After an eighteen-year hiatus, the band announced their 2023 âSummer of Greenâ Tour, where theyâd play the album âAnimalsâ 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.
Up on the Roof
Les Claypool's Frog Brigade Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It huts with a terrible bite
They don't come knockin' on my door
Or slink across the greasy floor
I'm up on the roof again
Watchin' the sparklers dance and play
Up on the roof again
The jones it likes to call my name
Ain't got no one else for to blame
It grabs me by the shorty hairs
And drags me damn near everywhere
I'm up on the roof again
Watchin' the sparklers dance and play
Up on the roof again
Please don't take my ladder away(3x)
The lyrics to Les Claypool's Frog Brigade's song "Up on the Roof" seem to be about addiction and the struggle to resist its temptations. The "jones" referred to could be interpreted as addiction or the desire to use drugs, which often comes in the night and hits with a "terrible bite". The singer seems to be acknowledging that their addiction is a terrible force in their life, as they say that the jones "drags me damn near everywhere".
Despite this struggle, the singer has found a coping mechanism - going up on the roof and watching "the sparklers dance and play". This could represent finding beauty and peace in the small things of life, despite everything else being in turmoil. However, the singer seems to be aware that this is not a permanent solution, as they plea "Please don't take my ladder away" - perhaps a metaphor for asking for help in resisting the addiction.
Overall, the lyrics of "Up on the Roof" paint a picture of a person fighting a battle against addiction, but managing to find moments of peace and beauty in the midst of it all.
Line by Line Meaning
The jones comes in late at night
A craving, possibly for drugs or alcohol, presents itself when darkness falls
It huts with a terrible bite
The craving is intense and difficult to ignore, causing physical and emotional pain
They don't come knockin' on my door
Nobody is actively tempting the singer, the craving arises independently
Or slink across the greasy floor
The source of the craving is unclear and perhaps unsavory
I'm up on the roof again
The artist has climbed to a high, secluded place to resist temptation
Watchin' the sparklers dance and play
The singer is distracting themselves by focusing on something beautiful and joyful
Please don't take my ladder away(3x)
The singer desperately hopes that their own actions won't lead to losing their ability to resist temptation
The jones it likes to call my name
The craving feels personal and almost sentient
Ain't got no one else for to blame
The artist acknowledges that they alone are responsible for their own sobriety
It grabs me by the shorty hairs
The craving has a powerful grip on the artist, as if it's pulling them by the hair
And drags me damn near everywhere
The craving affects all aspects of the singer's life, and they struggle to escape it
Contributed by Arianna L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@edwardnavedo9682
The jones comes in late at night
It hits with a terrible bite
They don't come knockin' on my door
Or slink across the greasy floor
I'm up on the roof again
Watchin' the sparklers dance and play
Up on the roof again
Please don't take my ladder away(3x)
The jones it likes to call my name
Ain't got no one else for to blame
It grabs me by the shorty hairs
And drags me damn near everywhere
I'm up on the roof again
Watchin' the sparklers dance and play
Up on the roof again
Please don't take my ladder away(3x)
@cannolibros
Les Claypool, the deity of bass guitar
@avonmarttens
thank you leslie for this song, the bass is just glorious
@jamesjuka8343
One of his best songs ever
@matthewphillips9938
Man that bass invokes fear I reckon ole Tim Burton would be jealous. Les should start making claymation movies !!!
@hapilydamaged
hah.... "start"
@Colakaze
I heard this at the Wallingford show last night. Sounded fucking amazing.
@BuckRocks001
Why can't I get this album on iTunes? Ugh!
@420Hitter420
Saw in Asheville, NC a few years ago. Was lookin forward to seeing Brain play live for once but to my surprise, Herb was back drumming for them. The band was awsome but the crowd was full of stupid ass people that kept throwing shit on stage and pissed Les off so honestly I think the show could have been better but I do not fault the band at all for it. If ya got a lame crowd it's hard to give them your all.
@johnmonigold8081
When I seen him at Mr. smalls in Pittsburgh he said this roofer he knew had a method head working for him and he would take the ladder away when he would go get his fix on. He explained it right before he played it. The crowed was laughing there asses off as I also.
@larryslemp9698
Heck, just 'your' story is hilarious!!