Take a ride with That Handsome Devil to the other side of town: a neighborhood where Charles Bukowski hung his hat at a juke joint; where the bartender knew Hunter Thompson’s single malt of choice and kept plenty in stock. This is the place where That Handsome Devil’s front man Godforbid calls home, where producer Jeremy Page bangs on a bullet-riddled piano, its beaten keys howling from a smoky corner. A place with enough Molotov cocktails, skag, booze, and sleazy women to horrify the most hardened of old timers. A City Dressed in Dynamite is the soundtrack to this bizarre scene, and it’s pointless to fight it -just throw caution to the wind and take the ride. Put your life in the hands of your sharply dressed tour guide Godforbid, and just pray that you'll live to tell the story... or at least what you can remember.
The album starts off like a jolt of lighting with Damn Door, a dense lounge track declaring the album’s intent before tumbling into the dark, piercingly intense Wintergreen. Keeping the tempo up is the distinctive Rob the Prez-O-Dent, employing unique arrangements and an over-the-top subject matter to guarantee a lasting impression. At this point A City Dressed in Dynamite slows to a strut while limping past the hustlers and junkies in Pills for Everything. Before you can catch your breath, the upbeat stomper Cry dances carelessly towards an eerie dive into the deep end with Kiss the Cook, a disparaging tale set to Jeremy Page’s amazing arrangements.
The B-Side begins with Viva Discordia- a whimsical vaudevillian track showcasing Godforbid’s catchy rhythms and word play- then turns without skipping a beat slamming into Squares-a quirky pop song poking fun at the modern hipster. The next stop, Mexico, is a bright stumble through the foreign alleyways and dirt roads complimented perfectly by Jeremy Page’s engaging string arrangements. All the pieces of the puzzle start to expose themselves with the unveiling of Reagan’s Kids, a moody piece that opens the doors for the amazing grand finale, the bohemian ballad Treefood. This emotional conclusion is a perfect selection to be played while the curtains are closing at the opera house and the epic finale to the booze-ridden joy ride that is A City Dressed in Dynamite.
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Cry
That Handsome Devil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Part of my apartment
(La-dee-da-dee-da)
Just sitting on the carpet
No (lights) in my apartment
Digging through the garbage
(La-dee-da-dee-da)
Toss over the TV
Knock over the CDs
Bouncin' off the ceilin'
Papa do you see me?
Shootin' out the TV
Stompin' on the CDs
Hangin' from the ceilin'
Mama do you see me?
There is no magic
Just a charming little lie
It's gonna make you cry
Cry, cry-cry, cry
Remember you were young
When you cared about shit (cared about shit)
You just got older like the rest all did (rest all did)
Remember you were young
When you cared about shit (cared about shit)
You just got older like the rest all did (rest all did)
We lost the magic now
Its charming little lies
I wanna make you cry
Cry, cry-cry, cry
[Break]
At night in the darkest
Part of my apartment
(La-dee-da-dee-da)
Just sitting on the carpet
No (lights) in my apartment
Digging through the garbage
(La-dee-da-dee-da)
This is sounding like nonsense
Remember you were young
When you cared about shit (cared about shit)
You just got older like the rest all did
Remember you were young
When you cared about shit (cared about shit)
You just got older like the rest all did
There is no magic
Just a charming little lie
It's gonna make you cry
Cry, cry-cry, cry
I wanna make you cry
The lyrics to That Handsome Devil's song Cry seem to describe a moment of desperation and hopelessness. The singer finds themselves in the darkest part of their apartment, with no lights on and nothing to distract them from their thoughts. They dig through the garbage, pleading for some kind of answer or solution to their troubles. They knock over objects, bouncing off the walls and ceiling, as if searching for some kind of release or connection. They repeat the phrase "Remember you were young when you cared about shit, you just got older like the rest all did," seemingly acknowledging their own disillusionment and loss of innocence. The chorus repeats the idea that there is no magic, just a charming little lie, and that it will make you cry. The singer seems to be deliberately seeking out something painful, as if crying is the only way to feel alive.
The song's lyrics evoke a sense of desperation and sadness, highlighting the isolation and disillusionment of modern life. The imagery of digging through garbage and knocking over objects creates a sense of frustration and futility, as if the singer is searching for something they know they cannot find. The repetition of the phrase "remember you were young" adds a note of melancholy nostalgia, as if the singer is mourning their own lost innocence. Overall, the lyrics to Cry paint a vivid picture of the struggle to find meaning and connection in a world that can often feel empty and meaningless.
Line by Line Meaning
At night in the darkest
Part of my apartment
(La-dee-da-dee-da)
Just sitting on the carpet
The singer is sitting in the darkest part of his apartment, isolated and alone. He hums a little tune as he feels empty.
No (lights) in my apartment
Digging through the garbage
(La-dee-da-dee-da)
P-P-P-Pretty please,I promise
There are no lights in his apartment, and the singer is digging through the garbage, looking for something. He begs and promises saying Pretty please.
Toss over the TV
Knock over the CDs
Bouncin' off the ceilin'
Papa do you see me?
He gets agitated and starts to toss over things like TV and knock over CDs, and he jumps, punches, and dances around the room. He calls out to his Papa, asking if he can see him.
Shootin' out the TV
Stompin' on the CDs
Hangin' from the ceilin'
Mama do you see me?
He starts to freak out, shooting at the TV and stomping on CDs. He loses control and hangs from the ceiling, and he calls out to his Mama, asking if she can see him.
There is no magic
Just a charming little lie
It's gonna make you cry
Cry, cry-cry, cry
The singer realizes that everything in the world is just a big lie, and he feels saddened knowing that it will eventually make him cry.
Remember you were young
When you cared about shit (cared about shit)
You just got older like the rest all did (rest all did)
He remembers the youth when he was passionate and used to care about important things. He reminds himself of how people lose the drive and passion as they grow older and join the rat race.
We lost the magic now
Its charming little lies
I wanna make you cry
Cry, cry-cry, cry
The song's momentum builds, and the singer is now addressing everyone. He is saying how the world has lost its magic, and people have become desensitized to all the lies. He wants to make them cry and feel the pain of the truth.
At night in the darkest
Part of my apartment
(La-dee-da-dee-da)
Just sitting on the carpet
The singer returns to the initial scene, this time, however, with a greater sense of purpose. He is in the worst part of his apartment, but he sits there with a new energy.
No (lights) in my apartment
Digging through the garbage
(La-dee-da-dee-da)
This is sounding like nonsense
There is still no light in the apartment, and he is digging through the garbage, but he feels like he is finally making sense of all his thoughts.
Remember you were young
When you cared about shit (cared about shit)
You just got older like the rest all did
He repeats the reminder and the universal truth that everyone gets older, and the overwhelming odds of reality have a way of making people forget about magic and meaning.
There is no magic
Just a charming little lie
It's gonna make you cry
Cry, cry-cry, cry
I wanna make you cry
The final repetition of the chorus speaks to the power and weight of the message. There never really was any magic, just a charming lie, and it will make you cry. But still, the singer has the compelling desire to make everyone cry, finally stirring them from a lifeless existence.
Contributed by Hannah R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
vamp
on Shutup You're Stupid
I LOVE SHUTUP YOURE STUPID AHHAAH