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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Elephant
That Handsome Devil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And they better have guns
Cause everybody’s crazy down here
On everybody’s drugs
Casinos, floor glows, stock shows
Where white trash goes to die
Hos push carts
Keep dancing, it’s the end of the world
She said “Oh baby do the end of the world”
C’mon baby it’s the end of the world
She says “Smile! Do the end of the world!”
Keep dancing to the end of the world
She said “Oh baby it’s the end of the world”
C’mon baby it’s the end of the world
She says “Smile! It’s the end of the world!”
And they send down some astronauts
To study our bones
Through the miles of garbage
Beneath all the junk that we own
Carbon dating beer cans, condoms, and twinky wrappers
We was something beautiful baby
What the hell happened
Keep dancing, it’s the end of the world
She said “Oh baby do the end of the world”
C’mon baby it’s the end of the world
She says “Smile! Do the end of the world!”
If you were worried that they’d skin you too
For new tennis shoes
Or a couch that fits the motif of the living room
And doesn’t clash with your business suit
I wanna be in a museum,
Stuffed and in a realistic position like I’m huntin
Callin someone or buyin somethin
Way too busy to look up and see what was comin
Keep dancing, it’s the end of the world
She said “Oh baby do the end of the world”
C’mon baby it’s the end of the world
She says “Smile! Do the end of the world!”
I want my bones kept next to someone of cultural significance
Like Fonzi or William Shatner
Yeah, somebody famous like Gilbert Godfrey or the dog from Frasier
That caveman they found?
He was a punk, I knew him in High School
The song Elephant Bones by That Handsome Devil is a commentary on the state of society and culture. The lyrics describe a world where everyone is crazy and on drugs, and where the end of the world is a cause for celebration. There are references to casinos, floor shows, stock shows and white trash, representing a consumerist culture where people are distracted by these superficial things. The line "Carbon dating beer cans, condoms, and twinkie wrappers" shows how society will be remembered in the future as a time of waste and excess.
The song contrasts the beauty of the past with the ugliness of the present. The suggestion that the singer would like to be stuffed and displayed in a museum next to someone of cultural significance is a desire to be remembered as something more than just a pile of bones in a garbage dump. The reference to the caveman they found being a punk shows that even in the distant past, society was corrupt and violent.
Line by Line Meaning
Lord, let’s send down some angels
The singer suggests divine intervention to deal with the chaos and madness caused by rampant drug use in society.
And they better have guns
The singer recognizes that the situation is dire enough to warrant the use of force by the angels.
Cause everybody’s crazy down here
The singer highlights the widespread psychological disturbances present amongst the people.
On everybody’s drugs
The artist emphasizes ubiquitous drug usage as a contributing factor to societal dysfunction.
Casinos, floor glows, stock shows
The artist describes the seedy and flashy environment of the entertainment industry.
Where white trash goes to die
The singer characterizes the entertainment industry as a place where low-status, disadvantaged people are exploited and discarded.
Hos push carts
The singer observes women stereotyped as prostitutes being forced to perform manual labor.
Crackhead squirrels, and birds too drunk to fly
The artist employs colorful imagery to depict animal behavior affected by environmental pollution or human waste.
Keep dancing, it’s the end of the world
The artist encourages the audience to dance as a form of escapism, despite the impending doom.
She said “Oh baby do the end of the world”
The artist implies that a female companion is encouraging this reckless behavior.
C’mon baby it’s the end of the world
The singer repeats the aforementioned encouragement with an urgent tone.
She says “Smile! Do the end of the world!”
The artist/temptress orders the audience to enjoy themselves and ignore the consequences of their actions.
And they send down some astronauts
The singer suggests that future scientists may investigate the remains of civilization after it collapses.
To study our bones
The singer implies that these hypothetical scientists would explore this society through analyzing its detritus.
Through the miles of garbage
The singer emphasizes the overwhelming extent of the trash and refuse accumulated by society.
Beneath all the junk that we own
The artist points out that people often have an excessive amount of personal belongings.
Carbon dating beer cans, condoms, and twinky wrappers
The artist humorously illustrates how future archaeologists might interpret commonplace objects amidst the rubble of society.
We was something beautiful baby
The singer laments the decline of society from its former glory and potential.
What the hell happened
The singer questions what went wrong with society to cause its downfall.
If you were worried that they’d skin you too
The artist introduces a hypothetical scenario regarding the fears and concerns of the audience.
For new tennis shoes
The artist explains that the leather industry is not exempt from the unsustainable, exploitative tendencies of society.
Or a couch that fits the motif of the living room
The artist highlights the triviality of consumerist desire amidst societal collapse.
And doesn’t clash with your business suit
The singer mocks the frivolous concern of color coordination with one's article of clothing.
I wanna be in a museum,
The artist expresses a desire to be remembered as an historical artifact.
Stuffed and in a realistic position like I’m huntin
The singer describes their ideal physical positioning as a museum exhibit.
Callin someone or buyin somethin
The singer alludes to the mundane, everyday activities depicted in many exhibit dioramas.
Way too busy to look up and see what was comin
The singer acknowledges the short-sightedness and foolishness of their own life choices.
I want my bones kept next to someone of cultural significance
The artist indicates they would prefer being associated with someone of historical or cultural importance.
Like Fonzi or William Shatner
The artist jokingly names prominent pop culture figures as possible associates.
Yeah, somebody famous like Gilbert Godfrey or the dog from Frasier
The singer again references obscure celebrities in a humorous fashion.
That caveman they found? He was a punk, I knew him in High School
The singer makes a final joke about society's obsession with preserving historical artifacts.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CHRISTIAN OPPEL, JEREMY V. PAGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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