Bad Cartridge
Beck Lyrics


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See me coming to town with my soul
Straight down out of the world with my fingers
Holding onto the devil I know
All my troubles'll hang on your trigger
Take your eyes and your mind from the road
Shoot your mouth if you know where you're aiming
Don't forget to pick up what you sow
Talking trash to the garbage around you

Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na

See me kicking the door with my boots
Broke down out in a ditch of old rubbish
Snakes and bones in the back of your room
Handing out a confection of venom
Heaven's drunk from the poison you use
Charm the wolves with the eyes of a gambler
Now I see it's a comfort to you
Hammer my bones on the anvil of daylight

Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na

I won't give up that ghost
It's sick the way these tongues are twisted
The good in us is all we know
There's too much left to taste that's bitter
I won't give up that ghost
It's sick the way these tongues are twisted
The good in us is all we know
There's too much left to taste that's bitter

Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na




Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na

Overall Meaning

In Beck's song "Bad Cartridge," he sings about a person who is dealing with their inner demons and struggles in life. The lyrics depict someone who is coming into town with their soul, holding onto the devil they know, and having all their troubles hang on the trigger of someone else. This individual is not paying attention to the road and is talking trash to those around them. They are also kicking doors and feeling lost in a pile of old rubbish. The venom they hand out is like a confection of poison, and they charm wolves with the eyes of a gambler. Beck sings that it feels like it's comfortable for this individual to hammer his bones on the anvil of daylight.


As the song progresses, Beck expresses his determination not to give up that ghost. He finds it sick how tongues can be twisted and wants to hold onto the good that he knows exists within him. There is too much left to experience and taste that is bitter, and giving up is not an option. The lyrics are powerful and thought-provoking, encouraging listeners to fight through the hardships and be true to themselves.


Line by Line Meaning

See me coming to town with my soul
I am arriving in this town with all of my emotions and feelings on full display.


Straight down out of the world with my fingers
I am coming from a place outside of this world, expressing myself through my music.


Holding onto the devil I know
I am aware of my vices and am still holding onto them even though they may cause me trouble.


All my troubles'll hang on your trigger
If you mess with me or trigger me, all of my troubles and emotions will come out and may overwhelm you.


Take your eyes and your mind from the road
Stop being so focused on your goals and pay attention to the people and world around you.


Shoot your mouth if you know where you're aiming
If you have something important to say and know what your intentions are, then speak up.


Don't forget to pick up what you sow
Remember to handle the consequences of your actions and take responsibility for them.


Talking trash to the garbage around you
Speaking negatively about the world and people around you is not productive, and only creates more negativity.


See me kicking the door with my boots
I am making a grand entrance, asserting my presence and making it known that I have arrived.


Broke down out in a ditch of old rubbish
I am feeling defeated and stuck in a place that is full of negativity and past issues that I am unable to leave.


Snakes and bones in the back of your room
There are hidden dangers and secrets lurking in the back of your mind that you need to confront and deal with.


Handing out a confection of venom
I am spreading a message that may be sweet on the surface, but carries a dangerous and malicious undertone.


Heaven's drunk from the poison you use
Your actions are causing destruction and chaos not only in the world around you, but even in the heavens above.


Charm the wolves with the eyes of a gambler
You are using your charm and confidence to manipulate those around you and take risks in a way that can be dangerous and reckless.


Now I see it's a comfort to you
You are finding a sense of comfort in the chaos and risk-taking, even if it may be harmful to you or others.


Hammer my bones on the anvil of daylight
I am subjecting myself to the harsh realities and criticisms of the world, even if it hurts me, in order to improve myself and my craft.


I won't give up that ghost
I refuse to let go of my past and my inner demons, instead confronting and using them to further my art and expression.


It's sick the way these tongues are twisted
The way people communicate and speak to each other is often corrupted and twisted, leading to misunderstandings and pain.


The good in us is all we know
In a world full of negativity and chaos, the only way to survive and thrive is to focus on the good in ourselves and those around us.


There's too much left to taste that's bitter
There is still so much pain and negativity in the world that we have yet to confront and overcome.




Contributed by Tyler R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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