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.
Casiotone Nation
Soul Coughing Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The five percent Nation of Marlboro.
The five percent Nation of pay-per-view.
The five percent Nation of nipple clamps.
The five percent Nation of Milton Bradley.
The five percent Nation of Casiotone.
The five percent Nation of Casiotone.
100!
The People's Republic of Lake Edna.
The People's Republic of S.A.S.E.
The People's Republic of lemony fresh.
The People's Republic of chocolaty delicious.
The People's Republic of lumps in my oatmeal.
The People's Republic of Casiotone.
The People's Republic of Casiotone.
5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95,
100!
Yor, Yor, he's a man, he's a man.
Yor, Yor, he's a man, he's a man.
Everybody's movin'
Everybody's movin'
Everybody's movin', movin', movin', movin'...
1 2 3, 4 5 6, 7 8 9, 10 11 12.
The five percent Nation of Harmful Free Radicals.
The five percent Nation of Oxygen Cocktails.
The five percent Nation of Casiotone.
The lyrics of Soul Coughing's "Casiotone Nation" speak of different "nations" that exist within society, all represented by different brands or concepts. The repetitiveness of the lyrics serve to drive home the point that these seemingly random items are part of a larger system that we are all a part of, and thus have meaning. The "five percent Nation" for example, could refer to the Five Percent Nation of Islam, a group that broke off from the Nation of Islam that believed only a literal five percent were righteous and worthy of following the Nation's teachings. This is likely connected to the idea that these brands or concepts represent a certain group of people or mindset within society. Similarly, the other "nations" listed in the song, such as "The People's Republic of Lake Edna" or "The five percent Nation of Oxygen Cocktails" represent different facets of society that are often overlooked.
The repetition of "Casiotone Nation" at the end of each verse signals the importance of this particular concept. It could refer to the Casiotone keyboard, a type of digital keyboard that was popular in the 1980s and 1990s. This could be interpreted as a comment on the increasing prevalence of technology in our lives and the role it plays in shaping society.
Overall, the lyrics of "Casiotone Nation" seem to be commenting on the interconnectedness of society and how even seemingly insignificant things have meaning and contribute to the larger whole.
Line by Line Meaning
The five percent Nation of corduroy.
The immense following of the corduroy fabric, and those who frequently wear it.
The five percent Nation of Marlboro.
The embrace of the Marlboro cigarette brand, and its widespread use amongst individuals.
The five percent Nation of pay-per-view.
The abundance of entertainment through paid channels and broadcasting, such as pay-per-view events.
The five percent Nation of nipple clamps.
The promotion and usage of nipple clamps as a form of sexual stimulation within a community of people.
The five percent Nation of Milton Bradley.
The loyalty and enthusiasm surrounding the board game manufacturer, Milton Bradley.
The five percent Nation of Casiotone.
The celebration and favoring of the Casiotone brand of electronic keyboard instruments.
The five percent Nation of Casiotone.
The continuation and reiteration of the aforementioned love of the Casiotone brand.
The People's Republic of Lake Edna.
The proud allegiance to and establishment of a governing body for the fictional Lake Edna location.
The People's Republic of S.A.S.E.
The creation and maintenance of a political entity founded on the concept of writing messages through self-addressed stamped envelopes.
The People's Republic of lemony fresh.
The cultural appreciation for the fresh and citrusy aroma and taste of lemon-flavored items.
The People's Republic of chocolaty delicious.
The widespread admiration for the taste of chocolate and its various applications in food items and desserts.
The People's Republic of lumps in my oatmeal.
The embracing and affection towards lumpy or textured oatmeal, as opposed to a smoother consistency.
The People's Republic of Casiotone.
The continued value and importance of the Casiotone brand, within a newly established, self-governing body.
The People's Republic of Casiotone.
The repetition and reaffirmation of the previous line's sentiment, highlighting the significance of the Casiotone brand.
Yor, Yor, he's a man, he's a man.
A repetitive chant affirming someone's masculinity, identity, or abilities.
Yor, Yor, he's a man, he's a man.
A continuation of the aforementioned affirmations of someone's masculinity, identity, or abilities.
Everybody's movin'
A statement indicating that all people are moving or taking action.
Everybody's movin'
A continuation of the statement highlighting that all people are in motion or taking actions.
Everybody's movin', movin', movin', movin'...
An extension of the previous lines, reiterating that everyone is in motion or actively doing something.
1 2 3, 4 5 6, 7 8 9, 10 11 12.
A count from one to twelve, likely serving as a cadence or signaling a change in a musical composition.
The five percent Nation of Harmful Free Radicals.
The embrace of the concept of harmful free radicals, and a celebration of those who study and discover them.
The five percent Nation of Oxygen Cocktails.
An elevated appreciation for oxygen within a cocktail or drink to promote well-being or health benefits.
The five percent Nation of Casiotone.
The final reaffirmation of the importance and value of the Casiotone brand, encompassing all ideas expressed in the song.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MARK DEGLIANTONI, MICHAEL DOUGHTY, SEBASTIAN STEINBERG, YUVAL GABAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind