Quail and Dumplings
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy Lyrics
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hope that we've got it made have gone in a poof
when we gonna be turnin the tide
when we gonna see we got god on our side
Chorus:
quail and dumplings down to the end
god and her minions as our bosom friends
we got empty tummies but it won't always be
too big our slippers too small our bed
too bent our bosom and too broke our head
we must tip the bottom in order to rise
find peace in a hobble to find home in the skies
Chorus
(?)
and i a woman and you a man
why wait for someday, why make a plan
fuck birds in the bushes let's take 'em in hand
weather ain't judgment and money aint love
the crimes of a criminal ain't doubt from above
i'll hold your hand and we'll say it's enough
satisfied minds clean hearts and clean tongues
Chorus
The lyrics of Bonnie 'Prince' Billy's song "Quail and Dumplings" can be interpreted as a commentary on the struggle of the working class to make ends meet. The holes in the ceiling and roof represent the difficulties faced by people living in poverty. Despite working hard and hoping for a better future, their prospects seem to be dwindling. The main character wonders when they will be able to turn the tide and achieve success. The line "when we gonna see we got god on our side" suggests the character is seeking divine intervention to turn their fortunes around.
The chorus introduces the titular quail and dumplings, which symbolize a better life. The character longs for the day when they will no longer have empty stomachs and can enjoy a good meal. They hope that God and their friends will help them achieve this goal. The second verse continues the themes of poverty and struggle, with references to small living spaces and physical limitations. The line "we must tip the bottom in order to rise" suggests that one must hit rock bottom before they can start to climb their way back up.
The third verse takes a more rebellious tone, with the character declaring that they will take matters into their own hands. They reject the idea of waiting for things to get better by themselves and instead advocate for action. The line "fuck birds in the bushes let's take 'em in hand" suggests that they are willing to take risks to achieve their goals. They also reject societal conventions, stating that wealth and social standing are not as important as satisfied minds and clean hearts.
Overall, the lyrics of "Quail and Dumplings" can be seen as a message of hope for those struggling to make ends meet. The song suggests that with hard work, perseverance, and a little bit of luck, it is possible to achieve a better life.
Line by Line Meaning
holes in our ceiling, holes in our roof
Our home is in poor condition and needs repairs
hope that we've got it made have gone in a poof
Our confidence in our situation has disappeared
when we gonna be turnin the tide
When will our luck change for the better?
when we gonna see we got god on our side
When will we realize that we have the support of a higher power?
quail and dumplings down to the end
We will enjoy a satisfying meal, no matter what happens
god and her minions as our bosom friends
We are supported by a divine force and its followers
we got empty tummies but it won't always be
We are currently hungry, but this situation will improve
one day it's gonna be quail and dumplings for we
We will eventually have enough to eat and enjoy life
too big our slippers too small our bed
Our possessions and surroundings are not well-suited to us
too bent our bosom and too broke our head
Our bodies and minds may be damaged or in disrepair
we must tip the bottom in order to rise
We must hit rock-bottom in order to improve our situation
find peace in a hobble to find home in the skies
We can find contentment even in difficult circumstances
and i a woman and you a man
Our genders do not matter in the grand scheme of things
why wait for someday, why make a plan
Why not take action now instead of waiting for the future?
fuck birds in the bushes let's take 'em in hand
Let's seize opportunities instead of waiting for chance
weather ain't judgment and money aint love
Natural events and money do not define our worth
the crimes of a criminal ain't doubt from above
We should not judge others as inferior based on their past mistakes
i'll hold your hand and we'll say it's enough
We do not need anything more than each other's love and support
satisfied minds clean hearts and clean tongues
We should strive for contentment, purity, and honesty in our thoughts and actions
Contributed by Zachary L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
alex tongue
Love it
OHhetiseencake
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy is the Edgar Allen Poe of music
Bonnie Bardowski
fantastic
Deb Mustard
he was shot because he left. Will has touched on some indigenous issues in his songs I think. He appears as Windigo in this video and in There is No God, he also has the Black Indians of New Orleans represented in that video as well!
Hungry Ghost
Brilliant, in order for this song to make sense, you DO need to watch the video at the same time. the song alone is excellent, but when put to the vid it means so much more. There's a lot going on in this piece, he's tackling some interesting subjects, as always. Will Oldham; Borderline genius.
John J S
oh bonnie, you're such a bonnie bonnie.
Msjimjohnjojackass
have a sense of humour about the world in which we live. everything is a bummer for people who take themselves and everything around them too seriously.
Baron Ballenpap
+Msjimjohnjojackass
I agree; life is a joke.
Lind Tan
nice~ ^^
Daniel Relyea
@elbowtie No, I do not believe the intention of the artist is to parody "savage" life whatsoever. The colonization of the South Pacific Islands was a major bummer for the native peoples at the time, many of their descendants continue to be bummed out about it to this day. I recommend Herman Melville's "Typee: A Peep at Polynesian Life", to learn more about that chapter in history and better understand the imagery you see here. BTW, given the choice, I'd eat Mary Ann Summers.