Before All Hell Breaks Loose
Billy Joe Shaver & Kinky Friedman Lyrics
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Wipe those tears from your lovely face
Baby, wave to the man in the ol' red caboose
Before all hell breaks loose.
Before you go I wish you'd come
Before you leave wish you'd love me some.
I'll give you all of the dreams you can use
All right!
Now I know what the gypsy meant
When he told me I'd never be president.
He said, "Adopt a Korean, kill you a moose
Before all hell breaks loose."
You poked fun at my cowboy shoes,
You said they looked just like big canoes.
Now it's time for the chosen ones to choose
Before all hell breaks loose.
Turn out the lights, honey, turn on the news
God save the queen and the kangaroos
And what kind of rubbers did Joseph use
Before all hell broke loose.
Time to resign from the human race,
Wipe those tears from your lovely face.
Baby, wave to the man in the ol' red caboose
Before all hell breaks loose.
Hell on America!
The song Before All Hell Breaks Loose by Billy Joe Shaver is a classic example of his ability to combine a poetic lyricism and an honest, straight-talking voice with a twangy country sound. In the song, the singer seems to be advising the listener to take action before it's too late - to leave the human race, to love if they haven't loved yet, and to choose wisely. The refrain "before all hell breaks loose" underscores an urgency and a sense of impending doom, and the verses are filled with curious lines that run the gamut from a reference to adoption, to a joke about cowboy boots, to a question about Joseph's rubber.
The first verse of the song speaks to a sense of desperation and despair felt by the singer. He is suggesting that it is time to give up - to resign from the human race. And yet, he also shifts into a more tender mode, urging the object of his affection to wave goodbye before it's too late. The second verse is even more enigmatic - referencing a gypsy's prediction that the singer would never be president, and suggesting that instead, he should adopt a Korean and kill a moose. This is followed by a line about poking fun at his cowboy boots, which seems a non sequitur, but perhaps suggests the fickleness of human relationships. The final verse is a bit of a word association game - with references to turning out the lights, God saving the queen and the kangaroos, and a bizarre question about Joseph's choice of condom.
Overall, Before All Hell Breaks Loose is a song that suggests a world in chaos, where even the most basic of human relationships are vulnerable to the whims of fate. It is a warning to act before it's too late - to love, to choose wisely, and to be prepared for whatever comes next.
Line by Line Meaning
Time to resign from the human race
It's time to step back from the chaos of the world.
Wipe those tears from your lovely face
Stop feeling sorry for yourself and stay optimistic.
Baby, wave to the man in the ol' red caboose
Acknowledge and appreciate the little things in life before they're gone.
Before all hell breaks loose.
Take action before it's too late.
Before you go I wish you'd come
I wish you could stay with me longer.
Before you leave wish you'd love me some.
I hope you will have feelings for me before you go.
I'll give you all of the dreams you can use
I can offer you everything you desire.
Now I know what the gypsy meant
I have finally figured out the real meaning of the gypsy's words.
When he told me I'd never be president.
When he said I will never be a great leader.
He said, "Adopt a Korean, kill you a moose
He suggested I try something unconventional before it's too late.
Before all hell breaks loose."
To experience something new before things go wrong.
You poked fun at my cowboy shoes,
You made fun of my unique sense of style.
You said they looked just like big canoes.
You specifically made a joke referencing canoe-like shoes.
Now it's time for the chosen ones to choose
Now it's time for individuals to make difficult decisions.
Before all hell breaks loose.
Before things get too out of hand.
Turn out the lights, honey, turn on the news
Pay attention to the current events and happenings around the world.
God save the queen and the kangaroos
Bless and protect all groups and individuals, regardless of their nationality or species.
And what kind of rubbers did Joseph use
A humorous question referencing contraceptive methods used in biblical times.
Before all hell broke loose.
Before things fell apart and became chaotic.
Hell on America!
A statement expressing concern or frustration with the state of the country.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: RICHARD FRIEDMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind