Lyrics for Bukowski as interpreted by nuclearjesus

Bukowski Lyrics
Woke this morning and it seemed to me
That every night turns out to be
A little bit more like Bukowski
And yeah, I know he's a pretty good read
But God, who'd want to be
God, who'd want to be such an asshole?
God, who'd want to be
God, who'd want to be such an asshole?

Well we sat on the edge of the river
The crowd screamed, "Sacrifice the liver!"
If God takes life, he's an Indian giver
So tell me now why, you'll tell me never
Who would want to be
Who would want to be such a control freak?
Well who would want to be
Who would want to be such a control freak?

Well, see what you want to see
You should see it all
Well, take what you want from me
You deserve it all
Nine times out of ten
Our hearts just get dissolved
Well, I want a better place
Or just a better way to fall
But one time out of ten
Everything is perfect for us all
Well, I want a better place
Or just a better way to fall

Here we go
If God controls the land and disease
Keeps a watchful eye on me
If he's really so damn mighty
My problem is I can't see
Well who'd want to be
Who'd want to be such a control freak?
Well who'd want to be
Who would want to be such a control freak?

Evil home stereo
What good songs do you know?
Evil me, oh yeah, I know
What good curves can you throw?

Well, all that icing and all that cake
I can't make it to your wedding but I'm sure I'll be at your wake
You were talk, talk, talking in circles that day
When you get to the point make sure that I'm still awake, okay?

Went to bed and didn't see
Why every day turns out to be
A little bit more like Bukowski
And yeah, I know he's a pretty good read
But God, who'd want to be
God, who'd want to be such an asshole?

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surname collet
04-14-2004

Rated +4 
Charles Bukowski is a famous author who wrote poetry and mostly autobiographical fiction and is notorious for being a down and out drunkard. His life was that of a dazed drifter who lived in the bottom of the barrell as far as societal standing went. I think this song illustrates the narrators descent into a similar lifestyle, pondering exactly why God is so controlling, bringing the image of God down a peg by asking why he'd want to be a "control freak," a very human trait.

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1 Reply
surname collet
04-14-2004

Rated 0 
Charles Bukowski is a famous author who wrote poetry and mostly autobiographical fiction and is notorious for being a down and out drunkard. His life was that of a dazed drifter who lived in the bottom of the barrell as far as societal standing went. I think this song illustrates the narrators descent into a similar lifestyle, pondering exactly why God is so controlling, bringing the image of God down a peg by asking why he'd want to be a "control freak," a very human trait.

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cantnokdahustle
04-14-2004

Rated 0 
bukowski (the man and the song) is amazing.

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workhardto
04-14-2004

Rated 0 
one of the best modest mouse songs i have ever heard.

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kingleroythompson
04-15-2004

Rated 0 
The concept of this song seems to be bashing the Judeo-Christian concept of God that is described by Fundamentalist Christians. God is all into divine intervention and constantly meddling in our things... thus a control freak (and not a very wonderful diety). Then Brock goes on to bash the Fundamentalists themselves by mocking them "evil home stereo"... I went to a Fundie middle school and they felt secular music was evil. Also the "see what you wanna see... you can see it all" is trying to point out the blinders they have when it comes to the "goodness" that God supposedly possesses. I think he's also tapping on the fact that Fundies see miracles everywhere.... and the truth about us humans is that we see what we wanna see. I think Bukowski (who was a total asshole in his stories... funny but still an asshole) comes in to show the similiarities between this Judeo-Christian concept of God and Charles Bukowski.

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dhelm
04-15-2004

Rated 0 
Even though i fully believe in God, i really love this is song, and many others on the new album that really question Christian beliefs. So many christians these days are just along for the ride and dont truely know or believe what they claim to. Just like christians will call you a hypocrite from being democrat, even though it is much closer to the bible than the damn alternative. Anyway, the song really is interesting, but through my thinking the only justification of God being a control freak is that we are his creations and just like your own arts you strive to work at them and sometimes are very close to other opinions, however we do have freewill and God never changes, but you are all believers and probibly dont give a shit.

Great song, the banjo is really a nice addition and for those who have no reference to bukowski he also wrote barfly. (the movie)

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dhelm
04-15-2004

Rated 0 
just a crossreference, bukowski is, as surname said, a notorious drifter, and in "the world at large" Brock ssys "I like songs about drifter-books about the same" I love how this album has so many resounding themes and crossreferences.

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Chaswick_L_Tronknam
04-16-2004

Rated -2 
Sell outs! Sell outs! Modest Mouse are nothing but sell outs! couldn't have happened to a better band, i hope they make lots of money. at least they reference Bukowski and use a banjo

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zouyan
04-17-2004

Rated 0 
heaven forbid that a band you like is sucessful...BUT IF THEY MAKE MONEY AND POPELE LIKE THEM< HOW WILL I REMAIN COOL IN LIKING THIS UNKNOWN BAND?! OMG! NO!

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1 Reply
slantedenchanted
04-20-2004

Rated 0 
attn: chaswick l tronkman
Figuring out ways to pay the rent isn't really a tough decision. Around the time we did the beer commercial and the shoe commercial, I thought, "Am I compromising my music by doing this?" And I think not. I like keeping the lights on in my house. People who don't have to make their living playing music can bitch about my principles while they spend their parents' money or wash dishes for some asshole. Principles are something that people are a lot better at checking in other people than keeping their own. My rationale behind the beer commercial was, "I like drinking MGD! I like beer probably more than I should, probably more than is healthy." I was hoping I could get a lifetime supply out of the deal, but I guess I'll have to buy it with that big ol' check. [Laughs.]
-Isaac Brock-

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2 Replies
the karaoke cupid
04-26-2004

Rated 0 
like dhelm said, i love the cross-references on this album.

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MJHogie
04-28-2004

Rated 0 
it could just be me, but does anyone think this sounds like the pink elephants song from Dumbo

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elodie
05-03-2004

Rated 0 
man i totally wrote a long post and it didn't show up. i hate this.

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CrimsonanClover
05-09-2004

Rated 0 
this is probably my favorite song on the album...great lyrics. and to those of you who think that MM has "sold out" (particularly chaswick L tronkman) take a step back and think about this again...the only way that a band can truly sell out is if they have gone mainstream and are no longer emotionally connecting with people. THEIR music is not yours to horde and try to keep yourself! stop being a fucking baby...all art is for THE WORLD, not just you. Keep doin wut ur doin, Modest Mouse...and Ugly Casanova too cuz they're JUST as good if not better!!

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1 Reply
kay_says
05-12-2004

Rated 0 
yeah if this cd sucked...maybe i'd be pissed off that every little miss Abercrombie Mac Spears in my school was bopping her perky little boobies along to "float on." but the cd contains amazing songs like this. so i am not.

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perfect-line
05-21-2004

Rated 0 
whether they sold out or not, i'm actually greatful that they did get play on TV since i had never previously heard of them and am very impressed with the cd. the banjo and the beat of this song just make the whole thing.
so for all those out there who are pissed cause their group has a little popularity now, perhaps you should be happy for people who live in places where they never hear about music until it's mildly popular.

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z0MbiE
06-07-2004

Rated -1 
the modest mouse guy dosent like god?

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man on tv
06-27-2004

Rated 0 
no, issac broock is antheist and i am too, but anyways, this song rocks, and modest mouse arn't sell outs, they just got hyped up alot now, you stupid fuck that doesn't mean they are sell outs, they are anything but

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man on tv
06-27-2004

Rated 0 
http://www.theonionavclub.com/feature/index.php?issue=4014&f=1 go there you butt-fuck, and find out what all this stuff is about and quit calling they sell outs asshole

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man on tv
06-27-2004

Rated 0 
O: Was licensing your songs to commercials a tough decision?

IB: Figuring out ways to pay the rent isn't really a tough decision. Around the time we did the beer commercial and the shoe commercial, I thought, "Am I compromising my music by doing this?" And I think not. I like keeping the lights on in my house. People who don't have to make their living playing music can bitch about my principles while they spend their parents' money or wash dishes for some asshole."


you tell the asshole's issac

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man on tv
06-27-2004

Rated 0 
sorry, Isaac Brock, typo

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PeRdEdOr
07-05-2004

Rated 0 
Ya...just because they make a cd that becomes really popular doesnt AT ALL make them sellouts. its not their FAULT if ppl like their music or if they hit it big. anyways...awesome song. i love the 'god, who'd wanna be, god who'd wanna be such an asshole'

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NicoleInWonderland
10-18-2004

Rated -1 
who the fuck cares if theyre sellouts?! it's a good thing.

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1 Reply
lauramars
10-22-2004

Rated +1 
Anyway, back to the SONG MEANING. My favorite part of the song is actually the bridge, or:

"Well all that icing and all that cake
I can't make it to your wedding but I'm sure I'll be at your wake
You were talk talk talkin' in circles that day
When you get to the point make sure that I'm still awake, okay?"

It gets back to the whole death theme, trying to find meaning in life before it's over, and not really giving a shit anyway. Christianity doesn't make sense because it is a very human religion, and I think this is what he's implying. Humanity doesn't make sense either!

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1 Reply
Food
10-29-2004

Rated 0 
This might not sound a lot like the other meanings writen, but i think its write.

- Issac is explaining his resons for being Atheost
- we should find meaning in life before its too late
- and Issac's jus' talking shit about god.

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