The style and sound of the band is a unique, somewhat bizarre mix between Anastasio's jam band style, the bass-oriented funk metal music of Claypool, and the reggae-influenced beats of Copeland. To many, this is considered to be the bridge between the music of Phish and Primus. After the release of the band's only album, The Grand Pecking Order in 2001, the band's members returned to work of material with their main bands.
On February 10, 2006, it was announced that Oysterhead would be reuniting for one more set at the Bonnaroo Music Festival.
Owner of the World
Oysterhead Lyrics
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He use to be the one
Like hundred hungry dogs in heat
On cinnabar and rum
Ground and sift and washed it
Dried it in the sun
But his heart just wouldn't buy it
And his feet began to run
Now he's just another man
Who use to be the Owner of the World
Down an empty highway
Pass sycamores and oaks
Then stop for seven hours
The things he made us do
The owner of the world
Liked always taking more
Standing on the beach
Or walking out the door
He use to be the Owner of the World
Now he's just another man
Who use to be the Owner of the World
The lyrics of Oysterhead's song "Owner of the World" tell the story of a man who used to be in a position of power and wealth, as he was the owner of the world. However, his desire for success and power ultimately led to his downfall, as his heart and conscience started to question the immoral actions he was taking to achieve success. He became disillusioned with his own wealth and power, and decided to abandon his lavish lifestyle by running away, leaving behind everything he once owned.
The lyrics of the song are full of powerful imagery that reflect the man's journey. For example, the line "Like hundred hungry dogs in heat on cinnabar and rum" could be interpreted as a metaphor for the man's insatiable desire to accumulate more power, wealth, and status. Similarly, the line "Ground and sift and washed it, dried it in the sun" is a metaphor for the man's attempts to refine and manipulate the world to his advantage.
Overall, "Owner of the World" is a commentary on the dangers of greed and ambition, as well as the emptiness that can come with achieving success at all costs.
Line by Line Meaning
He use to own the world
At some point in the past, he had complete control and ownership over the entire world.
He use to be the one
He use to be the most important person with a lot of power and influence.
Like hundred hungry dogs in heat
On cinnabar and rum
His desire for control and success was as intense and insatiable as that of a hundred hungry dogs in heat fueled by cinnabar and rum.
Ground and sift and washed it
Dried it in the sun
He put in a lot of hard work and effort to extract and process his resources, then laid them out to dry under the sun.
But his heart just wouldn't buy it
And his feet began to run
Though he had all he wanted, he felt a sense of dissatisfaction and unease within him, which made him run away from it all.
He use to be the Owner of the World
Now he's just another man
He used to have a lot of power and control over the world, but now he's lost his grip and is just like any other ordinary person.
Down an empty highway
Pass sycamores and oaks
Then stop for seven hours
He's wandering aimlessly down an empty road, passing by trees and plants, and then stopping to rest for quite some time.
The things he made us do
The owner of the world
Liked always taking more
When he had control over the world, he forced and manipulated people to do things his way, as he was driven by an insatiable thirst for more power and resources.
Standing on the beach
Or walking out the door
Whether he was relaxing on the beach or leaving somewhere, he was always in control and calling the shots as an owner.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: LES CLAYPOOL, STEWART COPELAND, ERNEST ANASTASIO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind