St. Louis
Rainbow Butt Monkeys Lyrics
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You pushed it down.
Looked so wicked,
Wearing your crown,
Of cotton thorns.
I guess you fake the pain, the pain.
But since I can't really afford,
To give you what you want, what you want.
Here I am,
Come and get me.
Bundled up,
Just like my grandma sent me.
Why'd you give it up,
It's like you never tried, you tried.
But if you try for something more,
You'll be giving up again, up again.
Picked up a rock,
Wishing it was skin.
Never did know,
Where to begin.
To be more of me,
I need to see less of you, of you.
But since that same old feeling has gone,
This won't be near as hard, near as hard.
But since that same old feeling has gone,
This won't be near as hard.
The song St. Louis by Rainbow Butt Monkeys is a song about a toxic relationship. The lyrics describe how one person in the relationship holds all the power and control, while the other person is left feeling powerless and confused. The lines "Held it up, you pushed it down, looked so wicked wearing your crown, of cotton thorns" paint a picture of someone who is manipulating and hurting their partner. The partner being hurt is aware of what is happening but is unable to give them what they want, which implies that they are being emotionally manipulated. The line "I guess you fake the pain, the pain" shows the partner's realization that the manipulator is perhaps not experiencing the pain they claim they are experiencing.
The second verse describes the partner's attempt at self-preservation when they say "Picked up a rock wishing it was skin, never did know where to begin," which suggests that they feel like they need to harm themselves to make the manipulator happy. They come to the realization that they need to see less of the manipulator to be more like themselves. They have to give up something that has become toxic in their life, but they know it won't be easy. Despite the hardship, they know that it's what they need to do, as evidenced by the line "But since that same old feeling has gone, this won't be near as hard."
Line by Line Meaning
Held it up,
You tried to hold onto something, but someone pushed it down.
You pushed it down.
Someone pushed down something you were trying to hold onto.
Looked so wicked,
The way you acted was not good or admirable.
Wearing your crown,
You seemed to be in charge, but your power may not be real or good.
Of cotton thorns.
Your crown may look soft or comfortable, but it's actually full of pain and struggle.
I guess you fake the pain, the pain.
Perhaps you pretend to feel pain, but it may not be real or justified.
But since I can't really afford,
You can't afford to give someone what they want or need.
To give you what you want, what you want.
Someone wants something from you, but you can't give it to them.
Here I am,
You are present or available to someone.
Come and get me.
Someone is invited to come and interact with you.
Bundled up,
You are dressed warmly for cold weather.
Just like my grandma sent me.
This is clothes your grandma chose for you.
Why'd you give it up,
Someone gave something up or stopped trying for it.
It's like you never tried, you tried.
The person may not have given their best effort or seemed apathetic.
But if you try for something more,
The suggestion is to attempt to achieve something greater.
You'll be giving up again, up again.
However, the fear is that you'll ultimately give up on that too.
Picked up a rock,
You picked up a common or simple object.
Wishing it was skin.
You may wish you were something or someone else.
Never did know,
You lacked knowledge about something specific.
Where to begin.
You didn't know how or where to start on something.
To be more of me,
You want to become more like yourself, perhaps by shedding external influences.
I need to see less of you, of you.
In order to become more like yourself, you need to distance yourself from someone else.
But since that same old feeling has gone,
Since your emotions have changed or evolved, things are now easier.
This won't be near as hard, near as hard.
This task or situation is not as challenging as it once was.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: SCOTT ANDERSON, SEAN ANDERSON, JAMES RYAN BLACK, ROB GOMMERMAN, RICK JACKETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Charles Luo
One of the best tracks on the album.
mweiland27
Sounds like a leftover of Stone Temple Pilot's debut album Core
Dj Ruby Jay
That's a massive compliment being that that was an freaking AMAZING Album one of the greatest of all time for alt rock
Todd Pretty
If F11 won't play these songs we need a RBM tribute band. I need to hear these songs live again as opposed to my iPod. This sucks. Saw the Butt Monkeys in 1995 at Peoples Pub in Edmonton. Wicked show. Bought a shirt and wore it until 01. Rick from F11 signed it for me at sommersault 2000.
Jimmy Edgerton
Just pure gold
billabongwoop
i bet if they did this now, like a re release or something, it would go world wide :P
Cory McDonald
@makingstrudels This is Finger Eleven before the rise to stardom ... would you expect any different from a elite class of musicians ?
ironhell6
Nothing really to say. I've had this cd for years, just want to be the first to comment on something.....ya, that's about all.
Jimmy Edgerton
Just to own even the cassette is kinda cool
Jimmy Edgerton
Sorry but probably the best dueling solo still after all these years.....