Big Head Todd and The Monsters – singer-guitarist Todd Park Mohr, bassist-singer Rob Squires, drummer-singer Brian Nevin and keyboardist-guitarist-singer Jeremy Lawton -- could have begun resting on their laurels back in 1993, when their Top 10 singles “Bittersweet,” “Broken Hearted Savior,” “Circle” and “It’s Alright” pushed the album Sister Sweetly to platinum certification. However, Mohr says, “I’ve fought throughout our career not to be a one-trick pony, to be the kind of band that has depth and diversity in its catalogue. I’m a fan of this band, and I’m constantly looking forward to what comes next.”
The essence of Big Head Todd and The Monsters – a rootsy, emotionally direct variety of rock ’n’ roll that lends itself particularly well to a live setting – has been winning fans since Mohr, Rob Squires and Brian Nevin started playing together in high school (Jeremy Lawton joined in 2004). Needless to say, the three never expected to be in the same band at this late date, but, as Mohr points out, “It was a really fortunate combination of musical personalities, and we’re still partners in every sense of the word.”
The band spent seven years developing their chemistry and amassing a following, boosted significantly by the independent releases Another Mayberry (1989) and Midnight Radio (1990), before being “discovered” by the listening public at large with 1993’s Sister Sweetly. After a major-label stint (Sister Sweetly, 1994’s Stratagem, 1997’s Beautiful World), during which the trio increasingly found itself frustrated artistically, they reclaimed their independent status (2001’s Riviera, 2004’s Crimes of Passion). “If it were not for our ability to do things for ourselves, we would have disappeared a long time ago,” Mohr allows.
Fortune Teller
Big Head Todd and the Monsters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Crazy fortune teller, drinking on the kitchen floor
All night
Racing down division at a hundred and three
Her singing it was rapture, it was ecstasy.
Oh yeah
Madam Lisa of the stars
She was the messenger of
Guiding light and lovin' inspiration
She could break you down
With sheer imagination
Her old man was so cruel and vicious
One day went too far, and lord, he got his
Madam Lisa of the stars
Messenger of hope
Messenger of love
Shine your light on
Makin' love in the setting sun
She's looking at me like I am the one,
Wild and free but with nowhere to run
Shine your light on
The trapped, the broken, the innocent ones
Baby we were over before we'd begun
I'll be running for you till our freedom comes
Freedom come
When she pulled the trigger
I could hear it ring out for miles and miles
From the circus where we grew up
Your head turned to me
And I was caught up in the light
Shaken by the sound.
The confession in her eyes
From when we met
And I was sentenced for life
And I know I'd never forget
Making love in the setting sun
You look at me like I am the one
Wild and free but with nowhere to run
Shine your light on
Trapped and broken, the innocent ones
Baby we were over before we'd begun
I'll be running for you till our freedom comes
The lyrics of "Fortune Teller" by Big Head Todd and the Monsters depict a scene with vivid imagery of a crazy fortune teller, rappers and troubadours sneaking in the back door, and a woman racing down division at a hundred and three. The fortune teller seems to have a power of sheer imagination and is described as the messenger of hope, love, and guiding light. She is also referred to as Madam Lisa of the stars. The song goes on to portray a romantic connection between the singer and a woman he's making love with, but with no place to run. The woman eventually pulls the trigger, and the singer realizes he has been sentenced to life. He promises to run until their freedom comes.
The song presents many powerful themes, such as the idea of a fortune teller representing hope, light, and love in the midst of chaos and dark forces, the value of freedom and what it can do to society and individuals, and the question of whether love can survive in difficult situations. The interpretation of the song is open-ended, and listeners can draw many meanings from its evocative lines, such as the power of imagination, the struggle against oppressive systems, and the indiscriminate nature of violence.
Line by Line Meaning
Rappers, troubadours, sneaking in the back door,
Various performers enter surreptitiously.
Crazy fortune teller, drinking on the kitchen floor
An unconventional and bizarre person, drinking and hanging out in the home's kitchen.
All night
Throughout the night.
Racing down division at a hundred and three
Driving recklessly fast along Division Street at 103 miles per hour.
Her singing it was rapture, it was ecstasy.
The woman's singing was a truly ecstatic, overwhelming experience.
Oh yeah
Used to emphasize a feeling of excitement or affirmation.
Madam Lisa of the stars
A woman who claims to have clairvoyant abilities, referring to the mythic Oracle of Delphi, a priestess of Apollo who divined prophecies for ancient Greeks.
Messenger of hope
A bearer of optimism or positive news.
She was the messenger of
She acted as the intermediary for something or someone, like a religious figure or herald.
Guiding light and lovin' inspiration
A figure who provides guidance and inspiration.
She could break you down
She had the ability to emotionally dismantle someone.
With sheer imagination
Through the power of her creative thoughts and imagination.
Her old man was so cruel and vicious
Her former partner was extremely malicious and brutal.
One day went too far, and lord, he got his
One day, he took it too far and faced the consequences of his actions.
Shine your light on
Illuminate or reveal something or a group of people.
Makin' love in the setting sun
Engaging in sexual activity as the sun sets in the background.
She's looking at me like I am the one,
She regards me as a special or chosen person, whom she perceives as elevated.
Wild and free but with nowhere to run
Living without attachments, but with looming restrictions.
The trapped, the broken, the innocent ones
People who have been pulled into sad or difficult circumstances.
Baby we were over before we'd begun
Our relationship ended before it ever had a chance to begin or develop.
I'll be running for you till our freedom comes
I promise to work tirelessly until we both attain a state of true freedom.
When she pulled the trigger
The moment she pulled the trigger on a firearm.
I could hear it ring out for miles and miles
The sound of the gunshot carried a great distance.
From the circus where we grew up
Referring to the chaotic, wild environment in which they were raised or lived.
Your head turned to me
You directed your gaze towards me.
And I was caught up in the light
I became part of an intense or overwhelming experience.
Shaken by the sound.
Physically and emotionally affected by the loud noise of the gunshot.
The confession in her eyes
The unspoken admission or acknowledgment that was evident in her facial expression.
From when we met
Referring to an earlier point in time when they first crossed paths.
And I was sentenced for life
Implies a long-term emotional consequence from their meeting, like a sentence of perpetual sadness or regret.
And I know I'd never forget
The memory and its repercussions will persist in their mind forever.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: TODD PARK MOHR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Damian Zajac
Another one of those underated bands that I wished I hooked on to them yrs ago. They have that Sister Hazel, Blues Traveler, Counting Crowes sound all wrapped up in one. Trying to get out to Red Rocks in June to catch their show with my all time favorite band------ Collective Soul, that'll be a helluva show for sure.
Key Learning
Damian Zajac - True!!
I’d like to say the Monsters have more mass appeal and record selling potential then even Collective Soul, though it hasn’t happened...,, YET!!
I think it will.
MrSeminoleB
ONE OF THEIR BEST!!!!!!!
jimmyquinella
Great DVD..solid show!
boganblues
Seen this guys in concert years ago! They were clearly better than whoever they opened for,
RocketMan9991
Awesome! Love this!
E N
If I could go to a concert with these guys and collective soul that would be most amazing.
Key Learning
I’m just rediscovering Todd Park Mohr and the Monsters. To say he evolved when I wasn’t paying attention is quite an understatement.
Alfred I
Big Head doing what he knows to to best, kick ass