Paperback Bible
Lambchop Lyrics
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Used paperbacked living bible
And I've got some things
That I'd like to put on out there
Like a pony cart and an old bird bath
A kitchen sink and a rocking chair
You can turn me on
Almost any day at noon
Hey I'd like to put on
A four month old rat terrier pup
I think he's a male
And he's marked up pretty and
Everything
This woman's got some goats
But his feets never been on the ground
You can just buy one
Or you can have the whole heard
Yeah I'd like to find
A twenty seven inch color TV
Has to be non working
An RCA cause I need the parts
And daily there's an old drive shaft
And the same Berkeline recliner
It's green and it's cloth
And it's been used very little.
Then there's a Reba designs
Size eight, prom pageant dress
It's icy blue
With sequins worn just once
There are others that are strapless
But this one's slit above the knee
If you're looking for
Something perfect for that student
I have always thought
That hand guns were made for shooting people
Rather than for sport
Why not use a rifle in most other applications
You might find a riffle or a musket
But you'll never hear a pistol
There may always be
Someone looking for or finding some
Guess I'd like to sell
A good used paperbacked living bible
The song “Paperback Bible” by Lambchop is a masterpiece of satire that comments on the culture of buying and selling used objects. The song begins with the singer expressing a desire to buy a good used paperback living bible, an item that is usually bought with the intention of lending spiritual guidance from one’s library, but instead is reduced to a casual commodity. The singer then goes on to list a series of objects, from a pony cart and an old bird bath, to a four-month-old rat terrier pup, a woman's goats, a drive shaft, and a Berkeline recliner. These objects are all presented in the same manner as options for the reader to purchase, gaining a sense of the absurdity of this culture of buying and selling.
The song then takes a surprising turn, as the singer starts discussing the different types of guns and what they should be used for. The final line of the song is the singer’s intention to sell a used paperback living bible, pointing out the irony that while religious texts are meant to offer spiritual guidance and fulfillment, they are being treated as casual commodities in the same category as the other objects. The song, therefore, offers a subversive commentary on the commodification of spirituality, as well as the consumerist culture that pervades our society.
Line by Line Meaning
I'd like to buy a good
The singer is expressing their desire to purchase a good quality used paperback Bible.
Used paperbacked living bible
The singer is specifically looking for a paperback version of the Bible that has been previously owned.
And I've got some things
The singer has other items that they want to sell or trade.
That I'd like to put out there
The artist wants to advertise and make these items available for others to purchase or trade for.
Like a pony cart and an old bird bath
The artist is offering a pony cart and an old bird bath for sale or trade.
A kitchen sink and a rocking chair
The singer also has a kitchen sink and a rocking chair available for sale or trade.
You can turn me on
The singer is saying that they are available to discuss transactions and can be contacted.
Almost any day at noon
The artist is suggesting that noon is a good time to contact them.
Hey I'd like to put on
The artist has another item they want to offer for sale or trade.
A four-month-old rat terrier pup
The artist has a four-month-old male rat terrier pup for sale or trade.
I think he's a male
The singer believes the rat terrier pup they are offering is male.
And he's marked up pretty and everything
The artist is indicating that the rat terrier pup has nice markings and is otherwise healthy.
This woman's got some goats
The singer is aware of someone who has goats.
But his feet never been on the ground
The rat terrier pup for sale has never been outside.
You can just buy one
The goats mentioned earlier can be purchased individually.
Or you can have the whole herd
Alternatively, the entire herd of goats could be purchased.
Yeah I'd like to find
The artist has another item they are looking for.
A twenty-seven-inch color TV
The singer is looking for a 27-inch color TV.
Has to be non-working
The TV being sought is required to be broken.
An RCA cause I need the parts
An RCA brand TV is being looked for because the artist needs parts from it.
And daily there's an old drive shaft
The artist also has an old drive shaft available for sale or trade.
And the same Berkline recliner
Additionally, there is a used Berkline recliner available for purchase or trade.
It's green and it's cloth
The recliner for sale is green and made of cloth.
And it's been used very little.
The recliner has not been used much and is in good condition.
Then there's a Reba designs
The singer has another item available for purchase.
Size eight, prom pageant dress
The item for sale is a size eight prom or pageant dress.
It's icy blue
The dress is a light blue color.
With sequins worn just once
The dress has only been worn once and has sequins on it.
There are others that are strapless
There are other dresses for sale that are strapless.
But this one's slit above the knee
This particular dress has a slit above the knee.
If you're looking for
The singer is advertising the dress for someone in need of a prom or pageant dress.
Something perfect for that student
The artist thinks this dress would be perfect for a student in need of a prom or pageant dress.
I have always thought
The artist is expressing their personal opinion.
That hand guns were made for shooting people
The artist believes that guns were primarily designed for the purpose of shooting people.
Rather than for sport
The singer thinks shooting guns for fun or sport is not the original intended use.
Why not use a rifle in most other applications
The artist believes that rifles are more appropriate for most other shooting applications.
You might find a rifle or a musket
The singer is suggesting that rifles and muskets are better options for many shooting purposes.
But you'll never hear a pistol
The singer believes that pistols are almost exclusively used for shooting people.
There may always be
The singer is acknowledging the possibility.
Someone looking for or finding some
The artist is saying that there will always be someone looking to buy or find something that the seller has available.
Guess I'd like to sell
The artist is indicating that they would like to sell the Bible they previously mentioned.
A good used paperbacked living bible
The singer is advertising a good quality used paperback Bible for sale.
Lyrics © SCHUBERT MUSIC PUBLISHING INC.
Written by: KURT WAGNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@davidmckelvey2601
One of the most beautiful songs ever made.
@danofthedead1979
my fav Lambchop track, and when i found out how the song came about, i loved it even more
@alasdairduncan3796
That whole intro is just something else !!!
@honestjohn6418
Kurt is amazing
@martysafterhours
this is such a lovely piece of adaptation art/citation art. It made me watch the original movie, and I honestly think this is better. Only thing missing are those silent movies intertitles/title cards. :-)
it was quite surprising to find out that Hathaway's movie is in Technicolor!
@emo19761976
thank you for this
@claudealain85
Les belles graines végétales aiment à donner vie, à éclore; en partant des fumiers les plus infects... il en est de même pour la germination musicale et à ce titre, les états unis d'amérique constituent un terrain propice, composé de toutes les dégénérescences possibles... La grande poubelle nous gratifie de remarquables artistes musicaux.
@rolfisdreamworld489
very fine sond, thank you
@unorthodoxparadox2339
@@williamwest117 Atleast realize your own contradictory "words" in your own pointless statement
@universalwavefunction9046
@@unorthodoxparadox2339 I hope you've become kinder since posting this.