The group's name comes from a nonsensical knock-knock joke Drucker's sister told him when she was 6 years old. The joke runs like this:
"Knock-knock"
"Who's there?"
"Cloud-dead"...
But no-one remembers the punchline.
cLOUDDEAD's sound is notoriously hard to define, and although it is undoubtedly grounded in 'traditional' hip-hop, influences as varied as electronica, psychedelic music and indie rock can be heard. Because of this non-traditional take on hip-hop, more conservative corners of the rap community have labeled cLOUDDEAD as "smartarse surrealism" - with some rejecting the notion that the group can be classed as hip-hop at all, ignoring Doseone's request to 'just call it hip hop.'
cLOUDDEAD's first six 10" EPs were compiled in 2001 as a self-titled compilation album. The band's subsequent discography includes a further two 10" EPs, the single "Dead Dogs Two" and the album Ten. Printed on the sleeve of "Dead Dogs Two" is "this is clouddead number 9 of ten", indicating that as of Ten, cLOUDDEAD, as a group, have finished making music.
As of 2009 cLOUDDEAD came together under the name again to record a track on Themselves newest mixtape "theFREEhoudini" performing the song "Rapping 4 Money".
Son of a Gun
cLOUDDEAD Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Known with a beer as the deer eraser.
They dress their boys in bright orange
And leave their daughters at home,
Stripping meat, stretching skin for their musical men.
The makers of guns will never go hungry.
The makers of guns will never fill up.
Abraham Lincoln never got offed
Because it wasn't on the television...
And that's all he got,
Was his foot background in a tourist's shot,
And his face framed by those old roman leaves,
Dead-center on the front of a five spot.
Abraham Lincoln jumped the gun.
Julio Caesar jumped the gun.
Emilio Zapata jumped the gun.
Tupac and Biggie jumped the gun.
Jesus Christo jumped the gun.
Malcolm X jumped the gun.
Mahatma Gandhi jumped the gun.
Joan of Arc jumped the gun.
Martin Luther King jumped the gun.
John F. Kennedy jumped the gun.
G-Dubyu might just jump the gun.
John Lennon jumped the gun.
The first verse of "Son of a Gun" by cLOUDDEAD paints a vivid picture of the violence and masculinity associated with American hunting culture. The image of dying men keeping rifles in cello cases speaks to the clandestine and deadly nature of hunting, while the reference to "the deer eraser" suggests a sense of triumph over nature. The bright orange clothing worn by hunting parties contrasts with the absence of daughters, reinforcing the song's theme of male violence and exclusion. The line "stripping meat, stretching skin for their musical men" is a metaphor for the production of music and culture from the violence inherent in hunting.
The second verse of the song namechecks historical figures who were assassinated, from Abraham Lincoln to John Lennon. The line "Abraham Lincoln never got offed because it wasn't on the television" suggests that the media plays a role in amplifying and memorializing violent acts, while also potentially contributing to their occurrence. The repetition of the phrase "jumped the gun" points to the idea of premature or unnecessary violence, while the inclusion of figures like Gandhi and Joan of Arc who were killed for their nonviolent activism underlines the song's critique of violence as a means of effecting change.
Line by Line Meaning
Dying men keep rifles in cello cases,
Men facing their own mortality store their weapons in a manner that implies they are too valuable to be mere tools.
Known with a beer as the deer eraser.
Drinking has a way of making people feel like they can erase their mistakes; in this case, it appears to have something to do with hunting deer.
They dress their boys in bright orange
Orange is a color used in hunting to distinguish people from animals. In this case, it suggests that the boys are being groomed for a life of hunting.
And leave their daughters at home,
The daughters are not expected or desired to participate in hunting culture.
Stripping meat, stretching skin for their musical men.
The men who are celebrated in this culture are those who hunt and use animals for various purposes, including musical instruments.
The makers of guns will never go hungry.
The people who profit from the production and sale of guns are unlikely to face economic hardship.
The makers of guns will never fill up.
The needs of the gun industry can never be fully satisfied, as there will always be demand for more guns.
May their children always play murder weapon since stick.
The children of gun makers are likely to view guns as toys, and may not understand or appreciate their destructive power.
Abraham Lincoln never got offed
Lincoln was not killed on TV, unlike many other historical figures who were assassinated in the age of electronic media.
Because it wasn't on the television...
The lack of TV coverage of Lincoln's assassination is the reason he did not achieve the same level of fame as other political martyrs.
And that's all he got,
Lincoln did not receive the same level of posthumous recognition as other assassination victims.
Was his foot background in a tourist's shot,
Lincoln's legacy has been reduced to a background element in the context of tourism, rather than being remembered for his presidential accomplishments.
And his face framed by those old roman leaves,
The image of Lincoln on the five dollar bill is adorned with decorative elements inspired by ancient Roman art.
Dead-center on the front of a five spot.
Lincoln's face is the central focus of the five dollar bill, which is what he is most well-known for today.
Abraham Lincoln jumped the gun.
Lincoln made decisions or took actions prematurely, resulting in his premature death.
Julio Caesar jumped the gun.
As with Lincoln, Caesar's assassination resulted from his tendency to act recklessly and without regard for his own safety.
Emilio Zapata jumped the gun.
Zapata, as a revolutionary leader, may have taken more risks than necessary, leading to his untimely demise.
Tupac and Biggie jumped the gun.
These rappers were killed prematurely, likely due to their involvement with gang violence and other dangerous activities.
Jesus Christo jumped the gun.
Jesus may have been too provocative or revolutionary for his time, leading to his arrest and execution by the Roman authorities.
Malcolm X jumped the gun.
Like other political activists, Malcolm X's outspokenness and advocacy for radical change could be seen as a threat to the establishment, leading to his assassination.
Mahatma Gandhi jumped the gun.
Gandhi's nonviolent approach to activism did not spare him from assassination by individuals who opposed his beliefs.
Joan of Arc jumped the gun.
As one of the most famous martyrs in history, Joan of Arc likely faced a similar fate due to her radical beliefs and activities.
Martin Luther King jumped the gun.
King's message of racial equality and justice made him a target for those who opposed such ideals, ultimately leading to his assassination.
John F. Kennedy jumped the gun.
As one of the most well-known political figures in history, JFK fell victim to the violence that often comes with the territory.
G-Dubyu might just jump the gun.
As a contemporary political figure, Bush Jr. was seen by some as reactionary or impulsive in his decision-making, leading to criticism and resistance.
John Lennon jumped the gun.
As a celebrity and outspoken activist, Lennon may have been viewed as a threat to the establishment and silenced accordingly.
Lyrics © TERRORBIRD PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Father Hate
Joan of ark jumped the gunhunhun. One of the best dose one/boom bop songs next to maniquin hand trapdoor and jimmy breeze pt.2
Josh
Ummm. Are you on drugs now?
PendraSter
@JustAnotherTeenBoy Yes, i am