Cause
Rodriguez Lyrics


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'Cause I lost my job two weeks before Christmas
And I talked to Jesus at The Sewer
And the Pope said it was none of his God-damned business
While the rain drank champagne
My Estonian Archangel came and got me wasted
'Cause the sweetest kiss I ever got is the one I've never tasted
Oh, but they'll take their bonus pay to Molly McDonald
Neon ladies, beauty is that which obeys, is bought or borrowed

'Cause my heart's become a crooked hotel full of rumors
But it's I who pays the rent for these fingered-face out-of-tuners
And I make sixteen solid half hour friendships every evening
'Cause your queen of hearts who's half a stone
And likes to laugh alone is always threatening you with leaving
Oh, but they play those token games on Willy Thompson
And give a medal to replace the son of Mrs. Annie Johnson
'Cause they told me everybody's gotta pay their dues
And I explained that I had overpaid them
So overdued I went to the company store
And the clerk there said that they had just been invaded
So I set sail in a teardrop and escaped beneath the doorsill
'Cause the smell of her perfume echoes in my head still

'Cause I see my people trying to drown the sun
In weekends of whiskey sours




'Cause how many times can you wake up in this comic book
And plant flowers?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Rodriguez's song Cause are incredibly poetic and deep, with a mix of political and personal themes. One interpretation of the song is that it's about the struggles of everyday people in capitalist society, specifically those who are struggling just to make ends meet. The opening lines paint a bleak picture of a person who has lost their job right before the holidays, leading them to turn to religion (Jesus and the Pope) and drown their sorrows in alcohol (rain drinking champagne).


The next few lines introduce an Estonian Archangel who comes to offer comfort in the form of alcohol, but even this escape is marred by the fact that the singer has never experienced a truly sweet kiss. The song then delves into the corrupt nature of beauty and how it's something that can be bought or borrowed. The singer's heart seems to be at war with itself, with rumors and out-of-tuners renting space inside, but the singer still pays the rent for them.


Line by Line Meaning

Cause I lost my job two weeks before Christmas
I lost my job during the holiday season


And I talked to Jesus at the sewer
I felt lost and turned to divine intervention even in a dirty place


And the Pope said it was none of his God-damned business
The Pope couldn't intervene in matters like these


While the rain drank champagne
It was a paradoxical time when the natural world didn't follow convention


My Estonian Archangel came and got me wasted
I turned to substances to numb the pain, and someone from the country of Estonia helped me with that


'Cause the sweetest kiss I ever got is the one I've never tasted
I treasure the hypothetical thoughts more than what I've already experienced


Oh but they'll take their bonus pay to Molly McDonald, Neon ladies, beauty is that which obeys, is bought or borrowed
People go to spend their money at strip clubs, but beauty is beyond that, it comes from within, it can't be bought or taken


'Cause my heart's become a crooked hotel full of rumors
My heart has lost its innocence, and it's become a place full of negative speculation


But it's I who pays the rent for these fingered-face out-of-tuners
I am the one who bears the repercussions of my decisions and judgments


And I make sixteen solid half hour friendships every evening
I have superficial relationships that only last for brief periods


'Cause your queen of hearts who is half a stone
The one you love has a fragile heart


And likes to laugh alone is always threatening you with leaving
She has a solitary personality and often thinks about leaving


Oh but they play those token games on Willy Thompson
People play meaningless games with vulnerable people like Willy Thompson


And give a medal to replace the son of Mrs. Annie Johnson
In some cases, people get recognition for replacing the loss of someone else's son


'Cause they told me everybody's got to pay their dues
They reminded me that everyone has to face the consequences of their actions


And I explained that I had overpaid them
I believed I had already faced the consequences and paid off more than required


So overdued I went to the company store
I went to the company store to settle payment


And the clerk there said that they had just been invaded
The company store had been robbed


So I set sail in a teardrop and escaped beneath the doorsill
I left quietly, feeling dejected


'Cause the smell of her perfume echoes in my head still
I'm still haunted by the lingering scent of someone I loved


'Cause I see my people trying to drown the sun
I see my fellow beings trying to fight against the inevitable, trying to defeat the unvanquishable


In weekends of whiskey sours
They do this while enjoying their drinks during their off days


'Cause how many times can you wake up in this comic book and plant flowers?
How many times can you gain hope and positivity only to be met with negativity again?




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Sixto Diaz Rodriguez

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@zackemmanuel7736

RIP Sixto Rodriguez.... Singer, Songwriter, Poet, Father, Labourer, Fascinating, Selfless, Wise, & Truly Humble Man; with the most incredible life story. I'm glad you found some fame and recognition in your life doing what you love most. Thank you for All the Music. Your songs and lyrics always touched me incredibly deeply. In many ways my brother, you will always be South African. Travel Well. Cold FACT.

@deborahcurtis1385

You left out philosopher, apart from that absolutely!

@zackemmanuel7736

@@deborahcurtis1385 Yeah i know he had a degree in Philosophy, but i thought I covered that with " wise". ;)

@deborahcurtis1385

@@zackemmanuel7736 I think philosophy is a process and wise is a result. If you're philosophical you're constantly musing you don't just arrive at the wisdom destination and stay there. JIMO but let's not be competitive, Sixto wouldn't like it!

@rafaelcarlosmirandajacome3683

Rodríguez en México nunca fue apreciado , ni siquiera en su país de nacimiento, pero ustedes los Sudafricanos pudieron escuchar su mensaje...fueron afortunados...sin duda...a mi solo me bastó escuchar una de sus canciones y lo supe de inmediato...

@TjuhuTiy

As I recall, his documentary says he's actually Native American. Sixto is from an Indigenous community in my hometown.
Also, he did not shoot himself on stage. That's not in the documentary, either, Searching for Sugar Man.

7 More Replies...

@kless001

Thank you South Africans for keeping this music alive.

@johnbredhauer3826

And Australians his albums whrte big here

@valsmith8485

Very True

@ozo4494

An old Australian made me listen to it while I was traveling in Australia when I was 19. Thanks to him too

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