They were frequently classified as industrial rock, but were often quite different from many bands so dubbed. Tod A.'s lyrics were clever, snide and evocative (Art Black and David Sprague suggest that "Black humor beats black metal any day") and their "weirdly catchy" music which drew "on hot jazz and swing as much as clanging rock, emphasizing the group's stand-apart attitude."
The group had little mainstream success (scoring a few hits on college radio), despite tours with Iggy Pop and music videos on MTV's Headbanger's Ball and 120 Minutes (notably $10 Bill, featuring a number of little people). They retain a cult following, however, and their out-of-print releases sometimes sell for large amounts among fans.
$10 Bill
Cop Shoot Cop Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What you gonna buy with that greenback ?
What kind of thrill ?
$10 bill in your packet, $10 bill
Tell me where did you get that money ?
Who'd you have to kill ? (Rock!)
Got a big black gun in my pocket, got a big black gun
It's time to share the cash now, nowhere to run
Let's find a 7-11 and have some fun
10 a.m. landlord's knocking, knocking on my door
Don't you know I got no money, I can't give no more
2 p.m. landlord's back in [Marshall's coming], trying one more time
You can knock the damn door down
But you ain't gonna get a dime
The lyrics to Cop Shoot Cop's song, $10 Bill, are a reflection of the desperation that many people feel when they are struggling financially. The repetition of the line, "got a big black gun in my pocket," highlights this desperation and suggests that some people may resort to violent means in order to make ends meet. The lyrics also touch on the idea that money can be both a source of pleasure and a source of corruption - with lines like "what kind of thrill?" and "who'd you have to kill?"
The lines, "10 a.m. landlord's knocking, knocking on my door / Don't you know I got no money, I can't give no more" and "2 p.m. landlord's back in [Marshall's coming], trying one more time / You can knock the damn door down / But you ain't gonna get a dime," suggest that the singer has fallen behind on their rent and is facing eviction. This further highlights the desperation and hopelessness that can come with financial struggles.
Overall, the lyrics to $10 Bill are a commentary on the ways in which money can impact our lives - both positively and negatively. While it can bring us joy and happiness, it can also lead to feelings of desperation and corruption.
Line by Line Meaning
$10 bill in your packet, $10 bill
Addressing the possession of a $10 bill in someone's possession
What you gonna buy with that greenback ?
Asking what would someone buy with the said money
What kind of thrill ?
Asking what sort of pleasure would someone attain from their purchase
$10 bill in your packet, $10 bill
Reiterating the possession of a $10 bill
Tell me where did you get that money ?
Questioning the source of the money
Who'd you have to kill ? (Rock!)
Suggesting that the person might have obtained the money by committing a crime
Got a big black gun in my pocket, got a big black gun
Admitting to having a firearm in one's possession
It's time to share the cash now, nowhere to run
Implying a plan to rob someone or a place to obtain money to share among the participants
Got a big black gun in my pocket, got a big black gun
Repeating the admission of carrying a gun
Let's find a 7-11 and have some fun
Suggesting a convenience store as a potential target for their plan to acquire money
10 a.m. landlord's knocking, knocking on my door
Narrating a situation where the landlord is looking for rent payment
Don't you know I got no money, I can't give no more
Stating that the person does not have money to give as rent payment
2 p.m. landlord's back in [Marshall's coming], trying one more time
Narrating another situation where the landlord comes back to collect rent payment
You can knock the damn door down, But you ain't gonna get a dime
Challenging the landlord to collect money while making it clear the person does not have any
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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