Heatmiser was an alternative rock band that originated in Portland, Oregon … Read Full Bio ↴Heatmiser was an alternative rock band that originated in Portland, Oregon in 1992. Consisting of Elliott Smith (guitar and vocals), Neil Gust (guitar and vocals), Brandt Peterson (bass; later to be replaced by Sam Coomes, frontman of Quasi), and Tony Lash (drums), they were known for their well-crafted lyrics and songs featuring melancholic and cheery words and melodies. The pop-oriented songs of Elliott Smith were a contrast to the darker songs of Gust, while both Smith and Gust's songs touched on subjects such as anger, alienation, loneliness and despair.

The band broke up in the fall of 1996 after Smith's solo work began gaining popularity. Gust went on to play in the band No. 2. Coomes carried on as half of Quasi, as well as playing as a guest musician for Built to Spill and Sleater-Kinney. Lash currently keeps himself busy as a producer. He helped with the production of Death Cab for Cutie's first two studio albums (Something About Airplanes and We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes).

Fortune 500
Heatmiser Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Taking in the party
He put me down for awhile
100 watts of ambition
Springing off his smile

His lips hooked set to kiss me
But he closed up like a fist
He's got a fortune in charm

And makes a gift out of empty arms

But I was sold, I was sold, no one had to convince me
Bending over backwards
I watched the light burn out
His excuses fell like diamonds

Brilliant, cutting, lost and found
He's got a fortune in charm
And makes a gift out of empty arms
But I was sold, I was sold, no one had to convince me

(I don't believe it)
(believe it)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Heatmiser's song Fortune 500 describe a situation where the singer - presumably a woman - is at a party with a charming man who has a "fortune in charm" and 100 watts of ambition. The man shows interest in the singer, but when he finally approaches her, he closes up "like a fist" and doesn't kiss her. Despite this, the singer is "sold"; she seems to be taken with the man's charming personality and his ability to make a gift out of "empty arms". However, as the party wears on, the man's true colors start to show through his excuses, which are described as "brilliant, cutting, lost and found". The singer is left with a sense of disappointment and disillusionment as she watches the light burn out on what seemed like a promising romantic encounter.

Line by Line Meaning

Taking in the party
Arriving at the party to observe

He put me down for awhile
He made me feel low for some time

100 watts of ambition
He had an intense drive and motivation

Springing off his smile
His smile had an infectious energy that lifted others up

His lips hooked set to kiss me
He appeared to be getting ready for an intimate moment

But he closed up like a fist
He withdrew from me quickly and abruptly

He's got a fortune in charm
He has an abundance of charisma

And makes a gift out of empty arms
Despite having nothing to offer, he makes it seem like he is giving something

But I was sold, I was sold, no one had to convince me
I was convinced by his charm and didn't need anyone else's persuasion

Bending over backwards
Going out of my way to please him

I watched the light burn out
I saw that his charm faded away