Mott the Hoople formed when Silence, a not-too-successful group from the Welsh borders, was joined by session pianist and rock and roll hopeful Ian Hunter along with musicians Mick Ralphs, Verden Allen, Pete Overend Watts, and Dale Griffin . They developed from Dylan obsessives to their own character over the course of four albums for Island. They were a very popular live act but only achieved brief commercial success.
In 1971, the band was close to splitting up but continued to record track "All the Young Dudes", a song written for them by up and coming pop star and fan David Bowie. Three more albums and several pop hits later, the group fell apart after Ian Hunter left in 1974. The remaining members mutated into Mott, an 'also-ran' band which released two albums before disbanding in 1976. Original guitarist Ralphs had a massive boost in his fortunes as a member of rockers Bad Company.
Griffin died in his sleep on 17 January 2016 at the age of 67 and Watts died, almost exactly a year later, on 22 January 2017, from throat cancer.
Sucker
Mott the Hoople Lyrics
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Come on tell me 'bout the nights that I make you cry
Two tiny purple hands crawling out across the floor
All I could hear was a voice 'give me more more more'
My baby call me when she want a tale
My baby call me when she want a tale
My baby call me when she want a tale
She knows its right in her heart I never fail
God help the woman who's late for work I get a green light flashing red
Like a superstar [brass town?] queen who's crown I bled
Now I just ran out of aspirin for an aching head
So I guess I'll have to do it just one more time instead
My baby call me when she want a tale
My baby call me when she want a tale
My baby call me when she want a tale
She knows its right in her heart I never fail
She's a sucker
Good games play games no names well that's alright if you can stand the pain
You can smoke my cigar all night through the link in your chain
Stand up baby its time to go
Well look what's here maybe if we do it slow
My baby call me when she want a tale
My baby call me when she want a tale
My baby call me when she want a tale
My baby call me when she want a tale
My baby call me when she want a tale
My baby call me when she want a tale
(fade)
The lyrics to Mott the Hoople's song "Sucker" depict a man who is a self-proclaimed sadist who enjoys taking his partner for a ride. He asks her to tell him about the nights he made her cry. The mention of "two tiny purple hands crawling out across the floor" could suggest a reference to a drug addiction, with the voice asking for more drugs. The man's partner calls him when she wants to hear a story, indicating his ability to spin a good tale. He claims that he never fails to please her, labeling her as a "sucker."
The lyrics then describe a woman who is late for work and the man's disregard for her time as he looks for one more ride. He likens himself to a superstar queen whose crown he has bled, indicating a possible history of destructive relationships or dominance. The man, now out of aspirin for his headache, resigns himself to doing it "just one more time instead." He ends the song with a repetition of his partner calling him for a tale, indicating a cyclical and possibly unhealthy relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Hi there your friendly neighbourhood sadist want to take you for a ride
The singer is a sadistic person who wants to take the listener on a ride.
Come on tell me 'bout the nights that I make you cry
The singer wants the listener to talk about the times when the singer made them cry.
Two tiny purple hands crawling out across the floor
There are tiny hands crawling on the floor, possibly a surreal image meant to convey a sense of unease.
All I could hear was a voice 'give me more more more'
The artist can only hear a voice asking for more.
My baby call me when she want a tale
The listener's partner calls them when they want a story.
She knows its right in her heart I never fail
The listener's partner trusts that the singer will never fail to give them a good story.
She's a sucker
The singer considers the listener's partner to be a sucker for always calling them for stories.
God help the woman who's late for work I get a green light flashing red
The artist is dangerous when someone is late for work, symbolized by a green light turning red.
Like a superstar [brass town?] queen who's crown I bled
The artist compares themselves to a superstar queen who they have injured for the sake of their own gain.
Now I just ran out of aspirin for an aching head
The artist has run out of aspirin to relieve their headache.
So I guess I'll have to do it just one more time instead
The singer will have to do something else to relieve their headache.
Good games play games no names well that's alright if you can stand the pain
The artist suggests that playing games without using names is fine as long as one can tolerate the pain.
You can smoke my cigar all night through the link in your chain
The listener can smoke the singer's cigar all night by using the link in their chain.
Stand up baby its time to go
The singer tells the listener's partner that it's time to leave.
Well look what's here maybe if we do it slow
The singer sees something and suggests taking things slow.
My baby call me when she want a tale
The listener's partner calls them when they want a story.
My baby call me when she want a tale
The listener's partner calls them when they want a story.
My baby call me when she want a tale
The listener's partner calls them when they want a story.
My baby call me when she want a tale
The listener's partner calls them when they want a story.
My baby call me when she want a tale
The listener's partner calls them when they want a story.
My baby call me when she want a tale
The listener's partner calls them when they want a story.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: IAN HUNTER, MICHAEL GEOFFREY RALPHS, PETER OVEREND WATTS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind