Cannonball
breeders Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Check check check
One two

Spitting in a wishing well
Blown to hell crash
I'm the last splash

I know you little libertine
I know you're a real coocoo

Want you coocoo cannonball
Want you coocoo cannonball
In the shade, in the shade
In the shade, in the shade

I know you little libertine
I know you're a cannonball

I'll be your whatever you want
The bong in this reggae song

In the shade, in the shade
Want you coocoo cannonball
Want you coocoo cannonball

Spitting in a wishing well
Blown to hell
Crash
I'm the last splash

I'll be your whatever you want
The bong in this reggae song

Want you coocoo cannonball
Want you coocoo cannonball




In the shade, in the shade
In the shade, in the shade

Overall Meaning

The Breeders' song "Cannonball" starts off with a loose, playful vibe with some test microphones echoes of "check check check" and "one two". The lyrics start with "Spitting in a wishing well, blown to hell crash, I'm the last splash." Kim Deal, the lead vocalist of the band, has mentioned that this particular phrase doesn't hold any specific meaning, but rather, it is a collection of phrases she put together that sounded interesting. The idea of spitting, wishing, and the resulting chaos and destruction of the well is a theme that seems to run through the song, as well as the overall idea of breaking free from norms and expectations.


The next few lines - "I know you little libertine, I know you're a real coocoo" - describe the person they are addressing. A libertine is someone who acts without moral principles, and "coocoo" implies being a little crazy or wild. The repeated chorus of "Want you coocoo cannonball" emphasizes the desire for this person to be free and reckless, like a cannonball being fired out of a cannon. The verses continue to play with lyrics that don't necessarily have a clear-cut meaning, but convey a sense of carefree energy and disrupting the norm.


Overall, "Cannonball" is a song about breaking free from expectations and letting go of inhibitions. The references to spitting and destruction, as well as the repeated "coocoo cannonball" chorus, are all ways of conveying a sense of wild abandon and revelry.


Line by Line Meaning

Check check check
Testing the audio levels before starting the song


One two
Another audio check, making sure both channels of the sound system work


Spitting in a wishing well
Being disrespectful to traditional conventions or superstitions


Blown to hell crash
Having a destructive and chaotic end


I'm the last splash
Ending with a strong and memorable impact


I know you little libertine
Addressing someone who lives without moral or social conventions


I know you're a real coocoo
Acknowledging their unconventional behavior and personality


Want you coocoo cannonball
Desiring the person's intense and free-spirited energy


In the shade, in the shade
Making the offer of protection and comfort


I know you little libertine
Repeating the address to reinforce the artist's understanding of the person


I know you're a cannonball
Comparing the person's energy to a destructive and explosive force


I'll be your whatever you want
Offering to be whatever the person desires, even if it's detrimental to the artist


The bong in this reggae song
Referencing drug use and recreational activities that accompany the person's lifestyle


Want you coocoo cannonball
Repeating the desire for the person's intense and free-spirited energy


In the shade, in the shade
Repeating the offer of protection and comfort


Spitting in a wishing well
Repeating the disrespect towards traditional conventions or superstitions


Blown to hell
Repeating the idea of having a destructive end


Crash
Repeating the idea of chaos and destruction


I'm the last splash
Repeating the emphasis on having a strong and memorable impact




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KIM DEAL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@quintfl

Lyrics
Spitting in a wishing well
Blown to hell, crash
I'm the last splash
I know you, little libertine
I know you're a real cuckoo
Want you cuckoo cannonball
Want you cuckoo cannonball
In the shade, in the shade
In the shade, in the shade
I know you, little libertine
I know you're a cannonball
I'll be your whatever you want
The bong in this reggae song
In the shade
In the shade
Want you cuckoo cannonball
Want you cuckoo cannonball
Spitting in a wishing well
Blown to hell, crash
I'm the last splash
I'll be your whatever you want
The bong in this reggae song
Want you cuckoo cannonball
Want you cuckoo cannonball
In the shade, in the shade
In the shade, in the shade



@nu-metalfan2654

@@jack-op2460 I disagree, in order to be a genre you need bands that sound similar within that genre. But Alternative used to mean not in the mainstream, and Indie and BritPoP are very mainstream. Imo Alternative isn’t a good term. And we shouldn’t be lumping in subgenres in together as one thing, Nu-Metal, BritPoP and Blues Rock are all worlds apart from each other.

But if we was to put together an umbrella term called Alternative, then the subgenres within that should be 
Nu-Metal/Rap Metal
Grunge/Post Grunge
Funk Metal/Rock
Industrial
Groove Metal
Sludge Metal
and some Stoner bands like QOTSA and Monster Magnet. 
Now those subegenres being together make sense.



@jasonking59

(Check check check
One, two
One, two)

Spitting in a wishing well
Blown to hell
Crash
On the last splash

I know you, little libertine
I know you're a real koo koo

(Hey now)

Want you
Koo koo
Cannonball
Want you
Koo koo
Cannonball
(Hey now)
In the shade
In the shade
(Hey now)
In the shade
In the shade

I know you, little libertine
I know you're a cannonball
I'll be your whatever you want
The bong in this reggae song

(Hey now)
In the shade
(Hey now)
In the shade

Want you
Koo koo
Cannonball
Want you
Koo koo
Cannonball

Spitting in a wishing well
Blown to hell
Crash
I'm the last splash

I'll be your whatever you want
The bong in this reggae song
(Hey
Hey now)

Want you
Koo koo
Cannonball
Want you
Koo koo
Cannonball
(Hey now)
In the shade
In the shade
(Hey now)
In the shade
In the shade



All comments from YouTube:

@kconetwothree6547

One of the best bass intros in music. There might be nothing more 90s that this song. Perfect.

@trinilyfe4404

Facts lol

@thereisnonegoodbutgodjohn363

@@trinilyfe4404 Why should God let you into Heaven?

Have you lied (even once in your entire life), looked with lust (sexual desire), dishonoured parents, stolen anything, had hatred towards someone, had premarital sex, adultery etc If you answered yes to any one of the above then you are a sinner like the rest of us.

So, I ask you again, why should God let a sinner into Heaven?

Sinners don’t go to heaven they go to hell, But we are blessed to have Jesus (God incarnate) die on the Cross and rise from the dead. If you Repent (forsake your sinful, unholy ways and live righteous instead) & Believe in Jesus as God, you will be seen as a Saint and welcomed into Heaven.
John 3:17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved

@govetter

Ya. It's that intro bass line... Then, I'm IN! 😎

@jameshetman9307

P😅😅😅

@conorsmith8551

Definitely . This , lounge act , girls and boys and aeroplane for best bass intros of the 90s

74 More Replies...

@MurphMers

It's 2023 and my 13 year old is preforming this at her school concert. Couldn't be more proud!

@franeh13

Beautiful ❤

@PetroLem

This is music of my primary school in 90' ❤ what a memories ... Greetings from Poland.

@kdegraa

Funny

More Comments

More Versions