First Album - From the Hills Below the City (2013) - Houndmouth's first studio album "From the Hills Below the City" was release on June 3, 2013.
Second Album - Little Neon Limelight (2015) - The band's second studio album, "Little Neon Limelight" was released on March 17, 2015
Black Gold
Houndmouth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She had a pension
Value money over time
I use to see his sister
Her name was Jenny Gasoline
I use to her picture
On a cover of a dirty magazine
But she looked best when she was mine
Summer don't you worry
Don't you shed a tear
If not enough back door
For another year
We just have to wait and see
There's not enough
There's not enough
For you and me
There's a man in action then down
23rd and Preston
Someone got arrested
And all them brokers
They be broken in the park
And all them liquids they choking on is dark
Darker than a Georgia night with a heavy heart
Summer don't you worry
Don't you shed a tear
If not enough back door
For another year
We just have to wait and see
There's not enough
There's not enough
For you and me
The lyrics of Houndmouth's song Black Gold tell the story of a family and their struggles in a society that values money over time. The singer speaks of a man whose mother was the light and had a pension, implying that she was a hardworking woman who valued the security of her family's future. However, her son's sister, Jenny Gasoline, was not as fortunate. Her image was used on a dirty magazine cover, which suggests that she may have turned to less reputable means to make a living. Despite this, the singer speaks of her as if they had a romantic relationship and that she looked her best when she was with him.
Moving on from the family, the song then speaks of the wider community and the issues they face. The singer mentions a man who was arrested on 23rd and Preston and how the brokers are broken in the park. This implies that there is a high level of crime in the area, which is causing issues for the community. Additionally, the singer describes the liquids the people are choking on as dark, which shows that the pollution and environmental issues are also at play.
The chorus of the song speaks of hopelessness and the struggle to survive in such a harsh world. Summer is told not to worry or shed a tear, but the reality is that there is not enough of anything to go around. Whether it is back door opportunities or just basic resources, there is not enough for the people to thrive.
Overall, Black Gold is a song that tells a bleak tale of a community where poverty, crime, and pollution are rampant. The lyrics convey a sense of despair and hopelessness while also highlighting the resilience and determination of the people to survive in such a harsh environment.
Line by Line Meaning
His mother was the light
His mother was the most important person in his life, representing guidance and direction.
She had a pension
His mother had a source of income that provided her with financial security.
Value money over time
His mother prioritized the accumulation of wealth over spending time on other things.
I use to see his sister
He used to know and interact with his friend's sister.
Her name was Jenny Gasoline
His friend's sister had an unusual name that referenced a fuel product.
I use to her picture
He used to see a picture of his friend's sister somewhere, likely in a magazine.
On a cover of a dirty magazine
The picture of his friend's sister was on the front of a pornographic magazine.
But she looked best when she was mine
However, he found her most attractive when they were together, regardless of how others viewed her.
Summer don't you worry
This is a message to someone named Summer that there is no need to be anxious.
Don't you shed a tear
In addition to not worrying, Summer should not cry or be upset.
If not enough back door
If there is not enough money saved in reserve.
For another year
If they need to rely on those savings again for an entire additional year.
We just have to wait and see
They need to be patient and see how things turn out before making any drastic decisions.
There's not enough
There is not enough money or resources to go around.
For you and me
Implying that the singer and Summer must deal with this lack of resources together.
There's a man in action then down
There is a man taking or has taken action, but ultimately experienced defeat.
23rd and Preston
A specific location where something has happened or is happening.
Someone got arrested
An individual has been taken into police custody.
And all them brokers
All of the businessmen who buy and sell stocks, properties, and other assets.
They be broken in the park
These businessmen are now penniless and have lost their power and influence.
And all them liquids they choking on is dark
These bankrupt businessmen are revealed to have been involved in illicit or unsavory practices, with the 'dark' liquid symbolizing this moral corruption.
Darker than a Georgia night with a heavy heart
The level of moral corruption and shame is so deep that it is felt even in the night sky of Georgia, where the artist is from.
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave
Written by: Kathleen Elizabeth Toupin, Matthew Glen Myers, Shane Allan Cody, William Zachary Appleby
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ben - Moderator
on Come On, Illinois
Corrected - thanks ahab
ahab
on Come On, Illinois
From the first album, From the Hills Below the City, released in 2013