After Tod left his previous group, Cop Shoot Cop, he quickly regrouped and formed Firewater to explore the styles of music Cop Shoot Cop had only hinted at, including klezmer, cabaret, ska, jazz, and gypsy forms. More than one source described the original Firewater lineup as an "indie rock supergroup", based on members such as Duane Denison of the Jesus Lizard, Yuval Gabay of Soul Coughing, Jennifer Charles of Elysian Fields, and Hahn Rowe. This original lineup proved unable to tour, and Tod recruited new musicians for the band's first tour. While the lineup has changed over the years, with many different musicians appearing on different albums and tours, Tod remains the singer, songwriter, and bassist of Firewater.
Firewater has released six albums, and has seen some success, especially in Europe and on United States college radio stations.
Their previous album, Songs We Should Have Written, is a collection of cover songs. It includes songs written by Robyn Hitchcock, The Rolling Stones ("Paint It Black" reinterpreted as a crawlingly slow raga which "shove(s) a few downers down the song's throat to counter the original version's adrenaline-fueled fire" ), and a "dark and sweet" take of Sonny and Cher's "The Beat Goes On", described as "10 times more ominous and 20 times more pleasurable" than the original. The album also includes a modern rendition of the Johnny Cash anthem "Folsom Prison Blues".
Their latest album, The Golden Hour, has been recorded with various local musicians and friends when Tod A went on sabbatical and travelled through Thailand, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Turkey and Israel. The record was released May 6 in 2008. The band is currently (October, 2008) touring in support of the album.
Snake Eyes and Boxcars
Firewater Lyrics
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He walked tall with his money in his shoe
With a left and a right
And a sonny say goodnight
Eyes were a cold steel blue
Momma went down like a ton of coal
Shared her bed with anyone who dared
Take it like a man
Never let em know your scared
Never let em know your scared
Oh, what shall we do with the drunken failure?
Shanghai the bastard to Australia
If we never see you again
Buddy that'll be too soon
Everybody knows that the odds ain't even
Show me a god that's worth believing
Better place your bets cause the boat is leaving
Underneath an eastern moon
Underneath an eastern moon
Sissy had a thing for contraband
Nose to the grindstone
Finger in the pie
No way out
Give the kid a clout
Drowned her in a pint of rye
Brother was a drunken gambling man
Rolled his dice and always played the fool
Roll 'em high
Sock 'em in the eye
Beat him like a rented mule
Beat him like a rented mule
Oh, what shall we do with the drunken failure?
Shanghai the bastard to Australia
If we never see you again
Buddy that'll be too soon
Everybody knows that the odds ain't even
Show me a god that's worth believing
Better place your bets cause the boat is leaving
Underneath an eastern moon
Underneath an eastern moon
(repeat 1)
The song "Snake-Eyes And Boxcars" by Firewater depicts a dysfunctional family with various troubles and vices. The opening lines introduce the father who is described as a dirty fighting man who carries his money in his shoe. His fighting ability is evident with his left and right punches, and his cold steel blue eyes. Meanwhile, the mother is portrayed as promiscuous and having loose morals as she slept with anyone who dared to approach her. The son is advised not to show fear to anyone, no matter the circumstance. The second verse describes a sister who dealt in illegal substances and a brother who was addicted to gambling. The lyrics continue to depict their conflicts, such as the sister being drowned in a pint of rye and the brother being beaten like a rented mule.
The chorus of the song repeats the lines "Oh, what shall we do with the drunken failure? Shanghai the bastard to Australia. If we never see you again, buddy that'll be too soon. Everybody knows that the odds ain't even. Show me a god that's worth believing. Better place your bets cause the boat is leaving, underneath an eastern moon." This chorus suggests the family's penchant for getting rid of their problems by shipping them to Australia, a brutal colonized penal colony in the 18th and 19th centuries. They are cynical about their gods and believe that the odds are never in their favour.
Line by Line Meaning
Daddy was a dirty fighting man
Father was skilled at fighting, but used his ability for bad purposes
He walked tall with his money in his shoe
He was confident in his ability to handle anything and concealed his wealth
With a left and a right And a sonny say goodnight Eyes were a cold steel blue
He was skilled in boxing and had cold, emotionless eyes
Momma went down like a ton of coal
Mother's reputation and respect were ruined by promiscuity
Shared her bed with anyone who dared
She slept with anyone who was interested without consideration of consequences
Wash your hands Take it like a man Never let em know your scared Never let em know your scared
You must be brave in difficult situations and hide any fears or worries
Oh, what shall we do with the drunken failure? Shanghai the bastard to Australia If we never see you again Buddy that'll be too soon Everybody knows that the odds ain't even Show me a god that's worth believing Better place your bets cause the boat is leaving Underneath an eastern moon Underneath an eastern moon
People expect trouble and for those who fail, banishment is the best solution as the odds are not in favor of those left behind
Sissy had a thing for contraband Nose to the grindstone Finger in the pie No way out Give the kid a clout Drowned her in a pint of rye
Sissy was involved in illegal activity, but couldn't escape or cope with the pressure, leading to her demise
Brother was a drunken gambling man Rolled his dice and always played the fool Roll 'em high Sock 'em in the eye Beat him like a rented mule Beat him like a rented mule
The brother was a reckless gambler who didn't consider the consequences of his actions and was beaten badly
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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