Currently Martyn Jacques, Adrian Stout, Adrian Huge (Past member Phil Butcher)
Their surreal style has been described as dark, darkly humorous, strangely humorous, Brechtian, and gypsy cabaret. They are also notorious for singing controversial songs involving bestiality, prostitution and blasphemy.
The Tiger Lillies were originally buskers, playing songs about the criminals, pimps and whores of Soho, London, England. Over time, the band became involved in several theatrical productions around the world, including the critically acclaimed Shockheaded Peter. Known for their intense, outlandish, and dark performances, they have garnered both controversy and critical acclaim.
Also "The Tiger Lillies", "The Tigerlilies" and "The Tigerlillies" may refer to Indie rock band from Cincinnati, Ohio that formed in 1989.
Bio:
Cincinnati's power pop stalwarts the Tigerlillies formed in 1989 and set out to fuse glam rock, roots rock, and post-punk into an aesthetic they called "More Pop than Jesus." Led by vocalist/guitarist Pat Hennessy, the band also included former members of the Chrome Cranks, the Candy Snatchers, and G.G. Allin & the Murder Junkies before settling on the lineup of Hennessy, guitarist/vocalist William Weber, bassist Brian Driscoll, and drummer/vocalist Steve Hennessy.
Discography:
Deep (1992)
Space Age Love Songs (1997)
Ceci N'est Ces Pop (2003)
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Crime
The Tiger Lillies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My father was a thief
My auntie ran a brothel
It gave cheap relief
Crime, crime
Crime doesn't pay
And my sister worked in peep shows
My brother pimped for call girls
Fostered their deceits
Crime, crime doesn't pay
Except when the debt collector needs to be paid
My nephew was a rent boy
Dress-sense made me weep
And my niece clipped in Soho
Her lies defied belief
Crime, crime, crime doesn't pay
Except when the debt collector needs to be paid
Crime, crime, crime doesn't pay
The Tiger Lillies' song "Crime" is a dark and gritty look into a family of criminals and those associated with crime. The lyrics speak of prostitution, theft, brothels, peep shows, and rent boys. The singer describes their family and extended family members who participate in various criminal activities.
The opening lines reveal that the singer's mother was a prostitute and their father was a thief, and that their auntie ran a brothel. This establishes the family's involvement in illegal activities. The chorus of "Crime, crime, crime doesn't pay" is repeated throughout the song, giving a bleak outlook on the consequences of such actions.
The following verses mention the singer's sister who worked in peep shows, and their brother who pimped for call girls. The lyrics describe the family's involvement in the sex industry, where exploitation and deception run rampant. The final lines mention the singer's nephew who was a rent boy (a male prostitute), and their niece who lied while working in Soho, a district of London known for its red-light activities.
Overall, the lyrics of "Crime" highlight the interconnectedness of criminal activities and the devastating effects such actions can have on individuals and families. The repetition of the chorus reinforces the song's message that crime may seem like a shortcut to easy money, but ultimately it will lead to a difficult and unforgiving life.
Line by Line Meaning
My mother was a prostitute
My mother earned a living by engaging in sexual activities with strangers for money.
My father was a thief
My father stole things that belonged to others as a means of livelihood.
My auntie ran a brothel
My auntie owned a place where people could pay for sexual services provided by multiple sex workers.
It gave cheap relief
It provided sexual satisfaction to clients at a low cost.
Crime, crime
Engaging in illegal activities,
Crime doesn't pay
Illegal activities might seem like an easy way to earn money, but it often leads to negative consequences.
And my sister worked in peep shows
My sister performed for men in a venue where they could watch her undress or engage in sexual activity through a small window.
Carrots between cheeks
She inserted carrots into her anus as part of her performance in the peep shows.
My brother pimped for call girls
My brother obtained clients for female sex workers and took a share of their earnings in exchange.
Fostered their deceits
My brother helped the female sex workers hide their profession or true identity from others.
Except when the debt collector needs to be paid
Engaging in illegal activities might be the only way to earn money when one is in financial debt.
My nephew was a rent boy
My nephew engaged in sexual activities with men for money.
Dress-sense made me weep
The way my nephew dressed to work made me feel sad or emotionally distressed.
And my niece clipped in Soho
My niece provided sexual services in a specific in London known for its sex industry.
Her lies defied belief
My niece told unbelievable stories or made up excuses to hide the fact that she was a sex worker from others.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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