Gold On The Ceiling {triple j live recording Sydney Entertainment Centre 2012}
The Black Keys Lyrics


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Down in the waves
She screams again
Roar at the door
My mind can't take much more
I could never drown in

They wanna get my
They wanna get my
Gold on the ceiling
I ain't blind
Just a matter of time
Before you steal it
It's alright
Ain't no blood in my eye

Clouds covered love's
Barbed-wire fence
Strung up, strung out
I just can't go without
I could never drown in

They wanna get my
They wanna get my
Gold on the ceiling
I ain't blind
Just a matter of time
Before you steal it
It's alright
Ain't no blood in my eye

They wanna get my
They wanna get my
Gold on the ceiling
I ain't blind
Just a matter of time
Before you steal it
It's alright
Ain't no blood in my eye

Gold on the ceiling
I ain't blind
Just a matter of time
Before you steal it




It's alright
Ain't no blood in my eye

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Black Keys’ song “Gold on the Ceiling” describe a sense of dread and paranoia that the singer is feeling. He describes a woman who is screaming, causing waves to crash around him while he feels like he’s drowning. Throughout the song, there is a sense of impending doom as he talks about people wanting to steal his “gold on the ceiling.” The gold represents his success and status, but he knows there are people who want to take it away from him.


The lyrics also touch on the theme of love and the barriers to finding it. The “barb-wired snare” of love is preventing him from finding a real connection with someone. He feels “strung up, strung out” and unable to escape the trap of love. The lyrics suggest that there are some things in life that are beyond our control, whether it’s the waves crashing down or the people who want to steal our success, but ultimately the singer is resigned to this fact, saying “it’s alright, ain’t no guard in my house.”


Overall, the lyrics can be interpreted as an exploration of the anxiety and uncertainty that comes with success and the fear of losing it all. It may also suggest a longing for love that is hindered by the complexities of human connection.


Line by Line Meaning

Down in the waves
The singer is feeling overwhelmed, like they're in the depths of the sea.


She screams again
Someone, possibly the singer's partner, is expressing frustration or distress.


Roar at the door
There is turbulence and commotion, indicated by the word 'roar'. The door could be symbolic of an entrance or exit point.


My mind can't take much more
The artist is close to their mental breaking point.


I could never drown in
Despite feeling overwhelmed, the artist is confident that they won't completely succumb to their emotions.


They wanna get my
An unknown entity is seeking something that belongs to the singer, making them feel threatened.


Gold on the ceiling
The 'gold' could represent something valuable to the singer, like their fame, success, or happiness. The 'ceiling' could represent a limit to how high they can ascend.


I ain't blind
The artist is aware of the danger they're in and isn't ignoring it.


Just a matter of time
The artist anticipates being robbed or losing something valuable soon, and that it's inevitable.


Before you steal it
The entity seeking their 'gold' is going to take it by force.


It's alright
Despite the danger, the singer is still relatively calm and composed. They have faith in their abilities and in the universe to make things right.


Ain't no guard in my house
The artist's defenses are down, perhaps due to complacency or trust in those around them. They could also be symbolically describing their mind or heart as their 'house'.


Clouds covered love's
Love, a previously clear and bright thing in the singer's life, is now obstructed by 'clouds', or problems and insecurities.


Barb-wired snare
Their love has become dangerous and painful. The barbs could represent hurtful words or actions, while the snare could represent feeling trapped.


Strung up, strung out
The singer is feeling tense and stressed due to the state of their relationship. 'Strung up' and 'strung out' could also mean feeling high-strung and exhausted.


I just can't go without
Despite the danger and pain, the artist can't let go of their love or their 'gold'.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Brian Joseph Burton, Daniel Auerbach, Patrick Carney

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@Kimbergarten

I found out my mother was dying from cancer. My girlfriend at the time, and I went to the Ellen show to smile and get my mind off things. Before the show we were instructed (as an audience) that no one was allowed to speak to "Ms Degeneres". (Oooo, so untouchable, important.) As the show went on, we all applauded like good little minions when her staff held up signs instructing us to. ( I guess she didn't want to leave it up to an actual earned applause.) We stood when told to stand, and danced when instructed to dance. All the while I'm thinking, what a joke. I actually thought this would be fun. I'd watched her show many times and was naive to think that the audience was actually doing all that they do of their own volition. It was just free labor for her. Finally, during a break one of her staff tapped me on the shoulder and said that Ellen had asked that I be moved to the back of the audience because I wasn't active and excited enough to remain where I was seated near the center of the room and walkway. Mind you, the woman who replaced me in my seat never stood or danced even once. It changed everything for me in reference to her in an instant. So all these years later I for one am happy to see that she is finally being seen for who she is. Arrogant, pompous, self righteous, self-important, and a bully. Ellen didn't make me smile that day. On that day... she felt like a bully. It actually felt as though she sensed I was weak in that moment and went ahead and gave me a good kick. She just added insult to an already hard time in my life. So yes, finally after all these years, in reference to Ellen... I smile.

@pattiwaseta1672

She sounds like a malignant narcissist. Thank you for sharing your story.

@MoonmanSpacejam

Wow. I hope more
People see this comment. That is disturbing and absolutely horrifying.
What a witch 🧙‍♀️

@Angelina6518

This sounds truly demonic. Poor Ellen is lost. Pray for her. I do.

@user-wx8uj4xr2q

One thing I will never say. I went to an Ellen show to feel good.

@UncommonLtd.

​@@Angelina6518 demonic 😂 hardly, just a rude person

94 More Replies...

@mikecr4916

Fame, money, power does not change people,, it reveals them.

@MajorBuzzKill

@MOHAMED HASSAN Money and power lets you be yourself, the OP is right.

@MajorBuzzKill

@MOHAMED HASSAN Agree to disagree, money and power amplifies who you are when you have no options you can't completely be yourself.

@arsnole3942

That’s fact for 99% of the world

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