Soul Coughing,was founded by vocalist and guitarist Mike Doughty (who billed himself at the time as 'M. Doughty'), a folk singer, slam poet, and music writer.
Doughty was a doorman at the old Knitting Factory on Houston Street in New York. While working there he met sampler artist Mark De Gli Antoni, upright bass player Sebastian Steinberg, drummer Yuval Gabay, and artist David Linton. Doughty convinced them to join him in forming a new band. They played their first gig, as 'M. Doughty's Soul Coughing' at the Knitting Factory on June 15, 1992, a late-Monday night slot that Doughty cadged from his boss because nobody else wanted it. In 1993, he founded a club night called SLAW at CBGB's 313 Gallery, which was meant to emulate the popular jazz and hip hop club Giant Step, but eventually became a showcase for Soul Coughing. Posters for SLAW were headlined 'Deep Slacker Jazz' (a parody of The Who's slogan 'Maximum R&B'), which became an enduring description of the band's sound.
The band was signed within a year to Warner Brothers subsidiary Slash Records, and released three albums: Ruby Vroom (1994), Irresistible Bliss (1996), and El Oso (1998). They enjoyed minor hit singles with "Circles," "Super Bon Bon," and "Screenwriter's Blues."
The band broke up in 2000, after years of feuding over songwriting credits and publishing money. Doughty continued as a solo artist, and Gabay, Steinberg, and De Gli Antoni have been involved with other projects including a trio disc sans Doughty in 2004.
$300
Soul Coughing Lyrics
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I need to feel it when the drug starts coming on
I know you lord are a jealous lord
I know the tablet is your competition
And I need for you to reasonable
How much? She said for three hundred dollars, I'll do it
The lyrics of Soul Coughing's song $300 could be interpreted as the singer's experience with drugs and religion. The first line, "Lifting me up like a garage door," could refer to the sensation of being lifted or high after taking drugs. The singer then acknowledges the jealousy of God, stating "I know you lord are a jealous lord," possibly feeling guilty for turning to drugs instead of faith. They go on to compare the tablet or drug to God, indicating a struggle to prioritize their beliefs over their desires. The singer tries to make a deal with God, asking for reasonability, but ultimately succumbs to temptation, as demonstrated in the last line "She said for three hundred dollars, I'll do it."
Overall, the lyrics suggest a complex and conflicting relationship between faith and temptation, and the struggle to reconcile one's beliefs with one's actions.
Line by Line Meaning
Lifting me up like a garage door
The feeling of taking drugs is like being lifted up suddenly like a garage door.
I need to feel it when the drug starts coming on
I want to feel the effect of the drug when it starts to take effect.
I know you lord are a jealous lord
I acknowledge that you, God, are a jealous God who does not tolerate the consumption of drugs.
I know the tablet is your competition
I understand that drugs have taken the place of God in my life and become my competition.
And I need for you to reasonable
I need you, God, to be reasonable and allow me to take drugs.
How much? She said for three hundred dollars, I'll do it
The prostitute is willing to engage in sexual activities for three hundred dollars.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MARK DEGLIANTONI, MICHAEL DOUGHTY, SEBASTIAN STEINBERG, YUVAL GABAY
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