We were above
You standing underneath us
We were not yet lovers
Dragons were smoked
Bumblebees were stinging us
I was soon to be crazy

Eat, drink and be merry
For tomorrow we die
'cause we're tripping Billies

We're wearing nothing
Nothing but out shadows
Shadows falling down on the beach sand
Remembering once,
Out on the beaches we wore
Pineapple grass bracelets

So why would you care
To get out of this place
You and me and all our friends
Such a happy human race
'cause we're tripping Billies

We are all sitting
Legs crossed round a fire
My yellow flame she dances
Tequila drinking oh our
Minds will wonder
To wondrous places

So why would you care
To get out of this place
You and me and all our friends
Such a happy human race

Eat, drink and be merry
For tomorrow we die



Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae

Track duration: 05:00


Tripping Billies song meanings
Add your thoughts

36 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment:"Eat, Drink, Be Merry" was a term coined by Dionysus which predates the bible. Dionysus learned chants and dances from his mentor the centaur. Hence the title, Tripping Billies. Read up on greek mythology.
    Flag nelliewon March 27, 2013   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:It's about "Tripping out about money" - dollar billies. Eat, drink and be merry!
    Flag KingStammeron May 23, 2009   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:The line "Eat Drink and Be Merry for tomorrow we'll die" comes from the bible when Jesus is telling the rich man to
    "Now as for you you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry!" But God said to him "You fool this night your life will be demanded of you." (Luke 12:19-20)

    I was just reading the bible and the lines popped out, and I thought it was really neat. I just thought I'd share it with the rest of y'all.
    Flag Pistolp277on March 26, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i'm definitely feeling a drug vibe in this song. actually, i think alot of dave's songs that everyone thinks are all religious and deep are judt about drugs. I mean, he mentions tequilla directly. How biblical can this be? However, i will say this is one of his better songs, as it is more upbeat. a nice little tune about living life to the fullest and getting high. thats it
    Flag serenity23on May 21, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is about one day at one of Daves Parties. Him and a couple friends decided to eat, drink and be married. 2 of his friends were extremly high at the moment and both of their names happened to be Billy. "Tripping Billies"
    Flag seanboy88on August 20, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The A-Side sold the record, but the B-Side made it
    Flag T_D_Phoenixon August 15, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Wow good job Me2. I stopped jumping on the bandwagon of "it means getting high and living life all distorted, while I kill my soul AND my brain at the same time". If your gonna post what you think a song means, then put some thought into peeps! love ya ! btw Me2 your not looking too deep into anything, I believe you hit the nail down pretty good :)
    Flag InsideRighton July 14, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:u guys go way to deep. Just enjoy the song. Dave is awesome it doesnt matter what it means just relax. by the way i love dave i saw him july and im going to see him in august.
    Flag dmbcold877on July 11, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:umm, where i come from, a billy is a bong.. therefore just having a mad blaze with friends, not caring about work or school the next day etc. thats what this song means to me
    Flag javsavon July 20, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:"eat drink and be merry" is from the bible and is read from two perspectives. the finite carnal implys that there is no tomorrow. so today covet all you can.

    the second perspective comes from the absolute spirit and it implys that we are given the first version(the finite). it is taken away and replaced by a second(spirit).
    eat drink and be merry referrs to removing acts of evil only to be replaced with acts of good.
    man is born to live and die. we eat and drink evil and die and are born again to see tomorrow. this happens countless times with the idea of the ultimate goal giving one a satisfying thought of eventual completeness.

    thats the "merry" part.
    anyhow we're not in control so why do you care. we'll kill and be killed. we'll eventually deliver all evil back to God via death only to be sent back to this place again.

    the process of removing evil and loving our neighbor has within it the idea that mankind helps itself. until there is no longer any help necessary. we will all die for one another.

    tripping billys is about putting up with all the evil and error preached by the organized religions. billys are temple cops forcing all to follow "law". religion hates the idea that God loves everyone. it misunderstands grace and mercy. (they teach strict law without mercy)

    dragons (antichrists) are spewing out error in doctrine and bumblebees are stinging us with bitterness and hatred and strife. anyone would soon to be crazy.
    (we would call these orthodox christianity followers billies)
    and the yellow flame is the holy spirit dancing. on this side of the firmament, we look up and see our sky (heaven) as a lake of fire which would be necessary to pass through. (its parallels the idea of the flaming sword before eden) (we return through the sword)
    from heaven looking down the same firmament is the "crystal sea" of water.
    the holy spirit is depicted as a water dancer. and all men are viewed as fish under the water...so that Gods true messengers are sent from heaven as fishers of men.

    mankind will fish for itself until all fish under the water are caught. losing none. all the "billies" will be caught too.

    its the game of life. in such a happy human race.

    i like to think of dave writing about tripping billies as newton the alchemist. when he wrote about his conclusions also in code. both men hiding what was important to themselves and only to allow those who know the code to understand it. all dave songs are about the spirit. hes just not telling us outright

    cause he's tripping billies
    Flag Me2on June 06, 2006   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

Back to top
explain