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.
When I Burn This Place Down
Firewater Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On the stroke of 13
I woke up from my life
Like it was all just a bad dream
My get up and go
Had just got up and split
After you ground me under your heel
Like a spent cigarette
When your out on the tiles
Just remember that
Everyone loves a good kid
Who can loose with a smile
When they break both your legs
Don't come running to me
And baby if you were drowning
I'd throw you a funeral wreath
When I burn this place down
I'll make sure you're around
Girl, I want you to see
The big smile on my face
As I hitch a ride out of town
Well, I ain't gonna come to your party
But baby, I'm sure gonna dance on your grave
It's the least I can do
For the time that I spent as your slave
The lyrics to Firewater's "When I Burn This Place Down" are filled with symbolism of liberation and rebirth. The singer of the song has lived for 29 years on "the stroke of 13", a clear suggestion of a life of bad luck, misfortune, or of being burdened by external forces. In the next line, the singer awakens from their life as if it was a "bad dream." This could mean the singer has gained a newfound freedom, emerged from a long period of depression, or escaped a toxic relationship. The get-up-and-go which had eluded the singer in their previous life has finally returned, allowing them to leave behind the oppression and negativity that was grinding them "under your heel."
The line "everyone loves a good kid, who can lose with a smile" appears to be directed towards the person who held the singer down, presumably an ex-lover or a former friend. The singer suggests that no matter how low they may feel or how much they are being pushed down, they will always be loved for their positive attitude. The singer warns their oppressor that if and when things go badly for them, they will not assist, and if they were to come to the singer for help when in trouble, the singer would offer nothing more than a "funeral wreath."
The chorus is a celebration of the singer's escape, declaring that they will burn down the place where they have been oppressed and stuck and the person who has held them hostage will be present to witness it. Furthermore, the singer makes it clear that they will not be there to entertain their oppressor but rather to dance on their oppressor's future grave. It's the only way the singer feels they can even out the score.
Line by Line Meaning
After 29 years
29 long years have passed
On the stroke of 13
At exactly 1 PM
I woke up from my life
I regained consciousness from an unfulfilled life
Like it was all just a bad dream
It felt like a nightmare
My get up and go
My enthusiasm
Had just got up and split
Had disappeared completely
After you ground me under your heel
You crushed me underneath your feet
Like a spent cigarette
As if I was mere trash
When your memory's crashed
When you're in a bad state of mind
When you're out on the tiles
When you're partying too much
Just remember that
Keep in mind
Everyone loves a good kid
People appreciate a good-natured person
Who can lose with a smile
Who can bear failure with a positive attitude
When they break both your legs
During tough times
Don't come running to me
Don't ask for help from me
And baby if you were drowning
Even if you're in dire need
I'd throw you a funeral wreath
I won't help but instead make it worse for you
When I burn this place down
When I ruin everything
I'll make sure you're around
I want you to witness it all
Girl, I want you to see
I want you to feel helpless
The big smile on my face
The joy I feel in this moment
As I hitch a ride out of town
I'm leaving this place
Well, I ain't gonna come to your party
I won't celebrate with you
But baby, I'm sure gonna dance on your grave
But I'll definitely celebrate your demise
It's the least I can do
I owe you this much revenge
For the time that I spent as your slave
For the servitude you forced upon me
Lyrics © Freibank Musikverlags und vermarktungs GmbH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mademoiselle Jezebel
Awesome lyrics!!!!
calmmonster
just remember that everyone loves a good kid who can lose with a smile on his face
Fran Prijatelj
yeeeea, i love this song!!!! thanks!!
IAmKrow
"When they break both your legs don't come running to me" LOL
David McLintock
I'm in a pub drinking Bishps Finger listening to Firewater, while the Carlsberg drinkers put Meatloaf on the jukebox. And I'm the anti-social one?
I can live with that.
David McLintock
Amazing, exactly the same, 10 months later. At least it stops me talking about work.
ziggy pop
seen them ony friend bday . ten to get in buy there coasters cds etc . stickers.. great band
Damon Kelly
Heh, yup...Thats about the jist of it. Thanks Todd, once again, you said it for me.
Yuri Yanov
Umm.. Always heard "I'd throw you a funeral wreath" as "I'd blow you a funeral riff".
Though, throwing the wreath sounds sound contextually correct and it's more like "wreath" pronounced here, unlike my worn tape.
David McLintock
I'd blow you a funeral riff is brilliant