That Handsome Devil is a Brooklyn, NY, USA band which includes Christian Op… Read Full Bio ↴That Handsome Devil is a Brooklyn, NY, USA band which includes Christian Oppel (aka Godforbid), Jeremy Page, Naoko Takamoto, Jeremy Siegel, Sam Merrick and Deflon Sallahr. They debuted with EP Dating Tips / How To Get Money (2004, Art & Craft) and their latest album is Your Parents Are Sellouts (Jan 2021).

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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James Dean
That Handsome Devil Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The food chain doesn't end with us
There's a hunter poised in camouflage

I always thought that I'd die young
But I guess that I was wrong
It just keeps on going on
And on and on and on and on
I always thought that I'd die young

Make some money, be someone
They all love you when you're gone
But who knew life would be so long?

Sometimes I forget to breathe at night
In the back streets of my ugly mind
Go home if that makes you happy
Go down, oh, imagine

I know you deserve better
Knocking over furniture
Get up, destruct, get carried off
Yelling at the bartender
Baby girl, I'm warning you
Knocking over furniture
Get drunk, destruct, get carried off
Screaming at the bartender

I always thought that I'd die young
But I guess that I was wrong
It just keeps on going on
And on and on and on and on
I always thought that I'd die young
Make some money, be someone
They all love you when you're gone
But who knew life would be so long?

Sometimes my heart doesn't beat at night
Curling up inside my ugly mind
So long, here comes your taxi
Slow down, you're overreacting

I know you deserve better
Knocking over furniture
Get up, destruct, get carried off
Yelling at the bartender
Baby girl, I'm warning you
Knocking over furniture
Get drunk, destruct, get carried off
Screaming at the bartender

I know you deserve better
Knocking over furniture
Get fucked, destruct, get carried off
Crying to the bartender
Baby girl, I'm warning you
Knocking over furniture
Get up, destruct, get carried off
Fighting with the bartender

I always thought that I'd die young
But I guess that I was wrong
It just keeps on going on
And on and on and on and on
I always thought that I'd die young
Make some money, be someone
They all love you when you're gone
But who knew life would be so long?

I always thought that I'd die young
But I guess that I was wrong
It just keeps on going on
And on and on and on and on
I always thought that I'd die young
Make some money, be someone
They all love you when you're gone
But who knew life would be so long?

(Money, Dick. It's about money! It's about money, Dick! It's about mon-ey! Dick! Money!)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "James Dean" by That Handsome Devil explore the idea of mortality and the legacy one leaves behind. The song begins by reflecting on the food chain and the presence of a hunter always ready to hunt, highlighting the idea that life is temporary and we are all vulnerable to the unknown. The singer then confesses that they once believed they would die young and become someone important, but as they get older and life keeps going on, they realize that fame and success are fleeting. The lyrics also touch on the theme of mental health, as the singer confesses to struggling with their own mind and sometimes forgetting to breathe or curling up inside their own ugly thoughts.

The chorus is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the idea that life keeps going on and on, and that we may not always get what we want out of it. The bridge is where the lyrics take a darker turn, as the singer warns "baby girl" to be careful and then proceeds to violently destroy furniture and scream at a bartender. The use of third person in this section suggests that the singer is observing someone else's destructive behavior, but also demonstrates their own struggles with anger and self-destructive tendencies. This section ultimately plays into the larger theme of mortality, suggesting that life is short and sometimes intense, and that we must make the most of it while we can.

Line by Line Meaning

The food chain doesn't end with us There's a hunter poised in camouflage
Even though humans are at the top of the food chain, they are still being hunted by someone who is very skilled at blending in

I always thought that I'd die young But I guess that I was wrong It just keeps on going on And on and on and on and on I always thought that I'd die young Make some money, be someone They all love you when you're gone But who knew life would be so long?
The singer thought he would die young and gloriously, but instead he has lived a long life and wonders if it was worth it. He also realizes that people only love you after you're gone, so he focuses on making money and being successful while he's alive

Sometimes I forget to breathe at night In the back streets of my ugly mind Go home if that makes you happy Go down, oh, imagine
The singer is plagued by dark thoughts that keep him up at night, and he suggests that others should leave him alone and let him deal with his problems on his own

I know you deserve better Knocking over furniture Get up, destruct, get carried off Yelling at the bartender Baby girl, I'm warning you Knocking over furniture Get drunk, destruct, get carried off Screaming at the bartender
The singer has a destructive behavior pattern and warns his partner about it, but cannot help himself from indulging in it again and again, resulting in conflicts with others

Sometimes my heart doesn't beat at night Curling up inside my ugly mind So long, here comes your taxi Slow down, you're overreacting
The singer experiences a feeling of emptiness and sadness inside himself, but tries to brush it off when his time with someone else comes to an end

I know you deserve better Knocking over furniture Get fucked, destruct, get carried off Crying to the bartender Baby girl, I'm warning you Knocking over furniture Get up, destruct, get carried off Fighting with the bartender
The singer continues his destructive behavior, hurting himself and others in the process, and despite his warnings to his partner, he cannot control himself

(Money, Dick. It's about money! It's about money, Dick! It's about mon-ey! Dick! Money!)
The repeated phrase at the end emphasizes that the song is mainly about money and the pursuit of success

Contributed by Eva M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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