YOHOHO
KMF„DM Lyrics


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Yohoho
And a bottle of rum
I'm in the gutter
But I've got the gun
16 men on a dead man's chest
A little lead for a little rest

One's for shit
One's for shame
Now the hurt
Fans the flame

Yohoho
Here's the fun
You get to go
I get to come

Six bold strokes
And no new jokes
The lost & founds
Your only hope

Here's the lard
In leather glove
Answered dreams
Straight from above

Pull me in
Drag me down
You can be the kapt'n
As we're tumbling
Always down

Go slow
On the torture-show

Fear not what you can't see
The pulse
The pain
The ecstasy
A hollow space




An empty grave
The best laid plans are meant to fade

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to KMFDM's song "Yohoho" are full of paradoxes and contradictions, making it an enigmatic song with multifaceted meanings. The first line "Yohoho and a bottle of rum" is a nod to Robert Louis Stevenson's "Treasure Island" and represents the pirates' life. The next line "I'm in the gutter but I've got the gun" expresses the feeling of being in a hopeless situation but still having the power to change things. The line "16 men on a dead man's chest, a little lead for a little rest" refers to an old pirate song about mutiny, as the captain was killed and the men were fighting for power.


In the next verse "One's for shit, one's for shame, now the hurt fans the flame," the lyrics suggest that pain and negative emotions can be catalysts for change. The chorus "Yohoho, here's the fun, you get to go, I get to come" is a playful interpretation of the pirate's life, where everyone is in it for their own enjoyment. The following lines "Six bold strokes and no new jokes, the lost & founds, your only hope" talks about the repetition of life without much novelty and how the lost and found items are symbols of hope.


The song continues with references to power dynamics, such as the line "Here's the lard in a leather glove" which refers to those in positions of power manipulating those who are not. The lyrics "Pull me in, drag me down, you can be the kapt'n as we're tumbling always down" talk about someone surrendering their control to another person and ultimately leading to an inevitable fall. The last lines "Fear not what you can't see, the pulse, the pain, the ecstasy, a hollow space, an empty grave, the best laid plans are meant to fade" convey the idea that while life can be unpredictable and things might not go according to plan, one shouldn't fear the unknown and should embrace the highs and lows.


Line by Line Meaning

Yohoho
An exclamation expressing excitement and joy.


And a bottle of rum
An alcoholic beverage that is often associated with pirates and high-sea adventures.


I'm in the gutter
The singer is feeling low and defeated.


But I've got the gun
Despite feeling defeated, the artist still has some power and control.


16 men on a dead man's chest
A reference to a popular pirate song, indicating danger and the possibility of death.


A little lead for a little rest
The singer is suggesting that lethal force may be necessary in certain situations.


One's for shit
One part of the situation is terrible or worthless.


One's for shame
Another part of the situation is shameful or embarrassing.


Now the hurt
The pain and suffering that the artist is experiencing.


Fans the flame
The artist's negative emotions are intensifying and becoming more dangerous.


Yohoho
A repeat of the earlier exclamation, indicating continued excitement and anticipation.


Here's the fun
Something enjoyable or exciting is about to happen.


You get to go
Someone else is now in control.


I get to come
The singer will experience pleasure or excitement as well.


Six bold strokes
A reference to a classic pirate symbol painted on ships.


And no new jokes
The situation is serious and not something to be joked about.


The lost & founds
This may refer to the idea of people losing and finding themselves, or to actual lost and found objects.


Your only hope
The thing that may save you or help you through a difficult situation.


Here's the lard
This may refer to a substance used for cooking, or may be slang for something else.


In leather glove
The artist is prepared and in control, like someone wearing a leather glove for grip.


Answered dreams
The fulfillment of a long-held desire or wish.


Straight from above
This may refer to a divine intervention or an unexpected gift.


Pull me in
The singer is inviting someone to get closer or show affection.


Drag me down
The artist is willing to go to dark or dangerous places with someone they care about.


You can be the kapt'n
Someone else can take control and lead the way.


As we're tumbling
The singer is in motion or falling in some way.


Always down
The singer is suggesting that they are always in a negative or depressed state.


Go slow
The artist is asking for a gradual or careful approach to something.


On the torture-show
The artist may be referring to a difficult or painful situation that they are experiencing.


Fear not what you can't see
The singer believes that it is better to face and understand one's fears, rather than avoiding them.


The pulse
The rhythm or heartbeat of life.


The pain
The suffering or discomfort that comes with being alive.


The ecstasy
The intense joy or pleasure that can also be experienced in life.


A hollow space
A sense of emptiness or loneliness that the artist is experiencing.


An empty grave
A reference to death and the finality of life.


The best laid plans are meant to fade
Despite careful planning, life is unpredictable and even the best ideas may not work out.




Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Aza Smith

Sounds like a cutscene theme from a Silent Hill game.