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.
Last Dead Mouse
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gather round,
Greatest salesman in town
Selling something
Seldom sold
Step up, step up, step up behold
Dead mice for sale,
They're going fast
Last dead mouse don't be shy,
There's never been a better time to buy
Last dead mouse but I'll get more
I'm a businessman and an entrepreneur
Folks say I'm nuts, they can say what they please
You've got to be crazy with prices like these
No overhead so I can keep down the cost
I make my own hours 'cause I'm my own boss
I believe in my product,
I love what I sell
Last dead mouse that's why I yell
Step right up ladies and gents
Last dead mouse costs fifty cents
It's a steal at any price
Going once, going once, going once, going twice
Half a buck, last in stock
Be the first one on your block
No need to walk, no need to feed, satisfaction guaranteed
Last dead mouse but I'll get more
I'm a bussinessman and an entrepreneur
Folks say I'm nuts, they can say what they please
You've got to be crazy with prices like these
No overhead so I can keep down the cost
I make my own hours 'cause I'm my own boss
I believe in my product, I love what I sell
Last dead mouse that's why I yell
Nice and easy now,
Nice and easy now,
Nice and easy now
Last dead mouse,
Last dead mouse
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones's song "Last Dead Mouse" is a song that can be interpreted in different ways. On one hand, it might be seen as a commentary on the capitalism and consumerism that pervade our society. The song's central figure is a salesman who is peddling dead mice to anyone who will buy them. He proudly proclaims himself to be "the greatest salesman in town" and boasts that his prices are so low because he has "no overhead." He believes in his product and loves to sell it, even though he knows that others may view him as "nuts" for doing so. The repetition of the line "Last dead mouse but I'll get more" suggests that his business is thriving, and he is confident that there will always be a market for his unusual product.
On the other hand, the song might be interpreted as a tongue-in-cheek celebration of the odd and offbeat. The salesman is portrayed as a kind of eccentric hero, someone who is unafraid to embrace his quirks and passions. The fact that he is selling dead mice is certainly unusual, but it is also a sign of his individuality and creativity. The song invites listeners to step out of their comfort zones and embrace the unconventional, to celebrate the strange and unexpected.
Overall, "Last Dead Mouse" is a quirky, catchy, and memorable song that can be enjoyed on many different levels. On the surface, it is a humorous celebration of an eccentric salesman and his odd product. But on a deeper level, it might be seen as a commentary on the nature of capitalism and consumerism, or as a call to embrace the strange and unconventional in our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Step right up,
Come close, folks
Gather round,
Assemble and listen
Greatest salesman in town
The best person to sell you something
Selling something
Offering an item for purchase
Seldom sold
Not often found for sale
Step up, step up, step up behold
Approach and take a good look
Dead mice for sale,
Deceased rodents are available to purchase
They're going fast
The dead mice are selling quickly
Like hell
Extremely rapidly
Last dead mouse don't be shy,
The final rodent for sale shouldn't be overlooked
There's never been a better time to buy
This is the ideal moment to make a purchase
Last dead mouse but I'll get more
This isn't the end, more are to come
I'm a businessman and an entrepreneur
I am a person who runs their own business
Folks say I'm nuts, they can say what they please
People call me crazy, but opinions don't matter
You've got to be crazy with prices like these
Only a crazy person would offer such low prices
No overhead so I can keep down the cost
I don't have any major expenses, so I can offer low prices
I make my own hours 'cause I'm my own boss
I'm the one in charge, so I have flexible work hours
I believe in my product,
I have faith in what I'm selling
I love what I sell
I have a passion for my product
Last dead mouse that's why I yell
I'm enthusiastic about my final product
Step right up ladies and gents
Men and women, please come closer
Last dead mouse costs fifty cents
The final dead rodent is priced at fifty cents
It's a steal at any price
This is an amazing deal, regardless of the cost
Going once, going once, going once, going twice
The item is being auctioned off, quickly
Half a buck, last in stock
The rodent is half a dollar and it's the final one available
Be the first one on your block
Be the earliest person in your neighborhood to own one
No need to walk, no need to feed, satisfaction guaranteed
No further investment or attention is necessary, and your happiness is assured
Nice and easy now,
Take it slow and steady
Last dead mouse,
The final deceased rodent
Contributed by Sarah M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.