I Walk on Gilded Splinters
Paul Weller Lyrics


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Some people think they jive me
But I know they must be crazy
Don't see their misfortune
I guess they're just too lazy

Je suie le grand zombie
My yellow belt of chosen
Ain't afraid of no tomcat
Fill my brains with poison

Walk through the fire
Fly through the smoke
See my enemy
At the end of their rope

Walk on pins and needles
See what they can do
Walk on guilded splinters
With the King of the Zulu

Walk to me, get it, come, come
Walk on guilded splinters
Walk to me, get it, come, come
Walk on guilded splinters

Till I burn up
Till I burn up
Till I burn up
Till I burn up

I roll out my coffin
Drink poison in my chalice
Pride begins to fade
And you all feel my malice

Put gris-gris on your doorstep
And soon you be in the gutter
Melt your heart like butter
And I can make you stutter

Walk to me, get it, come, come
Walk on guilded splinters
Walk to me, get it, come, come
Walk on guilded splinters

Till I burn up
Till I burn up




Till I burn up
Till I burn up

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Paul Weller’s song “I Walk on Gilded Splinters” are mysterious and intriguing. The song seems to be about a powerful and dangerous figure who is not to be messed with. The opening lines speak of how others may underestimate or dismiss the singer, but that they are wrong to do so. The lyrics suggest that the singer is a “zombie” who has no fear of “tomcats” and seeks to fill their mind with “poison”. They walk through fire, fly through smoke, and see their enemy at the end of their rope. They walk on pins and needles and gilded splinters with the king of the Zulu. The repetition of the phrase “walk to me, get it, come come” suggests some kind of ritual or power dynamic.


The second half of the song takes on a more threatening tone, with the singer rolling out their coffin and drinking poison. They speak of putting a “gris-gris” on someone’s doorstep, which is a voodoo term for a protective charm or amulet, but in this context it could be interpreted as a curse. The singer seems to take pleasure in causing others to suffer, melting their hearts like butter and making them stutter. The repeated refrain of “till I burn up” reinforces the idea that the singer is both powerful and self-destructive.


Overall, the lyrics to “I Walk on Gilded Splinters” are enigmatic and open to interpretation. They suggest a dangerous and powerful figure who may be part of some kind of esoteric tradition or religious practice, but the specifics are left up to the listener’s imagination.


Line by Line Meaning

Some people think they jive me
Some individuals believe that they can deceive, trick or fool me.


But I know they must be crazy
However, I am aware that those individuals must be insane or delusional to assume such things and fail to realize the truth.


Don't see their misfortune
I cannot observe or perceive their unfortunate circumstances or troubles.


I guess they're just too lazy
I presume that they are just lethargic, inactive or apathetic to change their current condition or state.


Je suis le grand zombie
I am the great zombie.


My yellow belt of chosen
My yellow belt of the selected ones.


Ain't afraid of no tomcat
I am not frightened by a male cat, especially one that is considered brave, bold or aggressive.


Fill my brains with poison
Let me subject my mind to harmful or lethal substances that can impair my senses, judgment and comprehension.


Walk through the fire
I will move ahead despite great danger, obstacles or difficulty.


Fly through the smoke
I will soar above confusion, chaos or destruction.


See my enemy
I am aware of the person or entity that is opposed to me or threatens me.


At the end of their rope
That person or entity is very close to giving up or failing.


Walk on pins and needles
I tread carefully or nervously, being alert to potential danger or harm.


See what they can do
Let me observe their response, ability or limit under certain circumstances.


Walk on guilded splinters
I proceed confidently and gracefully on a path adorned with luxurious but false or deceptive appearance.


With the King of the Zulu
I am accompanied by the powerful and respected leader of the Zulu people.


Walk to me, get it, come, come
Come to me, understand it, hurry, hurry.


Walk on guilded splinters
Proceed confidently and gracefully on a path adorned with luxurious but false or deceptive appearance.


Till I burn up
Until I am consumed by flames, either literally or metaphorically.


I roll out my coffin
I am not afraid of death because I have already prepared for it, as if it is a routine or expected event.


Drink poison in my chalice
I am willing to imbibe or accept harmful or lethal substances, as if it is a normal or desirable act.


Pride begins to fade
My sense of self-importance, arrogance or superiority gradually diminishes.


And you all feel my malice
And everyone will experience my intense and spiteful anger, hostility or revenge.


Put gris-gris on your doorstep
I will perform a voodoo or ritualistic act to bring misfortune, suffering or harm to someone, specifically at their residence or place of dwelling.


And soon you be in the gutter
As a result of my curse or spell, you will fall to a lowly or disadvantaged position or condition.


Melt your heart like butter
I have the power to overwhelm or soften your emotions, particularly your feelings of love or compassion, with ease or without much effort.


And I can make you stutter
And I have the capability to cause you to fumble, hesitate or stutter while speaking, presumably due to fear, anxiety or surprise.


Till I burn up
Until I am consumed by flames, either literally or metaphorically.




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Creaux

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Omar Rahman

Some people think they jive me
But I know they must be crazy
Don't see dey misfortune
Guess, they just too lazy
J'suis the Grand Zombie
My yellow belt of choison
Ain't afraid of no tom cat
Fill my brains with poison
Walk through the fire
Fly through the smoke
See my enemy
At the end of dey rope
Walk on pins and needles
See what they can do
Walk on gilded splinters
With the king of the Zulu
Kon kon, the kiddy kon kon
Walk on gilded splinters
Kon kon, the kiddy kon kon
Walk on gilded splinters
'Ti Alberta
('Ti Alberta)
'Ti Alberta
('Ti Alberta)
'Ti Alberta
('Ti Alberta)
'Ti Alberta
('Ti Alberta)
Roll outta my coffin
Drink poison in my chalice
Pride begins to fade
And y'all feel my malice
Put gris gris on your doorstep
Soon you'll be in the gutter
I can melt your heart like butter
A-a-and I can make you stutter
Kon kon, the kiddy kon kon
Walk on gilded splinters
Kon kon, the kiddy kon kon
Walk on gilded splinters
'Ti Alberta
('Ti Alberta)
'Ti Alberta
('Ti Alberta)
'Ti Alberta
('Ti Alberta)
'Ti Alberta
('Ti Alberta)


Keep liking so the lyrics comes up for everyone. Respect The Wire



GCgl

No that's wrong lyrics. Here it is the correct:

Some people think theyre jammy
But I know they must be crazy
Cant see their misfortune
Even if theyre lazy
Walk throughout the fire
Drive throughout the smoke
See my enemy at the end of the rope
Walk on piles of needles
See what they can do
Walk on gilded splinters
With the king of the zulus
Kon kon, the kiddy kon kon
Walk on gilded splinters
Kon kon, the kiddy kon kon
Walk on gilded splinters
Here I go, now
Til I murder, til Im dead
I rode out my coffee
By drinking poison from my chalice
Propped against my faith
I drink oil for my malice
Meet me on your doorstep
Soon well be in the gutter
Melt you just like butter
Ill make you stutter
Walk throughout the fire
Drive throughout the smoke
See my enemy at the end of the rope
Walk on piles of needles
See what they can do
Walk on gilded splinters
With the king of the zulus
Kon kon, the kiddy kon kon
Walk on gilded splinters
Kon kon, the kiddy kon kon
Walk on gilded splinters
Til I murder, til Im dead



Ho Fla

I came across this cover version long before I came to know the TV show THE WIRE. This verison was used as the outro theme.



Not as good as the version done by HUMBLE PIE in 1971. Still, it has its moments.


Origianlly written and performed by Mac Rebennack, better known as Dr. John and first published in early 1968.


Liste to the original and the things done by Humble Pie.



All comments from YouTube:

zoo05zoo

The decision to have this during the montage of season 4 of "The Wire" was pure genius. It's not originally made for inner city Baltimore, but it's tone, pace and message is definitely inner city America and really, any place in which people are having a difficult walk through life.

Dan The Animator

I think it was the first song I ever Shazammed after bulldozing over my table when the finale was aired. Absolutely magical of a montage and song

I can’t get over each version of this song too! All amazing, Humble Pie, Dr John and Peters

San Yates

Paul Weller is one of them dudes that makes wearing your emotions on your sleeve cool, but yea the way they used this song at the end of season 4, it was almost made to sound like the sounding call to revolution…

Only to be let down and trapped into the cycle once again by season 5.

Dante Andolini

@The Hippocrocapig dr john tune originally lol

The Hippocrocapig

Thats the genius of Paul Weller

physphil

No matter who he is or what he's done... you look him right in the eye.

mustapha khalib

TheWonderStraw I say that when I hear this song!

TheWonderStraw

Michael.......Michael! The Gun!

Furniture Person2001

Stands alone beyond The Wire. Quiet your mind, close your eyes, & just listen. Amazing work of musical art.

ann marie Murray

Just finished The Wire Season 4.....the plight of the young, disenfranchised kids is truly heartbreaking....

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