Originally, the Australian band was called The Boys Next Door, comprising Cave, Howard, Mick Harvey (guitar, drums, organ, piano), bassist Tracy Pew, and drummer Phill Calvert. After the Door Door album and Hee Haw EP under that name, the band moved to London and switched its name to the deceptively benign Birthday Party. Once they arrived in Britain, their demented, knotty post-punk began to gel. They released their first international album, Prayers On Fire, in 1981, earning critical praise in the U.K. and U.S. While the band was preparing to record the follow-up, Pew was jailed for drunk driving; former Magazine member Barry Adamson, Harry Howard, and Chris Walsh filled in for the absent Pew on 1982's Junkyard.
After the release of Junkyard, Calvert joined Psychedelic Furs and the band moved to Germany, where they began collaborating with such experimental post-punk acts as Lydia Lunch and Einstürzende Neubauten. Harvey left in the summer of 1983. The group briefly continued with drummer Des Heffner, but it soon disbanded after a final concert in Melbourne, Australia. Cave had the most successful solo career, recording a series of albums in the '80s and '90s that maintained his status as a popular cult figure; Harvey joined Cave's band Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. Howard joined Crime & The City Solution, which also featured his brother Harry and Harvey. Tracey Pew toured with The Saints before dying of an epileptic seizure in 1986.
--Review from AMG Allmusic Guide
Big
The Birthday Party Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Big-Jesus soul-mates Trash-Can
fucking rotten business this
both feet in the Bad-Boot
stiff in the crypt, babay, like a rock
rock-rock-rock
Big-Jesus soul-mates Trash-Can
and he pumped me fulla Trash at least it smelt like Trash
but god gave me Sex appeal
right right
well-well-well-rock
well-well-well-rock
well-well-well-rock
well-well-well-rock
he drives a Trash-Can
he drives a Trash-Can
he drives a Trash-Can
he drives a Trash-Can
he's comin' to my town
he's comin' to my town
he's comin' to my town
he's comin' to my town rock-rock-rock-
r-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-ck!
right!
Big-Jesus-Oil-King down in Texas
drives great holy tanks of Gold
screams from heaven's Graveyard
american heads will roll in Texas
roll llike daddy's meat
roll under those singing stars of Texas
roll under those glorious singing stars of Texas
well-well-well-rock
well-well-well-rock
well-well-well-rock
well-well-well-rock
he drives a Trash-Can
he drives a Trash-Can
he drives a Trash-Can
he's comin' to my town
he drives a Trash-Can
he's comin' to my town
he drives a Trash-Can
he's comin' to my town
he drives a Trash-Can
he's comin' to my town
he drives a Trash-Can
The Birthday Party's Big Jesus Trash Can is a fast-paced and provocative song that delves into the theme of corruption, religion, and power in the United States. The song opens with a reference to Big Jesus and his soul mate, Trash-Can, which sets the tone for the rest of the song's imagery. The lyricist describes it as "fucking rotten business this," referring to the corrupt nature of Big Jesus and his followers. This is emphasized by the phrase "both feet in the Bad-Boot," indicating that these people are deeply entrenched in their corrupt activities.
The lyricist then paints a picture of Big Jesus pumping him "fulla trash," which serves as a metaphor for being manipulated and used by those in power. Big Jesus is described as having "greasy hair" and wearing a "suit of Gold," suggesting that he's wealthy and powerful but vain and immoral. Despite this, the lyricist declares that "god gave [him] sex appeal," which may imply that the singer feels a sense of empowerment despite Big Jesus' attempts to control him.
The song concludes with an ominous reference to the "Big-Jesus-Oil-King down in Texas," who drives "great holy tanks of Gold." It's suggested that this figure has an ungodly amount of power and influence that allows him to scream from heaven's graveyard and cause "american heads" to roll in Texas. The chorus repeats the line "he drives a Trash-Can" and "he's comin' to my town" several times, emphasizing the ominous presence of the singer's oppressor, who is seemingly unstoppable.
Line by Line Meaning
Big-Jesus soul-mates Trash-Can
Describing a person who worships a flashy, showy version of Christianity, but also engages in dark, dirty activities
fucking rotten business this
Expressing disgust and frustration with the situation
both feet in the Bad-Boot
Fully committed to a life of sin and debauchery
stiff in the crypt, babay, like a rock
Completely still, like a dead body
rock-rock-rock
Echoing the feeling of being unchanging and stuck in place
and he pumped me fulla Trash at least it smelt like Trash
Referring to a sexual encounter where the other person was dirty and unpleasant
and he's got greasy hair wears a suit of Gold
Describing a person who appears wealthy and successful, but is actually morally corrupt
but god gave me Sex appeal
Suggesting that despite the circumstances, the artist is still desirable and attractive
Big-Jesus-Oil-King down in Texas
Referencing the idea of a wealthy, influential Christian figure in power
drives great holy tanks of Gold
Describing the opulence and extravagance of this figure
screams from heaven's Graveyard
Imagining a voice of God condemning these sinful actions
american heads will roll in Texas
Suggesting that there may be consequences for the actions of these powerful figures
roll llike daddy's meat
Making a crude reference to violence and death
roll under those singing stars of Texas
Painting a picture of a violent, chaotic scene under the night sky
he drives a Trash-Can
Continuing the metaphor of a person who is flashy on the outside but engages in dirty, corrupt behavior
he's comin' to my town
Suggesting that this person will bring chaos and trouble to the artist's community
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@trainerblaz
Upon initial glance, "She got a big booty, so I call her big booty," appear to be an unintelligent embodiment of the lack of creativity that rap and hip hop music is viewed as today. However upon further investigation, one will find that, in actuality, lyrical genius 2Chainz has crafted a beautiful and deep piece of literature carefully condensed into a single 11 word sentence that perfectly describes not only the world we live in, but also life itself.
Starting off, this simplistic statement explores the naturalism of the truthful human experience. 2Chainz takes the phrase “it is what it is” and applies it to people and society. He calls her “big booty”, simply because she has a big booty. It is the truth of the situation, the natural truth, and 2Chainz brings this up because he is trying to make a point. He does not make the “big booty” a good or a bad thing, he presents it as a statement. There is no positive or negative feelings associated with the statement because it is a solid truth, and 2Chainz is trying to tell his audience that everything is a natural truth, and that these truths are just life. He does not express a want for “big booty”, nor a wish to change it, because all truths in life cannot be changed, and he knows that. “Big booties” are not good or bad. They just are.
Secondly, 2Chainz’s culmination of language explains the self-conscious life many women live today. He could choose to call her anything he would like, but his name for her is inspired by her “big booty” because most women are conscious about their bodies. An interesting thing to note is he does not give ‘her’ a name. While one may assume he is referring to an specific female, the lack of clarity as to whom “she” is infers that 2Chainz is referring to all women who are self-conscious of their bodies, as many of whom would love to be remembered and named for their body. 2Chainz’s cultural history confirms this, being from College Park, Georgia: A historically African American town. It is common fact that the sexualization of women is prominent in African American culture, providing the basis of why 2Chainz calls her “big booty” (note: 2Chainz also refers to himself as “Tity Boi”, another reference to the sexualization of women in African American culture).
Finally, 2Chainz uses this phrase to not only examine the truth of the statement, but also the truth of himself. 2Chainz speaks to his audience through this line, telling them face to face that he is a man who only speaks the truth. His word can be trusted, because all he is doing is telling it like it is. He is up front, using the lyrics “See ni**a, I’m balling, you in will call” to prove to his audience that he’s already at the top of his game, which means he has no motivation to lie. He has the money he needs, so you can listen to his blunt statement understanding that he truly calls her “big booty” because she has a “big booty”.
In conclusion, Hip Hop artist 2Chainz uses a single sentence to explain the naturalism of life, the exploitation of women, and the truth of himself as an individual.
@patrickwalker6698
Happy birthday to anyone watching this on your birthday.
Edit: As I watch this video on my birthday 2 years after posting this comment, I hope yall have many more birthdays!
@kaykay842
Thank you.
@anderssonortiz4223
Thank you!
@ChenalOfficial
Thanks 🤗
@rtmashau4055
Thanks
@cosmicraccoon_
Thank you! Blasting this while I get ready :D
@GodotOfficial
"She got a big booty so I call her big booty"
- 2 Chainz, 2012.
@imnotasloth9037
***** LOL You just made my day
@yankeesrule09
I have that quote tattooed on my arm and framed in my bed room #SwagTears
@gastonboucher4273
***** 2 Chainz 2016.