How obvious is it that I listened to NIN a little too much?
Beat Salesman
Casey LaLonde Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm playing on my Casio gonna keep your brain and ear
I only shoot right from the hip can I get a moment please
But I'll never shoot a bullet I don't bite myself better keep your hands up please
I'm only hear 'till yesterday selling solid beats by pound
Got a square wave and a clap-track sound that'll keep you hangin' round
But you never wanna hear about a yesterday and you never wanna feel it all but today
Tic-Tac
Drum attack
Record deal
Make a steal (x4)
Put my life on record cassette there's a hidden track somewhere
Fast-forward rewind record over hell the player at the tape
Don't really know what I want from life but of this I know I'm sure
That nothing in this goddamned world was ever really yours
Tic-Tac
Drum attack
Record deal
Make a steal (Repeat to end)
The lyrics to Casey LaLonde's "Beat Salesman" are a commentary on the music industry and the role of the artist within it. The singer, who identifies as a "white boy on the microphone with no business being here," admits to lacking the traditional talent or training that one might expect from a musician. Nonetheless, he asserts his ability to capture the attention of his audience with his Casio-produced beats, promising to keep their "brain and ear."
The chorus suggests a transactional relationship between the singer and his listeners: he is "selling solid beats by the pound," and they are expected to "dance and die" in response to his music. The repeated refrain of "tic-tac, drum attack, record deal, make a steal" highlights the commodification of art in the music industry, framing the artist as a salesman who must strike a profitable deal with a record label in order to succeed.
In the second verse, the singer reflects on the act of creating and recording music. He describes the process of recording onto cassette tapes and the frustration of having to "fast-forward, rewind, [and] record over" his previous work. The singer sounds disillusioned with the idea of artistic ownership, proclaiming that "nothing in this goddamned world was ever really yours." Overall, "Beat Salesman" is a subversive take on the music industry, poking fun at its conventions while also highlighting the ways in which it can be exploitative of artists.
Line by Line Meaning
White boy on the microphone with no business being here
I'm a white guy who's probably not expected to be on the mic rapping, but here I am.
I'm playing on my Casio gonna keep your brain and ear
I'm using a Casio keyboard to produce beats that will capture your attention and keep you interested.
I only shoot right from the hip can I get a moment please
I'm speaking from the heart/spontaneously; can I have your attention for a minute?
But I'll never shoot a bullet I don't bite myself better keep your hands up please
I'm not here to cause harm but I'm skilled and talented; don't underestimate me.
I'm only hear 'till yesterday selling solid beats by pound
I'm here (in the music industry) just for a short while, but I sell high-quality beats by the pound.
Got a square wave and a clap-track sound that'll keep you hangin' round
My unique blend of electronic sounds and percussion will captivate you and retain your interest.
But you never wanna hear about a yesterday and you never wanna feel it all but today
You're only interested in the present day and hearing new content/ideas; you don't want to hear or experience anything from the past.
I'm gonna put a fat beat right in them feet are you ready to dance and die?
I'm going to make you want to dance to my music - it's that good - and maybe even go wild.
Put my life on record cassette there's a hidden track somewhere
I've expressed my life experiences through my music, and there's a hidden/secret track on my record that's waiting to be discovered.
Fast-forward rewind record over hell the player at the tape
You have control over playing, rewinding, and fast-forwarding the cassette tape, which means you can choose what aspects of my life's journey you want to listen to.
Don't really know what I want from life but of this I know I'm sure
I'm not sure what my life's purpose is or what I want to achieve, but I am confident in my musical talent and my ability to create something great.
That nothing in this goddamned world was ever really yours
Nothing in this world truly belongs to anyone - from possessions to experiences - we are just temporary, fleeting beings in this world.
Tic-Tac
Sound effects to signify a transition in the song
Drum attack
More sound effects to signify a transition in the song
Record deal
A reference to the music industry and the process of signing a contract with a record label for an artist's music to be distributed and sold.
Make a steal
To get a really good record deal and successful musical career with a lot of profit and recognition.
Contributed by Liliana H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.