Sin City
Uncle Tupelo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It'll swallow you in
If you've got some money to burn.
(So) Take it home right away,
You've got three years to pay
But Satan is waiting his turn.
This old earthquake's gonna leave me in the poor house.
On the thirty-first floor a gold plated door
Won't keep out the Lord's burning rain.
The scientists say
It'll all wash away
But we don't believe any more
Cause we've got our recruits
And our green mohair suits
So please show you ID At the door.
This old earthquake's gonna leave me in the poor house.
It seems like this whole town's insane.
On the thirty-first floor a gold plated door
Won't keep out the Lord's burning rain.
A friend came around.
Tried to clean up this town.
His ideas made some people mad.
Cause he trusted his crowd,
So he spoke right out loud,
And they lost the best friend they had.
This old earthquake's gonna leave me in the poor house.
It seems like this whole town's insane.
On the thirty-first floor a gold plated door
Won't keep out the Lord's burning rain.
On the thirty-first floor a gold plated door
Won't keep out the Lord's burning rain.
On the thirty-first floor a gold plated door
Won't keep out the Lord's burning rain.
The song "Sin City" by Uncle Tupelo is a cautionary tale about the lure and danger of city life. The singer warns that the city is filled with sin, and it's easy to get caught up in it if you have money to burn. The devil is waiting for his chance to take your soul, so take your money and leave quickly. The earthquake mentioned in the song is a metaphor for the chaos and destruction that can be found in the city. The singer talks about a man who tried to clean up the town, but his ideas made some people angry, and he lost his life. The gold plated door on the thirty-first floor represents the false security that people seek in the city, but it won't protect them from the Lord's burning rain, which is a metaphor for God's wrath.
The lyrics convey a sense of hopelessness and resignation as the singer is trapped in the city by his circumstances. The scientists who say that everything will wash away represent the feeling that there is no escape or solution to the problems of the city. The only way out is to leave the money behind and try to find something more meaningful.
Overall, "Sin City" is a powerful warning about the dangers of city life and the need to find true happiness and meaning outside of the endless cycle of consumerism and greed.
Line by Line Meaning
This old town is filled with sin,
The town is full of immoral actions and behaviors that may captivate you easily if you don't have strong convictions.
It'll swallow you in
If you've got some money to burn.
If you're reckless with spending money, you'll be caught up in the vices of this town.
(So) Take it home right away,
You've got three years to pay
But Satan is waiting his turn.
Buy what you need and leave quickly because the longer you stay, the greater the chances that you'll be lured into sin, and you won't be able to escape without consequences.
This old earthquake's gonna leave me in the poor house.
The impending disaster will leave me in financial ruin.
It seems like this whole town's insane.
The town is corrupt and insane in its actions and ways.
On the thirty-first floor a gold plated door
Won't keep out the Lord's burning rain.
No matter how wealthy, powerful, or elite you are, you can't escape God's punishment for your wickedness.
The scientists say
It'll all wash away
But we don't believe any more
The scientists predict that the natural disaster will wipe everything away, but we no longer believe in their assurances since the situation is beyond salvation.
Cause we've got our recruits
And our green mohair suits
So please show you ID At the door.
We have our own allies and special status in this town, so you need to prove yourself to gain entry.
A friend came around.
Tried to clean up this town.
A well-intentioned friend tried to rectify the town's state by restoring its moral standards.
His ideas made some people mad.
His proposals, which aimed to cleanse the town, angered some individuals who profited from the town's corruption.
Cause he trusted his crowd,
So he spoke right out loud,
And they lost the best friend they had.
He trusted his confidantes and spoke openly about the town's problems, leading to their betrayal and causing him to lose his closest friend.
On the thirty-first floor a gold plated door
Won't keep out the Lord's burning rain.
No matter how affluent, secured, or protected you think you are, you'll still be held accountable for your immoral deeds once God's judgment comes.
On the thirty-first floor a gold plated door
Won't keep out the Lord's burning rain.
You can't guarantee safety and success with material positions and symbols in this town; you'll always be vulnerable to the Lord's burning rain of retribution.
Lyrics © DistroKid, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHRISTOPHER HILLMAN, GRAM PARSONS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind