The band has always sought to play a variety of music, both songs and instrumentals and with a large variety of guest musicians and sometimes some unusual instruments.
The current lineup features percussionist Marc Anderson, Todd Menton on vocals, guitar, mandolin and whistle, Dean Magraw on guitar, Drew Miller bassist and dulcimer player and David Stenshoel on fiddle and saxophone.
Boiled in Lead has been referenced by Mercedes Lackey in her Diane Tregarde novel, Children of the Night published in 1990 and by Emma Bull in her 1989 novel, War for the Oaks.
The Microorganism
Boiled in Lead Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I fell in love with you
Alas my paramour alack
A stranger to me 'til the test comes back
Chorus:
Oh the micro-organism
Oh the micro-organism
Dive in the gene pool down you swim
Down to where the light grows thin
Flail little fishies flail if you can
But avoid the micro-organism man
Chorus
Caffeine sugar and THC
Is all that the doctors are gonna find in me
When they do the autopsy
The micro-organism won't get me
Chorus
God is good and God is great
God's a big invertebrate
God made the river change its route
But he won't pull the micro-organism out
Chorus
The cowslips bloom and the bluebells too
Here's advice I'll give to you
Rattle your sword before you strike
And never kiss anyone you like
Chorus
The lyrics to Boiled in Lead's song "The Microorganism" seem to be a cautionary tale about a potential lover, who may be carrying a sexually transmitted infection. The singer describes falling in love with this person, who is referred to as a barge sailing through in April, but soon realizes that they are a stranger until they receive the results of a test. The chorus "Oh the micro-organism" emphasizes the danger of sexually transmitted infections and the potential consequences of engaging in risky sexual behavior.
The second verse switches gears and references the gene pool, warning against the danger of swimming down to where the light grows thin, which could represent the depths of sex and relationships. The micro-organism man is the one to avoid, perhaps a metaphorical representation of an STI. The third verse further emphasizes the idea of being tested for sexually transmitted infections, with the singer confidently stating that doctors will only find caffeine, sugar, and THC in their system, while the micro-organism won't get them.
The final verse brings in religious references, with God portrayed as an invertebrate who changes the course of rivers but won't remove the danger of a micro-organism. The warning to "rattle your sword before you strike and never kiss anyone you like" seems to be a reminder to be cautious and protect oneself from potential harm, physical or emotional.
Overall, the song seems to be warning against the dangers of risky sexual behavior and encouraging individuals to protect themselves and take responsibility for their own health and well-being.
Line by Line Meaning
In April when your barge sailed through
During the month of April, your barge voyage passed through my location
I fell in love with you
I developed feelings of love for you
Alas my paramour alack
Unfortunately, my lover, oh dear
A stranger to me 'til the test comes back
Until the test result is known, you remain unknown to me
Chorus: Oh the micro-organism Oh the micro-organism
Repetition of the phrase 'Oh the micro-organism'
Dive in the gene pool down you swim
Swim down into the gene pool
Down to where the light grows thin
Deeper down, where there's less light
Flail little fishies flail if you can
Struggling little fish, struggle if possible
But avoid the micro-organism man
However, try to stay away from the micro-organism man
Chorus
Repetition of the phrase 'Oh the micro-organism'
Caffeine sugar and THC
Only caffeine, sugar and THC
Is all that the doctors are gonna find in me
These are the only things the doctors will find in me
When they do the autopsy
At the time of the autopsy
The micro-organism won't get me
The micro-organism won't infect me
Chorus
Repetition of the phrase 'Oh the micro-organism'
God is good and God is great
God is good and great
God's a big invertebrate
God is a large spineless animal
God made the river change its route
God caused the river to change its course
But he won't pull the micro-organism out
However, he won't remove the micro-organism
Chorus
Repetition of the phrase 'Oh the micro-organism'
The cowslips bloom and the bluebells too
The cowslips and bluebells are in bloom
Here's advice I'll give to you
Here is advice that I will give you
Rattle your sword before you strike
Make noise with your sword before attacking
And never kiss anyone you like
And never kiss someone you have affection for
Chorus
Repetition of the phrase 'Oh the micro-organism'
Contributed by Landon O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.