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)
https://facebook.com/TheTigerliliesUSA/
https://myspace.com/tigerliliesusa
Russians
The Tiger Lillies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The dogs they all do howl
Just beneath the surface, the faces all do scowl
Selling off an empire, they sell it by the pound
The Russians in the market square
Give him 15 Deutschmarks for an old red hat
He will sell you the coat off of his back
The Russian in the market square
The Russian in the market
The Russian in the market
The Russian in the market square
He'll tell you stories about his past
He'll tell you stories if you ask
And he's looking handsome and he's looking sad
The Russians in the market square
Yes, the Russian in the market
Yes, the Russian in the market
Yes, the Russian in the market square
Yes, the Russian in the market
Yes, the Russian in the market
The Russian in the market square
Yes, the Russian in Frankfurt Square
The Tiger Lillies's song "Russians" portrays a bleak and melancholic image of the aftermath of the collapse of the Soviet Union. The opening lines "It's pissing down with rain, the dogs they all do howl" sets the desolate mood of the song. It suggests that the society is in a state of decay and misery, which is further emphasized by the line "Just beneath the surface, the faces all do scowl". The next line, "Selling off an empire, they sell it by the pound" highlights the struggles of the people who are trying to adapt to the new economic system after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The image of the "Russians in the market square" selling their belongings and memories of their past further emphasizes the sense of loss and despair.
The second verse describes a specific Russian man in the market square, who is willing to sell anything he owns, even the coat off his back. The line "Give him 15 Deutschmarks for an old red hat" reinforces the idea that the Russians are willing to sell anything for little money. The man in the market square appears both "handsome and sad", suggesting that he might have been wealthy and powerful in the past, but now he has lost everything. The final lines of the song, "He'll tell you stories about his past, he'll tell you stories if you ask" paint a poignant picture of the Russians who are trying to hold on to their cultural heritage and identity.
Overall, "Russians" is a powerful and evocative song that captures the emotional and societal impact of the collapse of the Soviet Union. The lyrics are filled with vivid and haunting imagery, which creates a sense of loss and despair. The song also reflects on the resilience of the Russian people, who are trying to rebuild their lives after the fall of the Soviet Union.
Line by Line Meaning
It's pissing down with rain
It's raining heavily
The dogs they all do howl
The dogs are howling due to the rain
Just beneath the surface, the faces all do scowl
People's true emotions are hidden beneath their outward expressions
Selling off an empire, they sell it by the pound
Russia is selling off its empire piece by piece
The Russians in the market square
Russian immigrants are selling their belongings in the market square
Give him 15 Deutschmarks for an old red hat
You can buy an old red hat for 15 Deutschmarks from a Russian immigrant
He will sell you the coat off of his back
Russian immigrants are willing to sell anything they have
And he's looking handsome and he's looking sad
The Russian immigrant looks presentable but is also melancholic
The Russian in the market
Continuation of the theme of Russian immigrants selling their belongings in the market square
He'll tell you stories about his past
Russian immigrants are willing to share their life stories
He'll tell you stories if you ask
Russian immigrants are willing to share their life stories if asked
Yes, the Russian in Frankfurt Square
Reiteration of the previous theme
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Hrisoula Alifragi
It's pissing down with rain
The dogs they all do howl
Just beneath the surface,
the faces all do scowl
Selling off an empire,
they sell it by the pound
The Russians in the market square
Give him 15 Deutschmarks for an old red hat
He will sell you the coat off of his back
And he's looking handsome
and he's looking sad
The Russian in the market square
The Russian in the market
The Russian in the market
The Russian in the market square
He'll tell you stories about his past
He'll tell you stories if you ask
And he's looking handsome
and he's looking sad
The Russians in the market square
Yes, the Russian in the market
Yes, the Russian in the market
Yes, the Russian in the market square
Yes, the Russian in the market
Yes, the Russian in the market
The Russian in the market square Yes,
the Russian in Frankfurt Square...
bul bul ogly
It's pissing down with rain
The dogs they all do howl
Just beneath the surface, the faces all do scowl
Selling off an empire, they sell it by the pound
The Russians in the market square
Give him 15 Deutschmarks for an old red hat
He will sell you the coat off of his back
And he's looking handsome and he's looking sad
The Russian in the market square
The Russian in the market
The Russian in the market
The Russian in the market square
He'll tell you stories about his past
He'll tell you stories if you ask
And he's looking handsome and he's looking sad
The Russians in the market square
Yes, the Russian in the market
Yes, the Russian in the market
Yes, the Russian in the market square
Yes, the Russian in the market
Yes, the Russian in the market
The Russian in the market square
Yes, the Russian in Frankfurt Square
tpe54
It's pissing down with rain
The dogs they all do howl
Just beneath the surface, the faces all do scowl
Selling off an empire, they sell it by the pound
The Russians in the market square
Give him 15 Deutschmarks for an old red hat
He will sell you the coat off of his back
And he's looking handsome and he's looking sad
The Russian in the market square
The Russian in the market
The Russian in the market
The Russian in the market square
He'll tell you stories about his past
He'll tell you stories if you ask
And he's looking handsome and he's looking sad
The Russians in the market square
Yes, the Russian in the market
Yes, the Russian in the market
Yes, the Russian in the market square
Yes, the Russian in the market
Yes, the Russian in the market
The Russian in the market square
Jan Elema
Great band and also great performances. Saw them twice,in Groningen and Berlin. Hopefully they'll visit the Netherlands again.
Patrick Lauzier
They are truly a special band.
Hrisoula Alifragi
It's pissing down with rain
The dogs they all do howl
Just beneath the surface,
the faces all do scowl
Selling off an empire,
they sell it by the pound
The Russians in the market square
Give him 15 Deutschmarks for an old red hat
He will sell you the coat off of his back
And he's looking handsome
and he's looking sad
The Russian in the market square
The Russian in the market
The Russian in the market
The Russian in the market square
He'll tell you stories about his past
He'll tell you stories if you ask
And he's looking handsome
and he's looking sad
The Russians in the market square
Yes, the Russian in the market
Yes, the Russian in the market
Yes, the Russian in the market square
Yes, the Russian in the market
Yes, the Russian in the market
The Russian in the market square Yes,
the Russian in Frankfurt Square...
Miguel Lara quesada
Hrisoula Alifragi e
TheEmperor9985
Every time i search for this band on Youtube i find another amazing song. They have quite some repetoire..beautiful
Scarlett4Zanzibar
Love, love, LOVE the TL. Martyn's voice is so effective dramatically, I love it. I just wish I could see them perform in person. What a show that would be. ;)
Didier Aeternus
Yeah, probably the best perfomance of The Tiger Lillies
Kieran McKeown
They're touring the UK in March and June. Elsewhere in Europe in between.
Scarlett4Zanzibar
I guess I'm going to have to go over there to see them, since I'm in the U.S.
Kieran McKeown
Scarlett4Zanzibar Ahhhhh - what rotten luck! We'll I'm sure you could make a week of it somehow! I'm off to see them in Leeds on St Patrick's Day. It will be a messy one! :D