Single by Beck
from the album Mellow Gold
Released 1994 <… Read Full Bio ↴Beercan
Single by Beck
from the album Mellow Gold
Released 1994
Format CD
Genre Alternative rock, Rap Rock
Length 4:01
Label Bong Load, DGC
Writer(s) Beck Hansen
Producer Karl Stephenson
"Beercan" is a single by Beck, taken from his first major record label release, Mellow Gold. It peaked at number 27 on the U.S. Modern Rock Tracks charts.
Conception and recording
"Beercan" was produced by Karl Stephenson and featured his characteristic layers of sound and bizarre samples: this song in particular prominently features samples from a Care Bears album. In addition the song also samples a small part of the Melvins song "Hog Leg". Lyrically, Beercan talks about going to a party and being surrounded by 'freedom rock slimeballs talking in code' and 'game show suckers.' The protagonist, who has just quit his job as a leafblower, is getting drunk to ditch himself and escape his worries.[1]
As mentioned in the song, Beck once had a job blowing leaves. Beck once reminisced, "There's a leaf-blower contingent. There's no union that I know of so far, but there's certainly a spiritual brotherhood. They are the originators of noise music. It's like a cross between a Kramer guitar and a jet pack."
Music video
Much like Beck's earlier single "Loser", the experimental video for "Beercan" was directed by friend and director Steve Hanft. The video features a group of homeless people destroying a house. A recurring theme among the video is the presence of a rainbow, possibly a reference to the Care Bears album sampled in the song. Buzz Osborne also makes an appearance.
Track listing
"Beercan" (LP Version) - 4:01
"Got No Mind" - 4:22
"Asskiss Powergrudge (Payback '94)" - 3:06
"Totally Confused" - 3:28
"Spanking Room" - 5:20.
"Loser (Pseudo-Muzak Version)" - 3:26 (Hidden Track beginning at 5:41)
Chart positions
Chart (1994) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks[4] 27
Beercan
Beck Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To ditch myself and get outside
Dancing women throwing plates
Decapitating their laughing dates
Swirling chickens caught in flight
Out of focus, much too bright
Coming down, shiny teeth
Game show suckers trying to bleed
And I got something better than love
How you like me now?
Pretty good
Going on, feeling strong
I quit my job blowing leaves
Telephone bills up my sleeves
Choking like a one man dust bowl
Freedom rock slime ball talking in code
Went down, lit up the shack
Grab me a beer out of the sack
Everybody bent over twice
Painting the walls, throwing some dice
Leaping up into the air getting juiced up beyond belief
(And they were singing like this)
Winos throwing Frisbees at the sun
Put my soul between a bun
Now I'm hungry, now I'm drunk
Now I'm running like a flaming pig
(Oh, yeah)
Scraping off the attitude
Old man eating all my food
Don't be kind, don't be rude
Just shake your boots and let it all get loose
(Oh yeah, my goodness)
Fluffy clouds
Jumping rainbows
Fluffy clouds
I'm sad
Jumping rainbows
A soft and snuggly place
Fluffy clouds
I'm sad
Jumping rainbows
A soft and snuggly place
Fluffy clouds
I'm sad and unhappy
Winos throwing Frisbees at the sun
Put my soul between a bun
Now I'm horny, now I'm drunk
Now I'm running like a flaming pig
(Oh yeah)
Scraping off the attitude
Old man eating all my food
Don't be kind, don't be rude
Just shake your boots and let it all get loose
(Oh yeah, my goodness)
Oh yeah, I like it like that
Oh, that is cold
Somebody put a flamethrower on that
Oh my goodness
Take me down to the depot
Somebody put me down on the bus
Oh yeah, I like it like that
Somebody bring me a plate of sassafras
Hey, hey, hey
Oh yeah
Uh, huh
What's happening?
The lyrics to Beck's Beercan depict a chaotic, hedonistic scene fueled by alcohol and drugs. The singer plans to "ditch" himself and join in on the wild festivities outside where "dancing women" are "throwing plates" and "decapitating their laughing dates." The scene also includes "swirling chickens caught in flight" and "game show suckers trying to bleed." Despite the chaos, the singer seems to revel in the atmosphere, noting that he's "feeling strong" and has something "better than love." The song takes a surreal turn towards the end as the singer describes being surrounded by "fluffy clouds" and "jumping rainbows" while also feeling "sad and unhappy."
The overall meaning of the song can be interpreted in a few ways. On one level, it's a commentary on the excesses of party culture and the lure of drugs and alcohol. The singer is caught up in the chaos and mayhem, but it's clear that this lifestyle is unsustainable and ultimately unfulfilling. The juxtaposition of the violent imagery with the softer, dreamlike descriptions at the end of the song could be seen as the character's realization that he needs to escape this destructive lifestyle and find a more peaceful existence. Alternatively, the song could be interpreted as simply a surreal depiction of a wild party, without any deeper meaning.
Overall, Beercan is a frenetic, chaotic song that captures the wild spirit of youth culture in the 90s. It's a testament to Beck's ability to mix genres and create something truly unique.
Line by Line Meaning
Alcohol on my hands
I have been drinking and my hands smell of alcohol.
I got plans
I have some things I want to do.
To ditch myself and get outside
I want to leave my current state and go outside.
Dancing women
There are women dancing around me.
Throwing plates
They are throwing dishes and breaking them.
Decapitating their laughing dates
The women are killing their male partners who are laughing too much.
Swirling chickens caught in flight
There are chickens flying around and I am disoriented.
Out of focus
My vision is blurry and I can't see well.
Much too bright
The light is too intense for me.
Coming down
I am starting to feel the effects of the drugs I have taken.
Shiny teeth
People on game shows have bright, sparkling teeth.
Game show suckers trying to bleed
People on game shows are trying to win money at any cost.
But I got a drug and I got the bug
I am addicted to drugs.
And I got something better than love
My addiction is more important to me than anything else, even love.
How you like me now
I am proud of what I am doing.
Pretty good
I am doing well.
Going on, feeling strong
I am in a good mood and feeling powerful.
I quit my job blowing leaves
I used to work a manual labor job and I quit.
Telephone bills up my sleeves
I am hiding my unpaid phone bills in my sleeves.
Choking like a one man dust bowl
I am coughing and choking because of the dust.
Freedom rock slime ball
I am listening to music and enjoying my drug use.
Talking in code
I am speaking in a way that only other drug users understand.
We went down
Me and my friends went somewhere together.
Lit up the shack
We turned on the lights in a building we were in.
Grab me a beer out of the sack
I am asking someone to give me a beer from a bag.
Everybody bent over twice
Everyone is intoxicated and doubled over in laughter.
Painting the walls throwing some dice
We are painting on the walls and playing games.
Leaping up into the air getting juiced up beyond belief
We are jumping around and becoming more intoxicated.
And they were singing like this
Other people around me were singing a certain way.
Winos throwing Frisbees at the sun
Homeless people are aimlessly throwing Frisbees around.
Put my soul between a bun
I am so hungry that I would eat anything.
Now I'm hungry now I'm drunk
I am both hungry and intoxicated.
Now I'm running like a flaming pig
I am running quickly and recklessly.
Oh yeah
I am enjoying myself.
Scraping off the attitude
I am shedding my negative emotions.
Old man eating all my food
An older man is consuming all of the food I have.
Don't be kind
I don't need someone to be nice to me.
Don't be rude
I don't want someone to be mean to me.
Just shake your boots and let it all get loose
Just dance and have fun without any inhibitions.
My goodness
I am surprised or shocked.
Fluffy clouds
I am imagining light, fluffy clouds in the sky.
Jumping rainbows
I am visualizing vibrant, colorful rainbows.
I'm sad
I am feeling unhappy or down.
A soft and snuggly place [repeat]
I am longing for comfort and security.
Oh that is cold
That is not a nice thing to say or do.
Somebody put a flame-thrower on that
I want someone to take care of a problem, even if it means using extreme measures.
Take me down to the depot
I want to be taken to a train station or transportation hub.
Buddy put me down on the bus
I am asking someone to help me get on a bus.
Somebody bring me a plate of sassafras
I am asking for a dish that is not readily available or doesn't exist.
Hey hey hey
A friendly greeting or expression of enthusiasm.
Uh-huh
An affirmative or agreeable response.
What's happenin'
An inquiry into what is currently taking place.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Beck Hansen, Carl Stephenson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@shadowmod3
greetings from Borneo.
everything about the 90s alt rock subculture was weirdly fun,
i think i am the only guy i know which smoked pot, watched too much MTV, kept long hair and listened to alt rock in my entire town then when they are listening to Andy Lau or Aaron Kwok. xD.
i remembered that i had to fly to Kuala Lumpur just to get the Odelay CD in 1996 and it took me 3 days to find the only record store that cater to underground music fans then!
♪ ♫
But i got a drug
And i got the bug
And i got something better than love ♪ ♫
@modeljetjuggernaut4864
this dude was ahead of his time. When asked in an interview if he thought that he was the Bob Dylan of the 90s, he said 'naw, more like the Bon Jovi of the 60s' lol
@jasonkessler7321
Remember seeing that, couldn't stop laughing.
@louisemc3680
He is coolness personified
@cellblocknine5385
What does he mean by that?
@sarahlovesriceee
omg i love this so much
@seandevillier903
@Mister Justice bon jovi is an 80s artist if he was the bon jovi of the 60s it means he was ahead of his time
@parabola8933
Saw Beck in 95 at The Pantages in LA. He opened for Johnny Cash. It was a great show.
@guidodiman
I'm 75 and I love this shit. Nobody like Beck. Makes me feel like i"m never going to be a dinosaur. His stuff is not locked in a time line.
@clodwolf
Hi dad
@abysssss
as long as you didn't vote for Trump, you have successfully escaped boomerism. gratz! there's literally like, 2 of you in existence (maybe)