It is probably most famous for its inclusion on Nirvana's 1994 live album, MTV Unplugged in New York.
Lake of Fire
Meat Puppets Lyrics
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They don't go to heaven where the angels fly
They go to the lake of fire and fry
Won't see them again 'till the fourth of July
I knew a lady who lived in Duluth
She got bit by a dog with a rabid tooth
She went to her grave a little too soon
Where do bad folks go when they die?
They don't go to heaven where the angels fly
They go to the lake of fire and fry
Won't see them again 'till the fourth of July
Now the people cry and the people moan
And they look for a dry place to call their home
And try to find someplace to rest their bones
While the angels and the devils fight to claim them for their own
Where do bad folks go when they die?
They don't go to heaven where the angels fly
They go to the lake of fire and fry
Won't see them again 'till the fourth of July
The song "Lake of Fire" by Meat Puppets appears to be a commentary on the afterlife and the destinations of those who have behaved badly in life. The lyrics suggest that these individuals will not end up in heaven, but instead will be cast into a fiery lake where they will suffer. This is in contrast to the idea of heaven as a place where angels reside and good people go after they die.
The song goes on to describe a woman from Duluth who died after being bitten by a dog with rabies. The singer suggests that she may have been one of the bad folks referenced earlier, which is why she did not end up in heaven. However, the image of her howling at the moon as she flew away suggests that her fate may not be as straightforward as the lyrics imply.
The final verse of the song describes the human response to death and the afterlife. People cry and moan and search for a place to rest, while angels and devils fight over their souls. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the idea that bad people will go to the lake of fire and won't be seen again until the fourth of July.
Overall, the lyrics of "Lake of Fire" suggest a dark and foreboding vision of the afterlife, one in which the fate of bad people is inescapable and terrible. However, the use of specific imagery and references to individual characters suggests that there may be more to this story than meets the eye.
Line by Line Meaning
Where do bad folks go when they die?
What is the destination of the wrongdoers after demise?
They don't go to heaven where the angels fly
They do not ascend to the divine abode of ethereal beings
They go to the lake of fire and fry
They are consigned to the scorching abyss to suffer
Won't see them again 'till the fourth of July
They will remain hidden until the American annual independence day
I knew a lady who lived in Duluth
I was acquainted with a woman dwelling in Duluth
She got bit by a dog with a rabid tooth
She was mauled by a canine containing the rabies virus
She went to her grave a little too soon
She passed away prematurely
And she flew away howling at the yellow moon
Her soul soared towards the golden lunar body while crying out
Now the people cry and the people moan
Currently the populace laments and wails
And they look for a dry place to call their home
They search for a parched land to reside in permanently
And try to find someplace to rest their bones
And endeavor to locate a spot to lay their remains
While the angels and the devils fight to claim them for their own
Meanwhile, the celestial and infernal entities contend over their possession
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Curtis Kirkwood
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@aa-hi4hg
Where do bad folks go when they die?
They don't go to heaven where the angels fly
They go to the lake of fire and fry
Won't see them again 'till the fourth of July
I knew a lady who lived in Duluth
She got bit by a dog with a rabid tooth
She went to her grave a little too soon
And she flew away howling at the yellow moon
Where do bad folks go when they die?
They don't go to heaven where the angels fly
They go to the lake of fire and fry
Won't see them again 'till the fourth of July
Now the people cry and the people moan
And they look for a dry place to call their home
And try to find someplace to rest their bones
While the angels and the devils fight to claim them for their own
Where do bad folks go when they die?
They don't go to heaven where the angels fly
They go to the lake of fire and fry
Won't see them again 'till the fourth of July
@xain86k70
I always thought Kurt was struggling a bit with the pitch of the vocals on his cover, but the guy was actually spot on lol. Amazing 😂
@DerSaa
Kurt made it smoother actually. 🤣👍
@donjohn2695
The vocals here are absolutely abysmal
@checktheskies5040
This band and record It's had a effect on his(KC) own lyrical styles I think how old was Kurt in 1983-4?
@TheIntroGuy-os3fh
he never fails lol
@PerryCaramello
@@donjohn2695but it works
@apollo9844
He sounds like a drunk man doing karaoke, and it’s perfect.
@olivers.3684
Totally nailed it :D and I love it!
@michaelgilmore5018
Perfect description
@HumanHMS
exatamente! kkkk exactly!