The band released three albums, "Lack of Communication" (2001), "Pawn Shoppe Heart" (2004) and "Love, Hate and Then There's You" (2009) before disbanding in 2011.
Going down
The Von Bondies Lyrics
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The other one with his heart
The last one wasn't that simple
Yeah, You could tell right from the start
He had attitude like the Devil
Lips that speak the truth
He had the soul of an angel
He could see it in her, too
Well, She ain't no Cinderella
And he ain't no flashy king
But if she keeps on treating him right
He's going to make that mockingbird sing
But if she treats him bad
He's going to send her on her way
Making her pay for all his troubles
'til her dying day
'til her dying day
She's going down
She's going down
She's going down
I'll send her on her way
She's going down
She's going down
She's going down
I'll send her on her way
She's going down
She's going down
She's going down
I'll send her on her way
She's going down
She's going down
She's going down
I'll send her on her way
She's going down
She's going down
She's going down
I'll send her on her way
She's going down
She's going down
She's going down
I'll send her on her way
She's going down
The Von Bondies’ song Going Down tells the story of three characters and their relationships with each other. The first line, “One lost his way in the fame,” suggests that one character has succumbed to the trappings of stardom and lost his sense of self. The second line, “The other one with his heart,” indicates that another character is more emotional and perhaps more sensitive than the fame-seeker. Finally, “The last one wasn't that simple / Yeah, You could tell right from the start” implies that the third character is complex and not easily understood.
The next stanza features the most interesting character of the three: “He had attitude like the Devil / Lips that speak the truth / He had the soul of an angel / He could see it in her, too / He could see it in her, too.” This character is enigmatic, with the contrast between his devilish attitude and angelic soul. He is also able to understand and empathize with “her,” perhaps the female character in the song, in a way that the other characters cannot.
The final stanza shifts to focus on the female character, who “ain’t no Cinderella” and the male character, who “ain’t no flashy king.” However, if she treats him right, he will “make that mockingbird sing.” On the other hand, if she treats him badly, he will “send her on her way” and make her “pay for all his troubles ‘til her dying day.” The repetition of the phrase “She’s going down” reinforces the idea that the female character’s fate is in the hands of the male character.
Overall, Going Down is a character study set to a catchy rock tune. The lyrics are open to interpretation and leave room for the listener’s imagination to fill in the gaps.
Line by Line Meaning
One lost his way in the fame
One of the band members got caught up in the world of fame and lost touch with his true self and priorities.
The other one with his heart
Another band member stayed true to his heart and didn't let fame change him.
The last one wasn't that simple
The final band member had a complex personality and wasn't easy to read or understand.
Yeah, You could tell right from the start
Their unique personalities were evident from the very beginning of their time together as a band.
He had attitude like the Devil
One of the band members had a rebellious, devil-may-care attitude.
Lips that speak the truth
Despite his attitude, this band member was honest and straightforward in his communication.
He had the soul of an angel
Beneath the tough exterior, this band member had a kind and compassionate heart.
He could see it in her, too
This band member recognized similar qualities in a woman he was attracted to.
Well, She ain't no Cinderella
The woman he was interested in wasn't a fairytale princess or someone who needed rescuing.
And he ain't no flashy king
He didn't have wealth or power to impress her with.
But if she keeps on treating him right
Despite their differences, if she treats him well and with respect,
He's going to make that mockingbird sing
He'll be happy and content, and his joy will be evident in his music.
But if she treats him bad
However, if she mistreats him,
He's going to send her on her way
He'll break things off with her and let her go.
Making her pay for all his troubles
If she caused him pain or was responsible for any problems in their relationship, she'll face consequences for it.
'til her dying day
Even if they break up, he'll remember how she treated him and hold a grudge against her for the rest of her life.
She's going down
The woman he's referring to will fail or suffer negative consequences.
I'll send her on her way
He plans to end things with her and move on.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ERICKA RACHELLE YANCEY, RICHARD SMITH, VICTOR WHITE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind