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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Knock You About
The Tiger Lillies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So the pawn in the game the fodder to blame
Do you still have some pride or in excrement lie
Are you just rank and file remember to smile
If you play the game then you they won’t blame
Your self-loathing creeps and into me seeps
Shall I knock you about shall I fill you with doubt
Or mourn your decline with a glass of red wine
Should I keep my mouth shut as your throat you cut
As you slide down and in excrement drown
The lyrics to The Tiger Lillies’ song Knock You About explore themes of power dynamics, pride, and the consequences of playing into societal frameworks. The opening line, “Who’ll be the thief the piece of meat,” sets the stage for a narrative about someone being taken advantage of or exploited. The line “So the pawn in the game the fodder to blame” reinforces the idea of someone being used as a tool or scapegoat, and highlights their powerlessness in the situation.
The chorus presents a dichotomy of how to respond to the situation: “Shall I knock you about shall I fill you with doubt/ Or mourn your decline with a glass of red wine.” The singer must decide whether to take advantage of the person’s vulnerability and reinforce the power dynamic, or empathize with them and acknowledge their struggles. The lines “Should I feel some remorse as you follow your course/ Should I keep my mouth shut as your throat you cut/ As you slide down and in excrement drown” further build on the idea of someone’s downward spiral, and the question of whether or not to intervene or acknowledge their struggles.
Overall, the lyrics to Knock You About are a commentary on societal structures that create power imbalances, and the ethical struggles that come with observing or participating in them.
Line by Line Meaning
Who’l be the thief the piece of meat
Who will be taken advantage of and used as a pawn?
So the pawn in the game the fodder to blame
They are being used and will be blamed if something goes wrong.
Do you still have some pride or in excrement lie
Are you still holding onto your dignity, or have you given up and fallen into despair?
Are you just rank and file remember to smile
Are you one of the many who just follow orders, and hide your true emotions behind a smile?
If you play the game then you they won’t blame
If you follow their rules, they won't blame you for anything that goes wrong.
Your self-loathing creeps and into me seeps
Your self-hatred is contagious and is affecting me too.
Shall I knock you about shall I fill you with doubt
Should I confront you and make you question your actions?
Or mourn your decline with a glass of red wine
Or should I just feel sorry for you and drink my sorrows away?
Should I feel some remorse as you follow your course
Should I feel guilty for not intervening as you continue down a destructive path?
Should I keep my mouth shut as your throat you cut
Should I stay silent as you engage in self-destructive behavior?
As you slide down and in excrement drown
As you continue down a path of self-destruction and despair.
Contributed by Micah E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.