In 1999, Rocky Votolato branched out from his work with Waxwing, having written a handful of songs which did not really fit in with their more aggressive, fast tempo syle. Along the way he has toured with the likes of Damien Jurado, Small Brown Bike, The Get Up Kids, The New Amsterdams, Owen and The Casket Lottery, members of the latter having provided assistance as backing musicians on occasion. His studio albums have also been littered with appearances from some of Seattle's finest musicians (including players in the bands Red Stars Theory, Sharks Keep Moving, The Blood Brothers, Death Cab for Cutie, Pedro the Lion and Sub Pop solo artist Rosie Thomas). On the production side, Votolato has worked with Matt Bayles (Pearl Jam, Botch, Murder City Devils, Hayden), along with Chris Walla (of Death Cab for Cutie). It is a creative input which has helped see Rocky progress sylistically with every release, from his low key self-titled album released in 1999 - all pretty much recorded live, right through to his recent, alt-country, folk-esque offering, 'Makers'. A video was shot for the first track of Makers, "White Daisy Passing", a song which also appears on the soundtrack of the forthcoming Seattle indie feature film Cthulu.
Rocky also starred in the film 'The Edge of Quarrel', which he worked on with Dave Larson from Excursion Records. It also includes members of the Murder City Devils and Botch, and is about a gang war between straightedgers and punk rockers.
He is married with two children, and lives in Seattle.
Prison Is Private Property
Rocky Votolato Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of what looks to be an evil empire where short-term earnings mean everything
There's a pressure to deliver here, your gonna get hurt if you don't play this game
Nobody will ever know, just the CEO to the CFO
If you can work some magic, we can double our paychecks, so make the numbers look right
Wall street is a ruthless mistress with a quick and painful judgment
Temptation is in deep now, threads of greed run through this fabric
Weaving tapestries over your eyes to prepare the landscapes for disaster
Integrity is too damn expensive, discount the price but still
Nobody's buying so come up with the money boys or you'll be choking on a barrel
And it just might be your own finger squeezing on the trigger
Call in the reinforcements
you're working hard on a life of your own
Three square meals and a place to call home
The American dream can be found here if you keep your mouth closed
But the teeth you keep clenched is what's killing the chance
Your mouth is watering as you imagine
Swallowing each new possession
It's building a prison
you'll think there's a place where you made it
You searched for this your whole life
New answers will satisfy but then you realize it's never enough
That's the slickest marketing I've ever seen - a spiraling trap
With enough ambition and a firm set of rules you can have anything you want
You can walk right out into the world and capture and kill god
In a little box or a little book to be understood
But no one can argue with the good sense and strength of a solid foundation
Or with the weakness born when corruption is the rule and not the exception
I'm trying hard to forget everything I thought I knew
You've climbed much too high to let the truth stop you now
Or to concern yourself with the investments of
Lesser honest men
The ladder's been brutal but the payoff is just around the corner
Call in the reinforcements
you're working hard on a life of your own
Three square meals and a place to call home
But you keep getting lost each time you walk out your front door
Me I've got a family I know real well what it means
To make sure there's enough food on the table each day
But I'd rather starve than be a whore for an empty living
The song "Prison Is Private Property" by Rocky Votolato is a critique of the American capitalist system and its emphasis on short-term earnings. The lyrics describe a world where greed and corruption have taken over, and where people are willing to do whatever it takes to get ahead, even if it means sacrificing their integrity and values. The first verse sets the scene, describing an evil empire where the have-nots are out to kill the king. The pressure to deliver results is so intense that people are willing to resort to tactics like magic and accounting tricks to make the numbers look good. Wall Street is portrayed as a ruthless mistress, and the temptation to succeed at any cost is too strong to resist. The chorus, "It's building a prison", highlights the idea that the American dream is a trap that keeps people stuck in a cycle of consumption and materialism.
The second verse focuses on the personal struggles of the singer, who is trying to make a life for himself in this world. He is aware of the corrupt nature of the system, but is afraid to speak out for fear of losing everything he's worked for. He sees how the pursuit of material possessions has taken over his life, and how it's slowly destroying him. The chorus repeats the idea that "It's building a prison", suggesting that the singer is trapped in this cycle of consumption and materialism, unable to break free.
The bridge offers a glimmer of hope, suggesting that there is an alternative to this way of life. The singer realizes that the pursuit of material possessions and wealth is futile, and that true happiness can only be found in family and community. He'd rather starve than be a whore for an empty living. The chorus repeats one last time, highlighting the idea that the American dream is a trap that keeps people stuck in a cycle of consumption and materialism.
Overall, the song is a powerful critique of the American capitalist system and its emphasis on short-term gains at the expense of long-term sustainability and community values.
Line by Line Meaning
The have nots have had enough and now they're out to kill the king
People who have been marginalized have reached their limit and are taking action against those in power.
Of what looks to be an evil empire where short-term earnings mean everything
The society depicted is focused solely on immediate financial gain, often at the expense of others.
There's a pressure to deliver here, your gonna get hurt if you don't play this game
There is a sense of urgency to succeed in this environment, and failing to do so will result in negative consequences.
Nobody will ever know, just the CEO to the CFO
The people in power are keeping their unethical practices hidden from the public eye.
If you can work some magic, we can double our paychecks, so make the numbers look right
Employees are being pressured to falsify financial data in order to boost profits and increase personal compensation.
Wall street is a ruthless mistress with a quick and painful judgment
The financial industry is unforgiving and can have severe consequences for those who make mistakes or fail to meet expectations.
Temptation is in deep now, threads of greed run through this fabric
Individuals are struggling with the allure of greed in this society, which is ingrained in its very structure.
Weaving tapestries over your eyes to prepare the landscapes for disaster
Those in power are manipulating the truth and creating false narratives to hide the potential negative outcomes of their actions.
Anthrax or a plane crash, biochemical, or even nuclear attacks
The consequences of the actions being taken in this society could result in anything from a deadly disease to a catastrophic disaster.
Integrity is too damn expensive, discount the price but still
Being honest and ethical is seen as too costly and is being undervalued in this society.
Nobody's buying so come up with the money boys or you'll be choking on a barrel
The pressure to generate revenue is so great that those in power are willing to resort to violence or other extreme measures to achieve their goals.
And it just might be your own finger squeezing on the trigger
Those who are desperate to succeed in this society may end up turning on themselves and others in destructive ways.
Call in the reinforcements
Those in power are willing to use any means necessary to protect their position and maintain control.
you're working hard on a life of your own
Individuals are striving to achieve their own goals and aspirations in this society.
Three square meals and a place to call home
The basic necessities of life such as food and shelter are tangible goals for individuals in this society.
The American dream can be found here if you keep your mouth closed
The concept of the American dream is present in this society, but it requires individuals to overlook the unethical practices of those in power in order to achieve it.
But the teeth you keep clenched is what's killing the chance
The act of staying silent in the face of unethical practices is hurting the chances of achieving true success and happiness in this society.
Your mouth is watering as you imagine
The allure of material possessions is strong in this society and is causing individuals to desire more and more.
Swallowing each new possession
The acquisition of new possessions is seen as a way to achieve happiness and fulfillment in this society.
It's building a prison
The pursuit of material possessions is trapping individuals in this society and preventing them from achieving true happiness and fulfillment.
you'll think there's a place where you made it
Individuals believe that there is a specific point or level of success that they can reach where they will have 'made it'.
You searched for this your whole life
Achieving success and happiness has been a lifelong goal for individuals in this society.
New answers will satisfy but then you realize it's never enough
Even when individuals achieve success and acquire material possessions, they find that it does not provide the fulfillment and happiness they expected.
That's the slickest marketing I've ever seen - a spiraling trap
The promotion of material possessions and success in this society is enticing and seemingly unbeatable, but it is actually a trap that leads to disappointment and unfulfillment.
With enough ambition and a firm set of rules you can have anything you want
Individuals are led to believe that success is attainable as long as they are determined enough and follow the 'rules' of society.
You can walk right out into the world and capture and kill god
Achieving great success and power in this society is seen as equivalent to 'capturing' and having control over a higher power.
In a little box or a little book to be understood
The notion of a higher power or religious belief is often simplified and packaged for easy consumption in this society.
But no one can argue with the good sense and strength of a solid foundation
Having a solid moral foundation and being ethical is something that is universally respected and admired.
Or with the weakness born when corruption is the rule and not the exception
When unethical practices and corruption are commonplace, it weakens society as a whole.
I'm trying hard to forget everything I thought I knew
The singer is questioning their beliefs and values in light of the unethical practices and manipulation they are witnessing in this society.
You've climbed much too high to let the truth stop you now
Those who have achieved great success and power in this society are unwilling to be deterred by the truth or ethical considerations.
Or to concern yourself with the investments of lesser honest men
Those who have achieved great success and power in this society are not interested in the ethical implications of their investments or actions.
The ladder's been brutal but the payoff is just around the corner
The pursuit of success in this society is difficult and often involves harsh competition and cutthroat practices, but it is viewed as worth it for the potential rewards.
Me I've got a family I know real well what it means
The artist values their family and understands the importance of providing for them.
To make sure there's enough food on the table each day
Providing basic sustenance for their family is a top priority for the singer.
But I'd rather starve than be a whore for an empty living
The artist is unwilling to compromise their values and engage in unethical practices, even if it means sacrificing their own well-being.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Rocky Votolato
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mariah The Sloth Queen
There is not enough fans of Rocky Votolato.. Especially people my age.. This music is my childhood.
ryan bassinger
the amount of views for this video is extremely accurate to the amount of people paying attention
RapidNameChange
Awesome though I THINK it's Swallowing each new possession rather than Wallowing. though I am not certain. Either way, both sound good haha Thanks for posting this though :)
DauntlessJumper
You're right haha I accidentally left out the S. Thanks!
SKRIPTSforLIFE
Thank you
RapidNameChange
Oh, haha well good catch then lol.