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.
Interference
Cop Shoot Cop Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can't come up with a rhyme or even a reason
I know the face, I just can't erase
But I still can't place the name or the season
You say it's fine, keep your place in line
Keep biding your time but you talk in a vacuum
And you've been bought, I don't know what I want
All you bottom feeders and you smiling cheaters
You're a total blank and you're as funny as a bank
Not ready to drop, not ready to stop
Run away or compromise
I won't break down or go on the take now
You smell like a fake and there's nothing in your eyes
Keep your crutch, I don't need much
Just a little luck 'cause my charm is broken
Get out of my sight and I'll be alright
Exit stage right and leave your lies unspoken
All you bottom feeders and you smiling cheaters
You're a total blank and you're as funny as a bank
All you bottom feeders and you smiling cheaters
You're a total blank and you're as funny as a bank
You're out of your depth
Up to your neck in a sea of alibis
Swim or sink, deeper than you think
'Cause I'm on the brink of justifiable homicide
Two dollar spin and your three buck grin
Transparent skin gives away your intentions
You're like a machine that gobbles up all dreams
And spits out shit too dull to mention
All you bottom feeders and you smiling cheaters
Specimens in a tank and you're as funny as a bank
I can't remember my lines
Can't come up with a rhyme or even a reason
I know the face, just can't erase
But I still can't place the name or the season
You say it's fine, keep your place in line
Keep biding your time but you talk in a vacuum
And you've been bought, I don't know what I want
But I know I don't want to be anything like you
Not ready to drop, not ready to stop
Not ready to cop, run away or compromise
I won't break down or go on the take now
You smell like a fake and there's nothing in your eyes
Keep your crutch, I don't need much
Just a little luck 'cause my charm is broken
Get out of my sight and I'll be alright
Exit stage right and leave your lies unspoken
All you bottom feeders and you smiling cheaters
You're a total blank and you're as funny as a bank
The lyrics to Cop Shoot Cop's "Interference" are a scathing critique of the music industry and the people who inhabit it. The singer of the song is frustrated and disillusioned with the phoniness and greed that they perceive all around them. In the first verse, the singer is struggling to remember their lines and find inspiration, but they can't seem to shake the feeling that they're surrounded by people who are equally uninspired and counterfeit. The second verse takes aim at those who have "been bought," meaning the people who have sold out their artistic integrity in exchange for fame or money. The chorus repeats the insult "all you bottom feeders and you smiling cheaters," emphasizing the singer's contempt for these people.
The bridge of the song takes a darker turn, with the singer suggesting that they are on the brink of committing "justifiable homicide" because they are so fed up with the industry and the people in it. The final verse invokes the metaphor of bottom feeders in a tank, suggesting that the people the singer is criticizing are like fish in a circular, stagnant environment. The repetition of the earlier insults in the final line ("you're a total blank and you're as funny as a bank") reinforces the song's unrelenting cynicism.
Overall, "Interference" is an angry and bitter song that speaks to the frustration many artists feel when they encounter the music industry. It's a rallying cry against fake people and a system that rewards inauthenticity over creativity.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't remember my lines
I am experiencing a creative block that prevents me from coming up with anything original.
Can't come up with a rhyme or even a reason
I am struggling to find inspiration for my work, whether it be lyrics or any kind of writing.
I know the face, I just can't erase
But I still can't place the name or the season
I remember a familiar face, but I am unable to recall any specifics about them, such as their name or the time of year we met.
You say it's fine, keep your place in line
Keep biding your time but you talk in a vacuum
And you've been bought, I don't know what I want
But I know I don't want to be anything like you
You reassure me that everything is okay and to continue with my routine, but you do not provide any meaningful conversation. You have succumbed to consumerism, and while I am unsure of my own desires, I reject the idea of emulating you.
All you bottom feeders and you smiling cheaters
You're a total blank and you're as funny as a bank
You, who take advantage of others to get ahead and bask in your own success, lack any originality or humor.
Not ready to drop, not ready to stop
Run away or compromise
I won't break down or go on the take now
You smell like a fake and there's nothing in your eyes
I refuse to give up or change my principles, even though it may be easier to do so. You give off an insincere vibe and have no genuine emotions.
Keep your crutch, I don't need much
Just a little luck 'cause my charm is broken
Get out of my sight and I'll be alright
Exit stage right and leave your lies unspoken
Even though I may be struggling, I do not need any external help or support. Your presence is not needed and I can handle things on my own. I want you to leave without spreading any more false information.
You're out of your depth
Up to your neck in a sea of alibis
Swim or sink, deeper than you think
'Cause I'm on the brink of justifiable homicide
You have gotten yourself into a difficult situation with no way out, and I am struggling with my own anger towards you. It may lead to me doing something drastic if pushed too far.
Two dollar spin and your three buck grin
Transparent skin gives away your intentions
You're like a machine that gobbles up all dreams
And spits out shit too dull to mention
You put on a fake facade of happiness and success, but it is clear that your intentions are selfish and transparent. You are a machine that destroys others' aspirations and produces undesirable results.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHRISTOPHER NANTZ, JAMES COLEMAN, PHILIP C. PULEO, STEVE MCMILLEN, TODD C. ASHLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind