The group was initiated by Jon Langford (also of the Waco Brothers and The Mekons) as a covers group, with a constantly shifting repertory and cast of backing members. The name was first used for Langford's 1995 album of Johnny Cash cover songs. In 1998, Langford enlisted the help of a number of prominent alt-country musicians (including Neko Case, Alejandro Escovedo, and Robbie Fulks) for a full-length tribute album to Bob Wills. Their second LP, The Executioner's Last Songs, was released in 2002 and is a collection of songs about death. Following this record's success, the group recorded two more albums of songs about death as benefits for the Illinois Coalition Against the Death Penalty. These albums featured such guests as Steve Earle and Mark Eitzel. The group rarely performs live, though it occasionally does special performances in the Chicago area. In 2007 the group appeared as backing band on Chumbawamba member Danbert Nobacon's solo album The Library Book of the World, as well as playing live with Nobacon.
The Snakes Crawl at Night
The Pine Valley Cosmonauts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When the sun goes down. Oh the snakes will play
I watched that car pull right up into my driveway
Saw the shadow slip away from my house
So I hurried straight and looked into her room
And I found out that it was my loving spouse
So I waited in the shadows until morning
And the gun that I held was trembling in my hand
No I did not mean to give them any warning
For the devil on my shoulder had command
Repeat chorus
Oh the trial in a little while was over
And they sentenced me to die right away
But before I leave this courtroom please your honor
There is something more that I would like to say
Repeat chorus
The song "The Snakes Crawl At Night" by The Pine Valley Cosmonauts and Janet Bean is a hauntingly beautiful ballad about betrayal and revenge. The opening lyrics "Oh the snakes crawl at night, that's what they say. When the sun goes down. Oh the snakes will play" sets the eerie mood of the song. The lyrics describe the deception that takes place in the cover of darkness as the snakes represent the individuals who deceive and betray others. The lyrics focus on the theme of betrayal as the song progresses, and the story unfolds.
The lyrics further explain the betrayal of the singer's spouse, who has been unfaithful to him with someone else. The lyrics convey the agony and despair of the betrayed partner as he witnesses his spouse being unfaithful with someone else. The lyrics reveal that the singer had intended to seek revenge by killing his partner and the other person involved in the affair. He waited in the shadows with his weapon, given to him by the devil on his shoulder, until morning. The lyrics express the brutality of human nature, showing how emotions of hatred and jealousy can drive individuals to commit heinous crimes.
The lyrics also reveal that the singer is on death row after being sentenced for his crime. The closing of the song lyrics "But before I leave this courtroom please your honor, There is something more that I would like to say" shows that the singer has remorse for his actions and is seeking forgiveness.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh the snakes crawl at night, that's what they say
People say that bad things happen when the sun goes down
When the sun goes down. Oh the snakes will play
When it's dark outside, bad people will do bad things
I watched that car pull right up into my driveway
I saw a car drive into my driveway
Saw the shadow slip away from my house
I saw someone leave my house without being seen
So I hurried straight and looked into her room
I quickly went to my spouse's room to investigate
And I found out that it was my loving spouse
I discovered that the person who left my house was my spouse
Repeat chorus
Repeating the earlier verses
So I waited in the shadows until morning
I waited in the dark until morning
And the gun that I held was trembling in my hand
I was scared and nervous, holding a gun in my shaking hand
No I did not mean to give them any warning
I didn't intend to alert anyone to my presence
For the devil on my shoulder had command
I was being influenced by my evil impulses
Oh the trial in a little while was over
The trial was finished soon afterwards
And they sentenced me to die right away
I was given the death penalty
But before I leave this courtroom please your honor
Before I'm taken away, I have something to say to the judge
There is something more that I would like to say
I have something additional that I want to express
Repeat chorus
Repeating the earlier verses
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: FRED B. BURCH, MEL TILLIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind