Primus Sailing the Seas of Cheese FACT: Released in 1991, this was Primus’ major label debut for Interscope Records. OPINION: This album continues with the heavyness that was displayed on “Frizzle Fry” Seas of Cheese
- LYRICS: When the going gets tough
And the stomach acids flow
The cold wind of conformity
Is nipping at your nose
When some trendy new atrocity
Has brought you to your knees
Come with us we'll sail the
Seas of Cheese - FACTS: This song has been present in almost every show since it was written. Les said that whenever he plays it, he thinks of Vanilla Ice, because he was the dominator of the radio scene at the time it was written. During this time, Vanilla Ice and the New Kids on the Block and other bands that were popular made Les, entering the major label big-time, feel like theyt were prepairing to “Sail the Seas of Cheese.”
- OPINION: (
Here Come the Bastards
- LYRICS: Here they come
Here come the bastards
I heard it from a confident -
Who heard it form a confidant
They're definately on their way
There's one with this idea
Something about a
hammer head shark
Nosehairs and flatus
Best keep your distance
because
Here they come
here come the bastards
Bury your head deep in the sand
Anonyminity is a virtue
in this day and age
Amazing hand dexterity
Flagrant misuse of security
Better run, run, run, run, run
Run Run Run Run, here they come. - FACTS: T
- OPINION: (
Sgt. Baker
- LYRICS: Sgt. Baker is my name
I'm gonna teach you how to play the game of warfare
Suddenly it appears to me
You got a bit much dignity
For your own good, boy
Yes sir, yes sir.
I will rape your personality
Pummel you with my own philosophy
Strip you of your self-integrity
To make you all a bit like me
I said right, left
Sgt. Baker here again
And if you calls me "puddin Tame"
I'll stomp you down, boy
Steers and Queers
Steers and Queers - where you come from there's just steers and queers
And you ain't got no horns, boy
Yes sir, yes sir
I will rape your personality
Pummel you with my own philosophy
Strip you of your self-integrity
To make you all a bit like me
I said right, left - FACTS: T
- OPINION: (
American Life
- LYRICS: In a town in southernmost Sicily
Lived a family too proud to be poor
In the year that fever took father away
They hastened for American shores
Now a mother and her son are standing in line
It's a cold day on Ellis Isle
And they look to the Statue of Liberty
For the boy we have American Life
- Ong is a Laotian refugee
He works in the audio trade
The smoke from flux is filling his lungs
He's earning minimum wage
Spending spare time down on San Pablo ave
Once a week gets a woman for the night
And he writes home tales of prosperity
For the boy we have American Life
- Bob is an unemployed veteran
Born and bred in the South Bronx
He's living off the streets down in east L.A.
Residing in a cardboard box
Now he plays a little quit and he has a small dog
Searching for aluminum cans
And he holds on tight to his dignity
He was born into American Life -
- FACTS: T
- OPINION: (
Jerry was a Race Car Driver
- LYRICS: Jerry was a race car driver
And he drove so goddamned fast
He never did win no checkered flag
But he never did come in last
Jerry was a race car driver - He'd say "El solo number one"
With a bocephus sticker on his 442 - He'd light 'em up just for fun
Captain Pierce was a fireman
Richmond engine #3
“I'll be a wealthy man when I get a dime for all the things that
Man taught to me.”
Captain Pierce was a strong man
Strong as any man alive
It stuck in his craw that they made him retire at the age of 65
Jerry was a race car driver
22 years old
Had too many cold beers one night
And wrapped himself around a telephone pole. - FACTS: This one of the singles from this album. The video was filmed at the Pheonix Theater in Petaluma, California, and is mostly live footage, but has an intro with Bob Cock ordering nachos, and then dropping the nachos due to a collision with Ler on a scateboard. Les is featured under the hood of a car with Herb behind the wheel. The video also has some nifty claymation. This was one of the three songs on the album in which Les played his Carl Thompson six-string fretless, which he had just got about two weeks before recording.
- OPINION: (
Eleven
- LYRICS: I just can't seem to blend into society
I have no hope for this dim simplicity of law and order
By whose rules - I see no rhyme in the reason
I hold no hope for this holy treason
Of love and so soft
By whose standards
They tell me, they tell me
Who are they, who is they - FACTS: T
- OPINION: (
Is It Luck?
- LYRICS: Is It Luck?
My socks and shoes always match
Is it Luck?
There's a foot at the end of each of my legs
Is it Luck?
I can play my bass for you
Is it Luck?
Some gals like to kiss my face
Is it Luck? Is it Luck?
There was food inside your mouth today
Is it Luck?
Your barber cuts your hair just so
Is it Luck?
When the taste of sex is on your lips
Is it Luck ? Is it Luck ?
Cyanide works oh so fast
Is it Luck?
Polyester makes you sweat
Is it Luck?
If a graham cracker gets you off
Is it Luck
Love. Love ?
Is it Luck ? Is it Luck ? - FACTS: T
- OPINION: (
Grandad’s Little Ditty
- LYRICS: d
- FACTS: T
- OPINION: (
Tommy the Cat
- LYRICS: "I remember as it were a meal ago"
Said Tommy the Cat as he reeled back to clear whatever foreign
matter may have nestled its way into his mighty throat.
Many a fat alley rat had met its demise while staring point
blank down the cavernous barrel of this awesome prowling machine. Truly a wonder of nature this urban predator.
Tommy the cat had many a story to tell, but it was a rare occasion such as this that he did.
"She came slidin' down the alleyway like butter drippin' off a hot biscuit. The aroma, the mean scent, was enough to arouse
suspicion in even the oldest of Tigers that hung around the hot
spot in those days. The sight was beyond belief. Many a head
snapped for double even triple, takes as this vivacious feline made her way into the delta of the alleyway where the most virile of the young tabbys were known to hang out. They hung in droves. Such a multitude of masculinity could only be found in One place... and that was O'malley's Alley. The air was thick with cat calls (no pun intended) but not even a muscle in her neck did twitch as she sauntered up into the heart of the alley. She knew what she wanted. She was lookin' for that stud bull, the he cat. And that was me.
Tommy the Cat is my name and I say unto thee...
“Say baby do you wanna lay down by me" - FACTS: The second single of the album. The video was all shot in black and white and features Tom Waits with extra facial hair to make him look cat-like, and Les with arm extensions as a bartender pour gallons of milk. Also, there is some more cell animation and shots of the band playing. Les play the six-string fretless.
- OPINION: (
Sathington Waltz
- LYRICS: None.
- FACTS: T
- OPINION: (
Those Damned Blue-Collared Tweekers
- LYRICS: I've seen them out at Soco
They're pounding sixteen penny nails
The truckers on the interstate
Have been known to ride the rails
The sweat is beating on the brow
Can't keep these fellas down
'Cause those damned blue-collared tweekers
Are runnin' this here town
- I knew a man who hung drywall
He hung it mighty quick
A trip or two to the blue room
Would help him do the trick
His foreman would pat him on the back
Whenever he would come around
'Cause these dammed blue-collar tweekers
Are beloved in this here town
Now the union boys are there
To protect us from all the corporate type
While curious George's drug patrol
Is out here hunting snipe
Now they try to tell me different
But you know I ain't no clown
'Cause those damned blue-collar tweekers
Are the backbone of this town
Now the flame that burns twice as bright
Burns only half as long
My eyes are growing weary
As I finalize this song
So sit back and have a cup o' joe
And watch the wheels go round
'Cause those damned blue-collar tweekers
Have always run this town - FACTS: This song has been present in almost every set since the album was released. It is a definite crowd pleaser. Les uses his CT four string with whammy. The breakdown part of the song after the bass solo has always been a place for Les to jam on some cover song, such as “Rapper’s Delight”, “Another one Bites the Dust”, “Humpty Dance”, “The Star-Spangled Banner”, but most recently, he has put “Highball with the Devil” from his Les Claypool and the Holy Mackerel CD by the same name in.
- OPINION: (
Fish On ( Fisherman’s Chronicles, Chapter II )
- LYRICS: Felt a pang late one afternoon
I was fishin' off Muir beach with Larry LeLonde
Grabbed a tuna salad sandwich and I started to chew
Pretty soon Ler's yellin
Fish on. Fish on
I was just a little pup
And it was derby day
Was dad and me and Darrell
Out in San Pablo bay
Taco flavored Doritos and my orange life vest
Dad caught a hundred pound sturgeon on twenty-pound test
Now he fought that fish for an hour and a half
Darrell'd say "Jump ya sons a bitch!"
And he grabbed for the gaff
When we got him in the boat
He measured six feet long
I was so danged impressed I had to write a song called
Fish on
T'was a bright and sunny day
It was me and Todd Huth
Fishin' shark & Stingray
Out of Bohuas Lagoon
Well hey, hey, hey I'll be screwed, Blued and tatooed
Looks like I got me one of them fish on
Fish on. - FACTS: T
- OPINION: (
Los Bastardos
- LYRICS: Samples - “Shut up you bastards!” and “You just called me a Bastard didn’t you?” from the UK show “Bottom.” And Les saying “These guys are a bunch of freaks.” And everyone saying “Here they Come!”
- FACTS: T
- OPINION: (
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