly disrupted by a selfish request from the singer's brother, Thomas. Instead of expressing love or gratitude for their relationship, Thomas is more concerned with getting possessions like the singer's TV, pickup, shoes, and furniture. He even asks if he can have the singer's seersucker suit when they're dead. This bizarre and callous behavior continues throughout the song, with Thomas asking for ski boots, a surfboard, and records from the afterlife.
The song's lyrics are a commentary on the way people often prioritize material possessions over emotional connections or spiritual values. The singer's impending death brings into focus the things that really matter in life, like love and connection with others, while Thomas remains focused on acquiring things. However, the song takes a surprising turn in the final verse when the singer is spared and Thomas is taken instead by the angels. This twist ending serves as a reminder that death is unpredictable and can happen to anyone at any time, no matter how much they prioritize possessions over relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
The curtain of darkness is fallin?
The singer is approaching death.
And my friends are all here at my side.
The singer's loved ones are present in the room.
Are those the sweet voices of angels
The singer is questioning whether they are hearing angels.
As I rise on that heavenly tide?
The artist thinks they are ascending to heaven.
All hearts overflowin? with sadness
The room is filled with sadness.
And those words left so often unsaid
There are things the singer wished they had said.
Then I could hear a voice whispering softly,
The singer hears a voice in their head.
?Could I have all your stuff when your dead??
The voice is asking for the artist's possessions.
?Could I have your TV and your pickup?
The voice is specifically asking for the artist's TV and pickup truck.
And I?ve always admired your shoes.
The voice has always liked the artist's shoes.
Could I have that old dining room table?
The voice is also asking for the singer's dining table.
And there?s a couple of chairs I could use.?
The voice wants some chairs as well.
?Well, you know that you?re headed to glory,
The voice is acknowledging that the singer is going to heaven.
And like a star, up to heaven you?ll shoot
The voice compares the singer's journey to that of a shooting star.
When they write the last page of your story,
The voice believes the singer's life is a story.
Could I try on that seersucker suit??
The voice wants to try on a specific suit.
It was the voice of my dear brother Thomas.
The voice belongs to the artist's brother.
He was kneelin? down close by my side.
The brother is kneeling by the singer's bedside.
His breath had just come from a funeral
The brother has just returned from a funeral.
For a mouth full of teeth that had died.
The funeral was for someone who had lost their teeth.
Well, I prayed my last prayer for salvation.
The artist has just prayed for salvation.
I was feelin? the touch of God?s hand.
The artist feels that they are being touched by God.
But I could still hear the voice of my brother
The singer continues to hear their brother's voice.
As they struck up that old angel band.
Music is playing in the room.
?Could I have your old ski boots and surf board?
The voice asks for the singer's winter gear.
And maybe that four-poster bed?
The voice is also interested in the singer's bed.
Would you mind if I took a few records?
The voice wants to take some of the singer's records.
Just Nirvana, The Stones, and the Dead.
The voice specifies which records it wants.
Well, you know that you can?t take it with you
The artist acknowledges that they cannot bring their possessions to heaven.
To your heavenly home up on high.
The singer's home will be in heaven.
When you pass through those gates, and they had you your wings,
When the singer enters heaven, they will be given wings.
Could I have all your stuff when you die?
The voice repeats its request for the artist's possessions.
But the angels consulted St. Peter
Angels in heaven consult with St. Peter.
And flew me back to my hospital bed.
The artist is not yet dead and is returned to their hospital bed.
My life was a new day a-dawning,
The singer has a new outlook on life.
And the angels took Tommy instead.
The angels take the artist's brother instead of the artist.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sentric Music, Songtrust Ave
Written by: COLEMAN, EMMS, ALEX STROUD, J.R. WINDSOR, JAKE GRAHAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind