The band's website once noted Cracker as "The only band to ever open for both Grateful Dead and Ramones," a unique distinction which is also indicative of the band's sound and style. Cracker comfortably mixes influences and sounds ranging from classic country music, psychedelia, punk and folk into their brand of "Americana" style rock.
Lowery and Hickman are inalterable constants. The band continues to tour (as a full band, and also as the "Cracker acoustic duo").
Lullabye
Cracker Lyrics
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D-em-g-d
Bm-see-g-d
"only when I laugh, does it hurt."
The doctor says, "please, son, remove your skirt."
"I'd be glad to comply, but I'm not wearing one."
The doctor says, "that's strange, nor am i."
A scotsman throws a pole into the air
The alderman all vote in some affair
The mayor, he abstained--and ain't that strange
He's still a bachelor? perhaps he's gay.
A corpse is laid out neatly on a slab
Professor's working madly in his lab
The assistant files her nails and checks her hair
There's just a hint of danger in the air
There's just a hint of danger in the air
No one is alarmed nor seems to care
Everyone is happy, we're all fine
We all fall in love all the time
Yeah, we all fall in love from a plane
With the stewardess, she serves us in our dreams
When we wake, we find that it has rained
When it rains, it lulls us back to sleep
So rest your weary eyes and go to sleep
Or rest your weary head and come to me
Move your lips and sing this lullabye
Move your lips and sing this lullabye
At first listen, Cracker's "Lullabye" might come off as a nonsensical series of verses strung together with a catchy chorus. But there's actually quite a bit of hidden meaning within the lyrics. The opening line, "only when I laugh, does it hurt," portrays a contrasting feeling of happiness and pain. It suggests that the singer is only able to laugh because they are experiencing some degree of pain or sadness.
From there, the song turns more surreal with the strange doctor and Scotsman throwing a pole in the air. These nonsensical lines are juxtaposed against the more serious imagery of the corpse in the lab and the assistant filing her nails. The hint of danger in the air alludes to the tension between the happy exterior and the unrest that lies beneath.
The chorus invites the listener to rest and fall asleep, offering a sort of escape from the unsettling images of the verses. The suggestion to "move your lips and sing this lullabye" could be interpreted as an invitation to join in with the rest of the happy, sleepy people in this surreal world, implying that it's better to just accept it and be happy than to try to unravel its mysteries.
Overall, "Lullabye" presents a unique and colorful world that draws the listener in with its catchy melody and intriguing lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
only when I laugh, does it hurt.
The singer feels pain only when they laugh.
The doctor says, "please, son, remove your skirt."
The doctor asks the singer to remove an article of clothing, which the singer does not have.
"I'd be glad to comply, but I'm not wearing one."
The singer says they cannot comply with the doctor's request because they are not wearing a skirt.
The doctor says, "that's strange, nor am i."
The doctor admits to not wearing a skirt, which is unusual.
A scotsman throws a pole into the air
A Scottish person throws a pole upward.
The alderman all vote in some affair
A group of officials vote on a matter.
The mayor, he abstained--and ain't that strange
The mayor chose not to vote, which is unusual.
He's still a bachelor? perhaps he's gay.
The artist speculates that the mayor may be homosexual because he is unmarried.
A corpse is laid out neatly on a slab
A dead body is arranged neatly on a surface.
Professor's working madly in his lab
A professor is working frantically in a laboratory.
The assistant files her nails and checks her hair
An assistant is grooming herself while the professor works.
There's just a hint of danger in the air
There is a slight feeling of potential danger present.
No one is alarmed nor seems to care
Despite the hint of danger, no one is worried or interested.
Everyone is happy, we're all fine
Everyone is content and doing well.
We all fall in love all the time
The singer suggests that people frequently experience romance.
Yeah, we all fall in love from a plane
The artist humorously suggests that people can fall in love even while on an airplane.
With the stewardess, she serves us in our dreams
The artist fantasizes about having a romantic encounter with a flight attendant.
When we wake, we find that it has rained
After dreaming about romance, the singer wakes up to discover that it has rained.
When it rains, it lulls us back to sleep
The sound of rain is soothing and helps the singer fall back asleep.
So rest your weary eyes and go to sleep
The artist tells the listener to close their tired eyes and go to sleep.
Or rest your weary head and come to me
The artist offers comfort and support to the listener.
Move your lips and sing this lullabye
The artist encourages the listener to mouth the words of a soothing song to help them fall asleep.
Move your lips and sing this lullabye
The singer repeats their encouragement to sing a lullaby and drift off to sleep.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DAVID LOWERY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind