In 2001, Preston School of Industry released All This Sounds Gas, which was recorded mainly in Stockton, California. The album is said to be comprised of the songs that were rejected by Pavement on their final album, Terror Twilight. The band released its second album, Monsoon, in 2004, with studio contributions from members of The Minus 5 and Wilco.
Preston School of Industry went inactive after their September 2004 Australian tour, though Kannberg revealed in late 2006 he had been slowly working on a record: "Don't know when it's going to be released. Just taking my time, nothing special. I've got the songs, I just haven't figured out how I want to do it yet. This winter, I'll probably get it done."
Doping for Gold
Preston School of Industry Lyrics
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And you wish you were
Gold tired of this life and all the things it holds
You wish you were holding
Columbus in your hands all you got all you got is a simple plan
So you wanna be golden
Mr. lee marvin tan
Still tired of this life
Driving the white van do what lee marvin says
Take it all take it all
You hit the ramp hit
The ramp somebody tell me somebody tell me
Im trying hard to be right im trying hard to be right right right right .....
The song starts off with the desire of wanting to be golden – a metaphor for wanting to be successful and wealthy. The repetition of “you wish you were” emphasizes the longing for something more than what is currently held. The mention of Columbus and the simple plan indicate a desire for adventure and a straightforward path to success. Mr. Lee Marvin is mentioned, who was an iconic Hollywood actor known for his tough guy roles in movies like “The Dirty Dozen” and “The Big Heat”. This could be a reference to wanting to be as tough and cool as him, perhaps even idolizing him.
The second verse mentions being tired of the current life and all the things that were scammed, perhaps referring to the pitfalls and setbacks that come with trying to be successful. The mention of a white van and doing what Lee Marvin says may be interpreted as following in his footsteps, taking cues from his tough guy persona. The repetition of “take it all” could indicate a desire to go all in and take risks in order to achieve success, even if it may come with its own consequences. The last lines “Im trying hard to be right im trying hard to be right right right right” could be interpreted as a plea for validation and wanting to do the right thing in order to achieve success, perhaps even questioning whether or not the ends justify the means.
Line by Line Meaning
So you wanna be golden
You desire to be successful and wealthy.
And you wish you were
You yearn to possess the qualities or characteristics of a successful person.
Gold tired of this life and all the things it holds
You are fed up with your current life and the experiences it entails.
You wish you were holding
You desire to hold something tangible that represents your success.
Columbus in your hands all you got all you got is a simple plan
You crave a significant achievement like Columbus discovering a new world, but all you possess is a basic, uncomplicated idea or strategy.
So you wanna be golden
You desire to be successful and wealthy.
Mr. lee marvin tan
Refers to the actor Lee Marvin's famous quotes and roles in movies which symbolize power.
Still tired of this life
You are still weary of your current lifestyle.
And all the things you scammed
You feel guilty about the fraudulent activities you committed to obtain wealth.
Driving the white van do what lee marvin says
You will do anything to succeed and fulfill your desire for power.
Take it all take it all
You want to accumulate as much wealth and power as possible.
You hit the ramp hit the ramp somebody tell me somebody tell me
You are seeking guidance and advice on how to achieve success and wealth.
Im trying hard to be right im trying hard to be right right right right .....
You strive to make the right decisions and actions to achieve your goal of success and wealth.
Contributed by Isabella J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.