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.
Disseminated
Soul Coughing Lyrics
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Once a tin can.
The Goat shat out,
was a Ford Sedan.
Like an eyeball.
Like a square cut.
Like a funny car.
Call up bop and I'm bunting stomach,
Koko mop I chop chunking plummet,
Thud on top, I ate the crocodile.
And ever since then, I got disseminated,
The Jupiter Moon, I got disseminated,
The Average Man, I got disseminated,
It's a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Toots Hibbert,
At the wrong prom.
Serves a beat down,
On a tom tom.
Like Genius.
Like Dervin.
Like Joseph.
Soul Coughing's Disseminated is a surrealistic song that is almost impossible to interpret without it being influenced by the listener's perspective. The first verse is a good example of this, as it is constructed of two very different and unrelated images that are linked together through the Goat's digestive tract. It is possible that this verse is nothing more than gibberish, or that it is a metaphor for the transformation of something lowly and unremarkable (the tin can) into something greater (the Ford Sedan).
The second verse is even more obscure, as it is a list of random vehicles that seems to have no clear connection with the preceding verse or the rest of the song. The chorus is equally confusing, with its seemingly random list of phrases that include bop, Koko, and crocodiles. The only clear statement is the one that gives the song its title: "And ever since then, I got disseminated." This line implies that something has been broken down into its component parts and scattered or distributed everywhere, but it is unclear what that "something" is in this context.
The following verses provide more random images that have little apparent connection with each other or the rest of the song. Toots Hibbert is a Jamaican musician who was a pioneer of reggae music, but his presence in a song like this is perplexing. The final verse mentions three names (Genius, Dervin, and Joseph) that may or may not have any significance. The overall effect of the song is one of disorienting and unexplained chaos, which could be seen as a commentary on the fragmented nature of modern life, or simply as an exercise in surrealism.
Line by Line Meaning
The Goat chewed up,
A goat consumed and chewed on an object,
Once a tin can.
Which was previously a metallic container,
The Goat shat out,
The goat then defecated,
was a Ford Sedan.
And remarkably, the feces produced resembled a make and model of car.
Like an eyeball.
Similar in shape and appearance to a human eye.
Like a square cut.
Resembling a right-angled shape or cut of an object.
Like a funny car.
Comparable to a drag racing car with a unique design and shape.
Like a monster truck.
Reminiscent of a large and powerful off-road vehicle, often used for stunts or competition.
Call up bop and I'm bunting stomach,
A phrase indicating a rhythmic sound and a motion that causes discomfort to the artist's abdomen.
Koko mop I chop chunking plummet,
Nonsensical phrases with possible allusions to various cultural or musical references.
Thud on top, I ate the crocodile.
A statement that could be literal or figurative depending on interpretation.
And ever since then, I got disseminated,
After the artist's previous experiences or actions, they've been broken down and distributed widely.
The Jupiter Moon, I got disseminated,
Specifically mentioning one instance of dissemination to the moon orbiting Jupiter.
The Average Man, I got disseminated,
Another example of wide distribution, possibly emphasizing the universality of the singer's experience.
It's a self-fulfilling prophecy.
The outcome or result of the singer's situation was inevitable, caused by their own actions or beliefs.
Toots Hibbert,
Name-dropping a Jamaican musician and singer, possibly relevant to the song's theme or message.
At the wrong prom.
Performing or attending an event that was not appropriate or intended for them.
Serves a beat down,
Enduring or delivering physical harm or violence.
On a tom tom.
Possibly referring to a percussion instrument used in African, Native American, or other traditional music.
Like Genius.
Comparing someone or something to the brilliance, creativity, or originality of a genius.
Like Dervin.
An unclear reference to a possible person or entity, with no apparent interpretation.
Like Joseph.
A comparison to a biblical figure, possibly emphasized for its symbolism or religious significance.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MARK DEGLIANTONI, MICHAEL DOUGHTY, RAYMOND SCOTT, SEBASTIAN STEINBERG, YUVAL GABAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind