Bills and Pills
The Clockworks Lyrics
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Charlie is a speedfreak
David likes to dabble but he’s scared to be in trouble
Jack’s smoking is chronic
I swear Matt’s an alcoholic
And Karen turns to pills when the bills threaten to double
But the bills keep coming
So the pills keep coming
Girls no longer longing for a
Wizard on a 6-string
My Wonderwall cover drowned out by
Bickering and bitching
Strangers in the sitting room
Danger in the kitchen
If everybody’s talking
The bills keep coming
So the pills keep coming
There’s a bang bang on the door
She’s not waiting for the man any more
He knows her well, she’ll take what she can, and
He’d sell water to a drowning man
The bills keep coming
So the pills keep coming.
The Clockworks' song Bills and Pills is a dark and thought-provoking commentary on modern society and the struggle to keep up with the increasing demands of everyday life. The lyrics detail the various coping mechanisms of the individuals in the song, all of whom are grappling with the burden of bills they can't pay and obligations they can't meet. Each person has their own vice - Hannah is into Charlie, Charlie is a speedfreak, David likes to dabble but is afraid of getting into trouble, Jack smokes chronic, Matt is an alcoholic, and Karen turns to pills when the bills loom too large. Despite their differences, they all have one thing in common - their desire to escape, to numb the pain of their situations with whatever they can get their hands on.
The chorus of the song, "the bills keep coming, so the pills keep coming", encapsulates the central theme of the song - that in a world where debt is ubiquitous, and the cost of living continues to rise, people are forced to find ways to cope, or else they risk being swallowed up by the system. The second half of the song shifts slightly, from a focus on the individual to a more universal perspective. The "girls no longer longing for a wizard on a 6-string" suggests a disillusionment with the romanticized idea of the musician as a savior figure. Instead, the reality is "bickering and bitching," with "danger in the kitchen" and "strangers in the sitting room." The final lines of the song, "there's a bang bang on the door, she's not waiting for the man any more... the bills keep coming, so the pills keep coming," suggest a kind of resignation, a sense that even if we try to break free of the system, it will always find a way to catch up with us.
Line by Line Meaning
Hannah’s into Charlie
Hannah is romantically involved with Charlie, who has an addiction to amphetamines
Charlie is a speedfreak
Charlie is addicted to amphetamines and frequently abuses them
David likes to dabble but he’s scared to be in trouble
David occasionally experiments with drugs but is afraid of the consequences of getting caught
Jack’s smoking is chronic
Jack is a heavy smoker and does so frequently
I swear Matt’s an alcoholic
Matt has a drinking problem and is likely an alcoholic
And Karen turns to pills when the bills threaten to double
Karen resorts to taking pills as a coping mechanism when her financial struggles become overwhelming
The bills keep coming
The characters in the song are struggling to keep up with their financial obligations
So the pills keep coming
The characters resort to taking pills to deal with their struggles and escape reality
Girls no longer longing for a
Women are no longer looking for
Wizard on a 6-string
A talented musician playing a guitar
My Wonderwall cover drowned out by
My rendition of the song 'Wonderwall' was overshadowed by
Bickering and bitching
Arguments and criticism towards each other
Strangers in the sitting room
Unknown people in the living room of the house
Danger in the kitchen
The kitchen is a potentially harmful or volatile environment
If everybody’s talking
If everyone is speaking or conversing
Is anybody listening?
Is anyone actively paying attention to one another?
There’s a bang bang on the door
Someone is knocking loudly on the door
She’s not waiting for the man any more
She is no longer waiting for her partner or lover (the man)
He knows her well, she’ll take what she can, and
He is familiar with her habits of taking advantage of situations to her benefit
He’d sell water to a drowning man
He is willing to do anything for personal gain, even if it is at the expense of others
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: James McGregor, The Clockworks
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@berenjena24
LYRICS
Hannah's into Charlie
Charlie is a Speedfreak
David likes to dabble but he's scared to be in trouble
Jack's smoking is chronic
I swear Matt's an alcoholic
And Karen turns to pills when the bills threaten to double
But the bills keep coming
So the pills keep coming
Girls no longer longing for a wizard on a 6 string
My Wonderwall cover drowned out by bickering and bitching
There's Strangers in the sitting room
Danger in the kitchen
If everybody's talking then is anybody listening?
The bills keep coming
So the pills keep coming
There's a bang bang on the door
She's not waiting for the man anymore
He knows her well, she'll take what she can
And he'd sell water to a drowning man
He'd sell water to a drowning man
The bills keep coming
So the pills keep coming
@JuanTorres-yc7du
Hannah's into Charlie
Charlie is a Speedfreak
David likes to dabble but he's scared to be in trouble
Jack's smoking is chronic
I swear Matt's an alcoholic
And Karen turns to pills when the bills threaten to double
But the bills keep coming
So the pills keep coming
Girls no longer longing for a wizard on a 6 string
My Wonderwall cover drowned out by bickering and bitching
There's Strangers in the sitting room
Danger in the kitchen
If everybody's talking then is anybody listening?
The bills keep coming
So the pills keep coming
There's a bang bang on the door
She's not waiting for the man anymore
He knows her well, she'll take what she can
And he'd sell water to a drowning man
He'd sell water to a drowning man
The bills keep coming
So the pills keep coming
@buterissimo
I could listen to this for hours on loop! In fact, I have :) Great job, guys!!!!
@CrankCase08
A brainwashing volunteer.
@haydensmith9866
Such an anthem 💜
@yungee3921
I haven't loved a new band on first listen since around 2004. Now I love a new band! Great stuff.
@stuartcutting1949
Saw these last night and they were brilliant 🙂
@BEACHLIFE78
Yes they were 👍
@jamesennis8837
Live stream was it 🤣mad what a year can do
@alieninawig
The bills keep coming, so the pills keep coming! 📬💊🎵
@calebthegreat2102
such a good song. love it so much i’ve listened to it on repeat like all dayyyyy
@berenjena24
LYRICS
Hannah's into Charlie
Charlie is a Speedfreak
David likes to dabble but he's scared to be in trouble
Jack's smoking is chronic
I swear Matt's an alcoholic
And Karen turns to pills when the bills threaten to double
But the bills keep coming
So the pills keep coming
Girls no longer longing for a wizard on a 6 string
My Wonderwall cover drowned out by bickering and bitching
There's Strangers in the sitting room
Danger in the kitchen
If everybody's talking then is anybody listening?
The bills keep coming
So the pills keep coming
There's a bang bang on the door
She's not waiting for the man anymore
He knows her well, she'll take what she can
And he'd sell water to a drowning man
He'd sell water to a drowning man
The bills keep coming
So the pills keep coming