In various combinations and guises, the group had already played a long time together before the "crystalization event" in July 2000 on the slopes of the famous volcano Mt. Hood. Since then they have performed for audiences of all ages and socioeconomic groups, mostly playing close to home and for many years distributing recordings like itinerant madmen, for free.
Join the Last.fm group here! - http://www.last.fm/group/Blitzen+Trapper
Gold for Bread
Blitzen Trapper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just sitting in the kitchen with my fortune and fame
There?s a monkey in a mask and he's calling my name
There?s a midget on his back,
He?s waiting for the midnight train
Cause we?re pulling up stakes
Gotta load up the car
Do some air guitar
Cause I?m running from the air-jets
Inside of my head
On my bed
With a leg full of lead
We're trading gold for bread
Well the militarized mistress yeah you sink like a stone
Well I?m out here on the sidewalk where the buffalo roam
I can see it in your crystal dancing in like a storm
Blowing dusty through the kitchen
While you?re standing in your high heels in your hall
Cause we?re pulling up stakes
Gotta load up the car
Get my right beat back
Do some air guitar
Cause I?m running from the air-jets
Inside of my head
On my bed
With a leg full of lead
We're trading gold for bread
Yeah there?s this choice you gotta make and it?ll cut to the coil
Like a preacher throwing dice instead of seeds on the soil
There?s a lady and her lover and they?re covered in oil
Slipping down through the cracks
With the attack and a face full of foil
Cause we?re pulling up stakes
Gotta load up the car
Get my right beat back
Do some air guitar
Cause I?m running from the air-jets
Inside of my head
On my bed
With a leg full of lead
We're trading gold for bread
The lyrics to Blitzen Trapper's song "Gold for Bread" paints a picture of a desperate man, possibly a musician, who is struggling to make ends meet. He describes himself as a "broke down wreck with a ball and chain" and laments about his fortune and fame being not enough to sustain him. The reference to a "monkey in a mask" and a "midget on his back" suggests that he may feel weighed down by external factors that impede his progress.
The chorus of the song "cause I'm running from the air-jets inside of my head, on my bed with a leg full of lead, we're trading gold for bread" highlights the singer's mental state. He is constantly running away from his thoughts, which seem to have a paralyzing effect on him. The line "we're trading gold for bread" is a metaphor for making sacrifices to survive in a harsh reality.
The second verse describes a militarized mistress who the singer likens to a sinking stone. The contrast between the singer's mundane surroundings on the sidewalk and the militarized mistress's crystal-studded interior highlights the wealth gap and how it affects people differently.
Overall, the song takes the listener on a journey through the singer's inner and outer worlds, revealing his struggles and fears. It's open to interpretation, but the lyricist's use of vivid imagery and metaphors makes the song relatable, allowing the listener to forge their meaning.
Line by Line Meaning
I?m a broke down wreck with a ball and chain
I'm a person who is financially and emotionally unstable, feeling trapped and restricted
Just sitting in the kitchen with my fortune and fame
Despite the hardships, I am still stuck with my wealth and reputation in a place of comfort
There?s a monkey in a mask and he's calling my name
There's a dark and unsettling presence that is haunting me and calling out to me
There?s a midget on his back, He?s waiting for the midnight train
This unsettling force is accompanied by a small and vulnerable being, waiting for their fate to arrive at midnight
Cause we?re pulling up stakes Gotta load up the car Get my right beat back Do some air guitar
We are leaving this place and getting into gear, reclaiming our rhythm and having some fun along the way
Cause I?m running from the air-jets Inside of my head On my bed With a leg full of lead We're trading gold for bread
I'm trying to escape my own thoughts that weigh me down, seeking basic sustenance while abandoning my wealth and status
Well the militarized mistress yeah you sink like a stone Well I?m out here on the sidewalk where the buffalo roam
The person who used to dominate me has lost their power, and I am now wandering in the open space where anything can happen
I can see it in your crystal dancing in like a storm Blowing dusty through the kitchen While you?re standing in your high heels in your hall
I can sense that something is brewing and turbulent in your mind, causing chaos in the household despite your glamorous appearance
Yeah there?s this choice you gotta make and it?ll cut to the coil Like a preacher throwing dice instead of seeds on the soil
There's a crucial decision to be made that will have serious consequences, like a preacher gambling instead of fulfilling their duty
There?s a lady and her lover and they?re covered in oil Slipping down through the cracks With the attack and a face full of foil
There's a couple in a dangerous and precarious situation, slipping away and under attack with no protection
Cause we?re pulling up stakes Gotta load up the car Get my right beat back Do some air guitar
Once again, we are ready to pack and move, regaining our rhythm and character through music and joy
Cause I?m running from the air-jets Inside of my head On my bed With a leg full of lead We're trading gold for bread
The cycle repeats, as I run from my own mental struggles, lying in bed with a heavy heart, desperately searching for sustenance
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Eric Earley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind