He is a founding member of Primus and formed a trio named Oysterhead with Trey Anastasio and Stewart Copeland.
Nothin' Ventured
Les Claypool Lyrics
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His old time dentures pitted and coffee stained
Drove a milk truck for an outfit called Dairy Time
Till the cobwebs filled and clouded his mind
Something borrowed, something blue
Rest assured her love was always true
They raised their Sons in a place called Tomales Bay
He doesn't worry but will often pine
TheTBiggest obstacle is passin time
He sold his house and bought a big old wood trawler
Now he drags the ocean to earn a square dollar
Nothin' ventured, nothin' gained
The salty air helps to fade the pain
A simple man with a simple wish
Affable seas and an occasional load of fish
Nothin' ventured, nothin' gained
Every now and then
Yer gonna get slapped with a slab of rain
Nothin' ventured, nothin' gained
Some die and leave their mark
Some just a stain
Nothin' ventured nothin' gained...
The song Nothin' Ventured by Les Claypool tells a story about a man who has experienced a lot of ups and downs in life. The first verse talks about the man's dental issues due to his age, and his past job driving a milk truck for Dairy Time. Despite his struggles, he continues to push through even when he loses his job due to aging. The second verse is about the man's wife, who he loved deeply and raised their sons together with. However, she tragically passed away from melanoma.
The chorus "Nothin' ventured, nothin' gained" is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the idea that taking risks is necessary in life to achieve success. Despite the man's losses, he perseveres and makes a bold decision to sell his house and buy a big old wood trawler. He now drags the ocean to earn a square dollar, while also finding peace in the sea and fishing.
Overall the song Nothin' Ventured highlights the idea that taking risks and trying new things may lead to success and happiness, even if there are difficulties along the way. The man in the song has experienced loss and heartache, but he continues to push forward and find new ways to make a living.
Line by Line Meaning
Nothin' ventured, nothin' gained
If you don't take risks, you won't reap the rewards
His old time dentures pitted and coffee stained
His dentures were old and worn from years of use and stained from drinking coffee
Drove a milk truck for an outfit called Dairy Time
He used to drive a milk truck for a company called Dairy Time
Till the cobwebs filled and clouded his mind
But he eventually got older and started losing his mental sharpness
Something borrowed, something blue
A traditional phrase that refers to what a bride is supposed to wear on her wedding day for good luck
Rest assured her love was always true
She always loved him and he never doubted it
They raised their Sons in a place called Tomales Bay
They lived and raised their children in a town called Tomales Bay
Then melanoma came and took her away
But unfortunately, she died from melanoma
He doesn't worry but will often pine
He tries not to worry but often gets sad and misses her
The biggest obstacle is passin time
His biggest struggle is coping with the passage of time without her
He sold his house and bought a big old wood trawler
So he sold his house and bought a large wooden boat used for fishing
Now he drags the ocean to earn a square dollar
And now he makes a living fishing the ocean to earn money
The salty air helps to fade the pain
Being out on the ocean helps him to forget about his pain for a while
A simple man with a simple wish
He's a simple man who just wants a peaceful life
Affable seas and an occasional load of fish
He enjoys the calm and friendly sea and hopes to catch a good haul of fish now and then
Every now and then, Yer gonna get slapped with a slab of rain
There will always be occasional setbacks or hardships, like getting caught in a big rainstorm
Some die and leave their mark, Some just a stain
Some people leave a lasting legacy behind when they die, while others are forgotten like a stain
Nothin' ventured, nothin' gained
It's important to take risks in life in order to reap the rewards
Contributed by Arianna P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.