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.
The Notorious & Legendary Dog & Pony Show
Firewater Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Coins are falling from the trees
And moderation is a sin, boys
Whats a little hoof & mouth disease?
And nothing you can teach her
About a double feature
Let the blood and whiskey flow
Because tonight you are a player
In the dog & pony show
So take your whistles to the wolves, girls
They've all got pistols in their paws
But don't you go a runnin till they shoot, girls
Cause every contract has a hidden clause
So ride on while your able
Find us in the stable
Honey you just never know
Every wheel's a spinner
And everyone a winner
In the dog & pony show
So come out in and grab a table
Its your lucky day
All the drinks are on the house
Until we hoist your bones away
Don't tip the waitress
She looks famous
Back on the rodeo
And welcome to the notorious and legendary
Dog & pony show
Put em with the other stiffs, boys
Take the pennies from his eyes
And seal the deal with a kiss, boys
Cause suits and coffins come in every size
Dressed up and they'll show ya
How far they can throw ya
Funny how the money goes
Well you took em to the cleaners
With all the other dreamers
At the dog & pony show
The lyrics to Firewater's "The Dog & Pony Show" speak to the idea of living for the moment and not worrying about the consequences. The song opens with the line "Throw your caution to the wind, boys" which sets the tone for the rest of the song. The idea that "coins are falling from the trees" suggests that money is no object, and that the characters in the song are living in a world where excess and indulgence are the norm. The line "moderation is a sin, boys" reinforces this idea.
The chorus of the song encourages the listeners to let loose and enjoy themselves because "tonight you are a player, tomorrow's never there". This speaks to the idea that life is short and that we should enjoy it while we can. The title of the song, "The Dog & Pony Show", is a reference to the idea of a spectacle or sideshow that is meant to entertain and distract us.
The second verse of the song speaks to the power dynamics at play in the world of excess and indulgence. The line "take your whistles to the wolves, girls" suggests that the women in this world are not to be messed with, while "every contract has a hidden clause" implies that there is always a catch when it comes to dealing with those who hold power. Despite this, the song encourages the listener to keep going and to "ride on while you're able".
Overall, "The Dog & Pony Show" is a cautionary tale wrapped in a catchy tune. It encourages listeners to let loose and enjoy themselves, but also warns them that there are consequences to living a life of excess.
Line by Line Meaning
Throw your caution to the wind, boys
Take a risk, don't worry about consequences
Coins are falling from the trees
Money is abundant
And moderation is a sin, boys
Excess is encouraged
What's a little hoof & mouth disease?
Consequences don't matter
And nothing you can teach her
This culture cannot be changed
About a double feature
A show with multiple acts
Let the blood and whiskey flow
Excessive drinking is encouraged
Because tonight you are a player
You're important in this event
Tomorrow's never there
Don't worry about tomorrow
In the dog & pony show
This is all part of the show
So take your whistles to the wolves, girls
Confidently face danger
They've all got pistols in their paws
The danger is real
But don't you go a runnin till they shoot, girls
Don't back down until forced to
Cause every contract has a hidden clause
Be careful, there are hidden dangers
So ride on while your able
Take advantage of the opportunity
Find us in the stable
Find us where we keep the horses
Honey you just never know
Expect the unexpected
Every wheel's a spinner
Any outcome is possible
And everyone a winner
Everyone can come out on top
In the dog & pony show
This is all part of the event
So come out in and grab a table
Join in on the fun
It's your lucky day
You're in for a treat
All the drinks are on the house
Drinks are free
Until we hoist your bones away
Until you've had too much to drink
Don't tip the waitress
No need to tip
She looks famous
She's part of the entertainment
Back on the rodeo
Returning to the show
And welcome to the notorious and legendary
Welcome to the infamous
Dog & pony show
The event you are attending
Put em with the other stiffs, boys
Put them with the dead
Take the pennies from his eyes
Tradition of the dead
And seal the deal with a kiss, boys
Make sure everything is closed up tight
Cause suits and coffins come in every size
Death comes for everyone
Dressed up and they'll show ya
Dress up for the show
How far they can throw ya
The show will test you
Funny how the money goes
Money disappears quickly
Well you took em to the cleaners
You've taken advantage of the situation
With all the other dreamers
Like everyone else who comes to the event
At the dog & pony show
This was all part of the event
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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