When an advertising campaign saw Driver's Seat top the Dutch charts in 1991 Roberts took Sniff 'n' the Tears out on the road in the Netherlands and Germany, followed by a new album No Damage Done. Since then Roberts put out one more record, 2001s Underground, and is currently working on new material.
Driver's Seat was featured on the soundtrack to the 1997 movie Boogie Nights.
The band has had plenty of musicians, but the original member is lead singer and songwriter Paul Roberts.
Gold
Sniff 'n' the Tears Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Africa surprise
to search for the gold that the Spaniards had told
would dazzle a dead man's eyes
Saw Cortez conquer Mexico, Pissaro take Peru
but I'd give all the gold in Eldorado just to be with you
blacken up the sky
to pick at the bones of the man who left home
to search for gold and die
Saw Cortez conquer Mexico, Pissaro take Peru
but I'd give all the gold in Eldorado just to be with you
I've seen cities appear built by men without fear
twinkle of an eye
then crumble to dust in the hot dessert air
when the land had been sucked dry
Saw Cortez conquer Mexico, Pissaro take Peru
but I'd give all the gold in Eldorado just to be with you
The song "Gold" by Sniff 'n' the Tears is about the pursuit of wealth and the sacrifices that people make to obtain it. The singer expresses his experiences of sailing around the Cape of Good Hope in search of the gold that the Spaniards had told about. He talks about the surprise he felt when he arrived in Africa and the eagerness to obtain the gold that would astonish anyone who saw it. The singer notes that he has seen many other conquerors like Cortez and Pissaro take over different places in search of gold. However, despite all the gold in Eldorado, the singer states that he would give it all just to be with his loved one.
The second verse describes the harsh consequences of pursuing wealth. The singer has seen many people leave their homes to search for gold and end up dying without any success. The imagery of trumpeting herds of fine feathered birds blackening up the sky symbolizes death and the scavengers that come to scavenge the remains of dead bodies. The singer's longing for his loved one increases, and he states that he would give up all his gold to be with them.
The third verse highlights the fleeting nature of wealth. The singer talks about how cities are built by people without fear, but they crumble to dust when the land is sucked dry of its resources. The singer seems to have realized that wealth can give pleasure but is not everlasting, and he seems to have learned to prioritize human relationships over material possessions.
Line by Line Meaning
I've sailed in my boat round the Cape of Good Hope
I've traveled to faraway places and taken risks in my search for fortune.
Africa surprise
I encountered unexpected challenges in my journey through Africa.
to search for the gold that the Spaniards had told
I went in search of the riches that were rumored to exist in these lands.
would dazzle a dead man's eyes
These riches were so great that even a lifeless body would marvel at them.
Saw Cortez conquer Mexico, Pissaro take Peru
I witnessed great conquerors take over lands in the pursuit of wealth.
but I'd give all the gold in Eldorado just to be with you
Despite my quest for riches, I value your presence more than any amount of wealth.
I've seen trumpeting herds of fine feathered birds
I've witnessed natural wonders, such as large flocks of birds in flight.
blacken up the sky
The sheer number of birds obscured the sky with their presence.
to pick at the bones of the man who left home
The birds were scavengers, feeding off of the remains of those who had ventured out in search of treasure.
to search for gold and die
These individuals had perished in their pursuit of wealth.
I've seen cities appear built by men without fear
I've observed great feats of human ingenuity, where cities were created without hesitation or concern for the difficult environment.
twinkle of an eye
These cities seemed to spring up in an instant.
then crumble to dust in the hot dessert air
Despite their grandeur, these cities could not withstand the harsh desert conditions and eventually fell into ruin.
when the land had been sucked dry
The unsustainable extraction of resources had left the land barren and unable to support these cities for long.
Saw Cortez conquer Mexico, Pissaro take Peru
Once again, I reflect on my observations of the great conquerors and their conquests for riches.
but I'd give all the gold in Eldorado just to be with you
No amount of treasure or conquest can compare to the value I place on our relationship.
Contributed by Bailey D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.