Pressed Rat & Warthog
Cream Lyrics


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Pressed Rat and Warthog have closed down their shop.
They didn't want to, 'twas all they had got.
Selling atonal apples, amplified heat,
And Pressed Rat's collection of dog legs and feet.

Sadly they left, telling no one goodbye.
Pressed Rat wre red jodhpurs, Warthog a striped tie.
Between them they carried a three-legged sack,
Went straight round the corner and never came back.

The bad captain madman had ordered their fate.
He laughed and stomped off with a nautical gate.
The gate turned into a deroga tree,
And his peg-leg got woodworm and broke into three.

Pressed Rat and Warthog have closed down their shop.
They didn't want to, 'twas all they had got.




Selling atonal apples, amplified heat,
And Pressed Rats collection of dog legs and feet.

Overall Meaning

The song "Pressed Rat And Warthog" by Cream is a surreal and enigmatic tale about the closure of a strange shop run by two peculiar characters, Pressed Rat and Warthog. The duo sold unconventional items such as atonal apples and Pressed Rat's collection of dog legs and feet. The lyrics suggest that they didn't want to shut down their shop, but it was all they had left. The reason for their closure appears to be the orders of the "bad captain madman", who laughed and walked away with a nautical gate. The gate, however, is said to have turned into a wood-eating tree which caused the captain's peg-leg to break into three pieces.


The song has a dreamlike quality to it, as if the story is being told from the perspective of an observer in a bizarre alternate reality. The surreal imagery and whimsical language of the lyrics convey a sense of absurdity and playfulness that is characteristic of psychedelic rock music, a genre in which Cream was one of the pioneering acts.


Interestingly, the song is not as well known as some of Cream's more famous hits, but it remains a favorite among fans of the band and those who appreciate unconventional and experimental music. The unique instrumentation and distinctive vocal style of Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, and Ginger Baker are on full display in this track, making it a must-listen for anyone interested in the history of rock music.


Line by Line Meaning

Pressed Rat and Warthog have closed down their shop.
Pressed Rat and Warthog had no choice but to close down a shop they cherished, it was their livelihood.


They didn't want to, 'twas all they had got.
They were forced to close the shop down despite it being their only source of income.


Selling atonal apples, amplified heat,
The shop sold strange fruits and highly potent spices.


And Pressed Rat's collection of dog legs and feet.
Pressed Rat's personal hobby was collecting various animal parts, in this particular case, dog legs and feet.


Sadly they left, telling no one goodbye.
Pressed Rat and Warthog unfortunately left town without notifying anyone of their departure.


Pressed Rat wore red jodhpurs, Warthog a striped tie.
Pressed Rat had a flamboyant fashion sense and Warthog was more conservative.


Between them they carried a three-legged sack,
They had an unusual bag with only three legs.


Went straight round the corner and never came back.
They left without any intention of ever returning.


The bad captain madman had ordered their fate.
A local leader, who was known for being cruel and twisted, had a hand in Pressed Rat and Warthog closing their shop.


He laughed and stomped off with a nautical gate.
The leader laughed devilishly and walked away as the gate closed behind him, leaving the two shop owners without hope.


The gate turned into a deroga tree,
The seemingly normal gate transformed into a mystical, magical plant.


And his peg-leg got woodworm and broke into three.
Ironically, the leader's wooden leg deteriorated and split into three pieces.




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PETER EDWARD BAKER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Kevin T. Kiso

I never imagined Ginger having a conversation while keeping a syncopated beat line that... Incredible.

Kevin T. Kiso

*Like

Guilherme Fontenele

Its just natural to him

Giorgi Ostatishvili

Ginger is an one of the most skillful and talented person and an amazing Psychopath

rvic11

Brilliant!

Neil Phelan

There have been lots of good drummers, even great ones, but Ginger stands head and shoulders above them all.

8 More Replies...

unionjack515

Ginger’s vocal has absolutely no regard for the beat. I LOVE IT. This is a true exercise in patting your head and rubbing your belly.

Prathamesh Bhambure

I agree with that!
It's five past eleven in the night and I'm about to sleep. However, I tried what you said up there and trust me it's not impossible to do, dude.... the patting and rubbing thing.

Aaron Repp

Amen

Malnati Family

Ginger and Keith Moon were the two greatest rock drummers, with the two greatest accents.

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