Formed in 1985, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones started playing in Boston clubs in the mid-1980s. After a brief period of inactivity due to the schooling commitments of its members, they reformed and released their album Devil's Night Out on Taang! Records. The Bosstones toured relentlessly throughout the 1990s, playing hundreds of shows a year, releasing albums and spinning off the popular rock radio hit "Someday I Suppose". They were eventually signed to Mercury Records. The band appeared in the movie Clueless. In 1997, the success of their single "The Impression That I Get" and its follow up, "The Rascal King" earned them mainstream recognition. In 2000 they put out their critically acclaimed disk Pay Attention. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones released their last album on Side One Dummy Records. They officially went on hiatus in 2003, citing too much time on the road and desire to branch out and do different things. In 2007, the Bosstones announced that they were reforming. They played their 10th Hometown Throwdown in Boston and released a new album, Medium Rare, which consists of rare B-sides, and 3 new songs, including the single, "Don't Worry Desmond Dekker".
The band announced their split in early 2022.
Cowboy Coffee
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones Lyrics
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Hold on and hold out or I'd be left out without it
Things better get better I gotta get
Thing's should get good but they haven't yet
While these things keep bringing and bringing me grief
I've got that one something that still brings relief
All these things keep bringing and bringing me grief
Cowboy coffee and chemical cream ride on ride on my stallion of green
Midnight shower sleep in the flowers and dream, hurricane, breakneck speed, rapid fire, dreams
It's not that it's boggin' or cloggin' my head
It's not that I'm swamped buried under near dead
It's just the daily grind to bring the daily bread
I wasn't born rich I'm good looking instead
While these dailys "dille-dallie" and I'm daily employed
I've got that daily something that's daily enjoyed
While these dailys "dille-dallie" and I'm daily employed
I've got that daily something that's daily enjoyed
Cowboy coffee and chemical cream ride, ride, ride on my stallion of green
Just a midnight flower, sleep in the flowers and dream,
Hurricane, breakneck speed, rapid fire, dreams
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones’s song Cowboy Coffee explores the theme of perseverance and finding small joys in life despite the overwhelming stress and difficulties that come with daily life. The opening lines of the song, "To put up with the output I don't think about it, hold on and hold out or I'd be left out without it" suggest that the singer is struggling to keep up with the output required of him in life, but must continue to persevere or risk being left behind. The repetition of the line "Things better get better, I gotta get, things should get good but they haven't yet" reinforces the idea that the singer is still waiting for his life to improve despite his hard work.
The title of the song, "Cowboy Coffee" itself, is a reference to the idea of finding comfort in small rituals. The chorus repeats the line "Cowboy coffee and chemical cream ride on ride on my stallion of green" which can be seen as a comfort zone for the singer. The use of words like "stallion" and "ride" suggests that this ritual gives the singer a sense of power and control, even if just for a moment. The singer also finds comfort in his dreams, as suggested in the lines "Midnight shower sleep in the flowers and dream, hurricane, breakneck speed, rapid fire, dreams". All of these elements suggest that the singer is trying to find moments of reprieve from his daily struggles.
In conclusion, Cowboy Coffee is a song about perseverance and finding small moments of joy in the face of the monotonous grind of daily life. It encourages the listener to find solace in small rituals and moments of reprieve amidst the overwhelming stress of everyday life.
Line by Line Meaning
To put up with the output I don't think about it,
I tolerate the workload without dwelling on it too much.
Hold on and hold out or I'd be left out without it
I need to persist or I'll be excluded.
Things better get better I gotta get
I hope things improve for me soon.
Thing's should get good but they haven't yet
I anticipated improvement, but it hasn't happened yet.
While these things keep bringing and bringing me grief
Despite these troubles that persist,
I've got that one something that still brings relief
I still have one thing that provides comfort.
All these things keep bringing and bringing me grief
These problems continue to accumulate and burden me.
I've got that one something that still brings relief
But I have one thing that helps alleviate that burden.
Cowboy coffee and chemical cream ride on ride on my stallion of green
I seek escape through substances like coffee and cream while daydreaming.
Midnight shower sleep in the flowers and dream, hurricane, breakneck speed, rapid fire, dreams
In my sleep, I'm transported to exciting and terrifying experiences.
It's not that it's boggin' or cloggin' my head
It's not that I'm overwhelmed mentally.
It's not that I'm swamped buried under near dead
It's not that I'm drowning in my work.
It's just the daily grind to bring the daily bread
It's just the daily toil to make a living.
I wasn't born rich I'm good looking instead
I wasn't born wealthy, but I have physical appeal.
While these dailys "dille-dallie" and I'm daily employed
While these daily tasks drag on and I work every day,
I've got that daily something that's daily enjoyed
I have something I enjoy doing every day.
While these dailys "dille-dallie" and I'm daily employed
While I'm working every day and things feel slow,
I've got that daily something that's daily enjoyed
I still have something I find pleasure in each day.
Cowboy coffee and chemical cream ride, ride, ride on my stallion of green
I escape through substances like coffee and cream while daydreaming, riding a figurative horse.
Just a midnight flower, sleep in the flowers and dream,
I find peace in simple moments alone, surrounded by nature.
Hurricane, breakneck speed, rapid fire, dreams
But my dreams also take me on thrilling, heart-racing journeys.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DICKY BARRETT, JOE GITTLEMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind