Their first album, Our Fathers Sent Us , was release by TKO Records in 2000. In 2001, the band released A Melody of Retreads and Broken Quills on BYO Records. The next album My Pappy Was A Pistol was released in 2005. In March 2007 Filthy Thieving Bastards released their next album ...I'm A Son of a Gun on BYO Records, featuring an appearance by Spider Stacy of The Pogues . The naming of the last two albums was a nod to American Singer/Songwriter Roger Miller .
Take Me To The Medics
Filthy Thieving Bastards Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
and wrap me up in stitches
with holes left for my mouth
to smoke and drink
and make excuses
Mind the nurses and the medics
sometimes I bit the helping hand
Leave the bottle and let me be
Fill me up with what they got
drown me with beer and wine
IVs pills and whiskey shots
medicinal divine
credit the crooked doctor for filling up my tank
for destroying my sobriety and saving a trip to the bank
Twenty million cigarettes
cigars and piss pints later
unstoppable and headstrong
feeling 10 years your junior
hit the sack as morning comes
wake at dusk with shakes and fever
sick with nausea and demented
repent like some true believer
I'm filthy from the city air
and fucked up cross eyed drunk
look like a stray and rabid dog
worn out from puking up
my friends are all insulting
and a shameless bunch of thugs
with their own counterfeit dignity
fake accents and spilt blood
Wake up the next morning
after a night of sleepless sin
hotel rooms, expensive bars
the same fist full of yen
rehearse your lame excuses
catch a buzz take a deep breath
weary legged louts like you
all sleep in the same bed
The lyrics of "Take Me To The Medics" paint a vivid picture of a person who is living life on the edge, indulging in vices in order to escape their troubles. The singer of the song is asking to be taken to the hospital, where they can receive treatment for the various physical and emotional wounds that they have inflicted on themselves. They want to be wrapped up in stitches, almost like they are asking for someone to fix them up like a broken toy.
However, the singer also knows that they are not ready to give up their addiction. They want to be able to smoke and drink while they are in the hospital, and they anticipate that they will make excuses for their behavior. They are not interested in getting clean, but rather in finding a way to continue living in their reckless manner without having to face the consequences of their actions.
The lyrics also point towards the idea that the singer is not alone in their lifestyle. They have friends who are equally caught up in the cycle of addiction and self-destructive behavior. The friends are described as "a shameless bunch of thugs, with their own counterfeit dignity, fake accents, and spilt blood". There is a sense of camaraderie among these characters, but it is also clear that their behavior is causing damage to themselves and others.
Line by Line Meaning
Take me to the hospital
I need medical attention
and wrap me up in stitches
I need stitches to close my wound
with holes left for my mouth
Leave openings in the bandages so I can smoke and drink
to smoke and drink
I need my vices even when injured
and make excuses
I have a tendency to rationalize my behavior
Mind the nurses and the medics
Please be considerate of the healthcare workers
sometimes I bit the helping hand
I can be ungrateful towards those who help me
Leave the bottle and let me be
Don't take away my alcohol
wrapped up and bound, thirsty and mad
Despite being injured, I still crave a drink and am agitated
Fill me up with what they got
Give me all the drugs and alcohol available
drown me with beer and wine
I want to be heavily intoxicated
IVs pills and whiskey shots
I'll take any form of medication and alcohol
medicinal divine
Alcohol and drugs are my savior
credit the crooked doctor for filling up my tank
I acknowledge the unethical behavior of my doctor but am grateful for their treatment
for destroying my sobriety and saving a trip to the bank
My doctor's prescriptions have hindered my ability to stay sober and I am relieved I don't have to spend money on drugs
Twenty million cigarettes
I smoke heavily
cigars and piss pints later
I smoke cigars and urinate frequently due to my drinking habits
unstoppable and headstrong
I am determined to continue my self-destructive behavior
feeling 10 years your junior
Despite my age, I feel young due to the influence of drugs and alcohol
hit the sack as morning comes
I sleep in the morning after a night of excess
wake at dusk with shakes and fever
I wake up in the evening feeling sick and feverish
sick with nausea and demented
I feel physically and mentally ill
repent like some true believer
I regret my behavior and feel guilty
I'm filthy from the city air
I am polluted by the city's environment
and fucked up cross eyed drunk
I am extremely intoxicated and disoriented
look like a stray and rabid dog
I have a disheveled appearance
worn out from puking up
I am exhausted from vomiting
my friends are all insulting
My friends are not supportive and ridicule me
and a shameless bunch of thugs
My friends are crude and immoral
with their own counterfeit dignity
My friends have a false sense of self-respect
fake accents and spilt blood
My friends are pretentious and violent
Wake up the next morning
The morning after a night of partying
after a night of sleepless sin
I didn't sleep well due to my behavior
hotel rooms, expensive bars
I spent a lot of money on luxurious accommodations and alcohol
the same fist full of yen
I spent all my money on the same vices
rehearse your lame excuses
Prepare your excuses for your behavior
catch a buzz take a deep breath
Get drunk and try to relax
weary legged louts like you
People like me, tired and drained from our lifestyle
all sleep in the same bed
We all live the same reckless lifestyle and its consequences
Contributed by Jordan J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.