Although they share musical similarities with members' previous outfits, Hot Snakes have a sound that is much more primal than that of Pitchfork, Drive Like Jehu or even Rocket from the Crypt. Reis and Froberg were also heavily influenced by bands such as The Wipers, Suicide, and Michael Yonkers Band, and these influences gave Hot Snakes a distinctive sound that has been described by one critic as "hardcore garage punk." The band's recordings and merchandise were conducted in a DIY manner, with Froberg providing all of the artwork and Reis releasing the material via his Swami Records label.
Eric Gerald Froberg died in San Diego on June 30, 2023, at the age of 55, from an undiagnosed heart condition.
XOX
Hot Snakes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I like the way you lurch
To and fro
And then in slo mo
Dig in and again you hit the floor
But you're determined
Your things in disarray
The Gear Failure
The Hot Box
The Broken Parts
You do the E Broke
You're sick in the mezzanine
Upset by what you seen
Right outta the balcony
Right into the silver screen
XOX
In between the stakes now
In between the girth
Right over the strap rail
Right over the dirt
Angola, Ashtabula, Mud Run
Camp Hill, PA
Between the rolling stock
And the fire box
We're all gonna roll out the strap rail to safety
The song "XOX" by Hot Snakes is a dark and intense track that explores themes of chaos, disarray, determination, and destruction. The lyrics paint a picture of a person who is fascinated by the chaos and destruction around them, deriving pleasure from watching things fall apart. The first verse describes how the person likes it when someone's eyes get big and they lurch around before falling to the ground. The second verse references various types of mechanical malfunctions and failures, suggesting that the person is drawn to the spectacle of machines breaking down.
The chorus of the song ("XOX") seems to be a reference to the shorthand for "hugs and kisses," adding an ironic twist to the bleak lyrics. The bridge of the song describes someone "in between the stakes now" and "right over the dirt," suggesting that they are in a dangerous or precarious situation. The song ends with a list of locations ("Angola, Ashtabula, Mud Run, Camp Hill, PA") and a final line about rolling out a strap rail to safety, which may suggest that the chaos and destruction of the rest of the song is somehow related to a dangerous job or line of work.
Overall, "XOX" is a complex and haunting song that uses vivid imagery and a driving rhythm to convey a sense of darkness and danger.
Line by Line Meaning
I like it when your eyes get big
I enjoy seeing the excitement in your eyes
I like the way you lurch
I find your movement from side to side attractive
To and fro
Moving back and forth
And then in slo mo
In slow motion
Dig in and again you hit the floor
You fall down multiple times, but keep getting back up
But you're determined
You have a strong resolve despite difficulties
Your things in disarray
Your possessions are scattered and disorganized
Do the Telescope
A specific dance move
The Gear Failure
A dance move, potentially involving a malfunctioning machine
The Hot Box
Another dance move, likely a fast or intense one
The Broken Parts
A reference to a dance routine with malfunctioning objects
You do the E Broke
A specific dance move involving the letter 'E'
You're sick in the mezzanine
You're feeling unwell while on a higher level of a building
Upset by what you seen
You're disturbed by something you observed
Right outta the balcony
You leave a higher-level area of a building
Right into the silver screen
You move quickly and directly into a movie theater
XOX
A reference to hugs and kisses at the end of a letter
In between the stakes now
In an uncertain place or situation
In between the girth
Amidst the circumference or size of something
Right over the strap rail
Directly over a railing or other barrier
Right over the dirt
Above the ground or soil
Angola, Ashtabula, Mud Run
Names of places or events, potentially from the memories of the person speaking
Camp Hill, PA
A specific location
Between the rolling stock
Amidst a group of vehicles or machinery that move on wheels
And the fire box
A compartment intended to contain fire, potentially in a steam engine
We're all gonna roll out the strap rail to safety
We will work together to overcome challenges and reach safety
Contributed by Sebastian C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Darin Ledford
WHAT A FUCKIN’ EPIC SONG!!!
Chris Macdonald
I feel like my heart is blasting out of my chest