After an eighteen-year hiatus, the band announced their 2023 “Summer of Green” Tour, where they’d play the album “Animals” by Pink Floyd in its entirety. The Frog Brigade now features Sean Lennon on guitar, Harry Waters on the keyboard, and Paolo Baldi on drums, with the only original members left being Les Claypool on bass and vocals, Mike Dillon on percussion, and Skerik on the saxophone.
Purple Onion
Les Claypool's Frog Brigade Lyrics
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Purple Onion...
Purple onion everybody laugh now
Purple onion everybody cry
Purple onion lookin' down at B.O.B.
when he crashed his motorcycle and he died
Old Bob Zimmerman knew the purple onion
Purple onion gave ol' Bob five
Shoot white tears up into the sky
Purple onion
A purple onion...
The lyrics of Les Claypool's Frog Brigade's "Purple Onion" are both intriguing and enigmatic. The song starts with a repeated phrase "A purple onion" which suggests that the onion in question holds some sort of significance to the narrative. In the following verses, the onion takes on a metaphorical meaning as it incites laughter and tears in everybody. The verses carry a somber tone as it sings about B.O.B's fatal motorcycle accident, where he crashed and died. Interestingly, the singer mentions old Bob Zimmerman, who is famously known as Bob Dylan. It is unclear what the significance of the onion's association with Bob Dylan is, but it suggests a deeper, mystical meaning.
As the song progresses, the purple onion becomes more anthropomorphized as it's portrayed as yanking like a freight train and shooting white tears up into the sky. The personification of the onion suggests that it may represent a force beyond human control. It's also worth noting that the phrase 'Purple Onion' could be referencing a venue name, given that there is a live music venue called the Purple Onion in San Francisco. The venue was, in fact, a launching pad for many local musicians and was known for its psychedelic ambiance, which may connect with the mystical and enigmatic themes of the song. Nevertheless, the deeper meaning of the song remains obscure and left to the listener's interpretation.
Line by Line Meaning
A purple onion...
The subject of discussion is a purple onion, which likely represents something else.
Purple Onion...
Reiteration of the subject discussed in the previous line.
Purple onion everybody laugh now
The mention of the purple onion prompts laughter from everyone present.
Purple onion everybody cry
The purple onion now causes everyone to cry, likely indicating a shift in mood or tone.
Purple onion lookin' down at B.O.B.
The purple onion is observing B.O.B., possibly indicating some sort of judgement or scrutiny.
when he crashed his motorcycle and he died
B.O.B. has died in a motorcycle accident, which could be related to the purple onion's observation of him.
Old Bob Zimmerman knew the purple onion
Bob Zimmerman, aka Bob Dylan, had some sort of connection or relationship with the purple onion.
Purple onion gave ol' Bob five
The purple onion gave Bob Dylan a high five, a gesture of congratulations or approval.
Purple onion yankin' like a freight train
The purple onion is pulling or tugging with significant force, possibly indicating aggression or power.
Shoot white tears up into the sky
The purple onion is producing tears, which are white instead of the usual clear, and sending them skyward. This could represent something unusual or abnormal about the onion.
Purple onion
A final reiteration of the subject of discussion, leaving its meaning and significance open to interpretation.
Contributed by Sophie W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.