Formed in the late 1980s in Dallas, Texas, The Buck Pets were clearly influ… Read Full Bio ↴Formed in the late 1980s in Dallas, Texas, The Buck Pets were clearly influenced by earlier bands such as The Replacements, The Buzzcocks and The Jesus and Mary Chain but incorporated better production values and more overt nods to classic rock than their college rock/punk predecessors.

The band seemed to get a degree of support from their record label, Island, for their first two LPs, the hard edged "The Buck Pets," and the more melodic follow up "Mercurotones." The band also had opening spots on tour with larger acts such as Jane's Addiction, but in the end The Buck Pets brand of intelligent, crafted, alternative hard rock was probably a few a years too early to see commercial success. However, the band had a large following in the Dallas/Fort Worth and Norman, Oklahoma area who still miss them.

As a coda, the The Buck Pets released the more restrained, melancholy "To The Quick" -- a fine, almost totally ignored LP -- in 1993 on the independent label Restless.

Pearls
The Buck Pets Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm not looking for Eldorado
I just want this red-haired girl
I know i ain't, no -
Peter the great
But that's not bad for a fallen saint

We all throw our pearls to swine sometimes
We all throw our pearls on swine -

Some of the time

You want to make me a permanent shadow
You're about as subtle as a tank
I'm a dog, covered in grease,
Lickin' up spit
And all i can think to say is thanks

We all throw our pearls to swine sometimes
We all throw our pearls on swine -
Some of the time

You always think that you've got somethin' to say
Maybe if you did, that'd be all right
Laugh it off, try to make it okay
Try to make it through tonight

And i'd do anything
To set you under me, yeah . . .

Overall Meaning

The Buck Pets's song Pearls is about an individual who acknowledges their imperfections and flaws but still has a desire for a red-haired girl. The individual mentions that they are not Peter the Great, an influential historical figure from Russia, but they are still not a bad option for a "fallen saint". The lyrics suggest that the individual is aware that they are not perfect, but they still feel worthy of love from a specific person.

The chorus of the song, "We all throw our pearls to swine sometimes," is an analogy that means we all make mistakes and sometimes give something valuable to someone who doesn't appreciate or deserve it. The individual acknowledges that they too have made mistakes and have given something of value to someone who doesn't deserve it. However, the lyrics suggest that it is normal and a part of the learning process in life.

The second verse suggests that the red-haired girl is trying to control the individual and make them into a permanent shadow. However, the individual acknowledges the situation and the lack of subtlety, and they appreciate being in the situation nonetheless. The lyrics suggest that the individual is a dog, covered in grease, and licking up spit, indicating that they don't care about their physical or emotional state as long as they are with the red-haired girl. The chorus is repeated again in this verse, indicating that mistakes are still made, but they are a part of the journey.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm not looking for Eldorado
I'm not searching for any lavish or extraordinary thing.

I just want this red-haired girl
All I desire is to have this specific girl with red hair.

I know i ain't, no - Peter the great But that's not bad for a fallen saint
I'm aware that I'm not a remarkable or legendary figure like Peter the Great, but to be a sinful person and achieve what I have is not too shabby.

We all throw our pearls to swine sometimes We all throw our pearls on swine - Some of the time
We all make mistakes and give something valuable to those who don't appreciate or deserve it.

You want to make me a permanent shadow You're about as subtle as a tank I'm a dog, covered in grease, Lickin' up spit And all i can think to say is thanks
You want to constantly control me and your efforts are as heavy-handed as a tank. I'm like a dirty dog accepting whatever scraps are thrown at me, and I'm grateful regardless.

You always think that you've got somethin' to say Maybe if you did, that'd be all right Laugh it off, try to make it okay Try to make it through tonight
You try to assert yourself by always having an opinion, but it would be bearable if your views were legitimate. Let's just brush it off and survive tonight.

And i'd do anything To set you under me, yeah . . .
I'll do whatever it takes to have control over you.

Contributed by Abigail Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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