Woke up this morning and it seemed to me,
That every night turns out to be
A little 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 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?

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, talk, talkin' in circles that day,
When you get to the point make sure that I'm still awake, OK?

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?



Lyrics submitted by nuclearjesus

Track duration: 04:15

"Bukowski" as written by Klas Frans Ahlund, Joakim Frans Ahlund, Patrik Knut Arve

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Bukowski song meanings
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182 Comments

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  • -1
    My Interpretation:Well I wrote a paper about "Good News for People Who Love Bad News" so I might as well paste my section about Bukowski on here:

    "The theme of God or religion is eminent in the song “Bukowski”. It is the big indicator in this album of Isaac Brock’s questioning some persons involved in religion. The work is a response to the writings of Charles Bukowski, who was an American writer and an atheist. It is known that Charles Bukowski was an atheist and spoke about it openly in a particular statement. “We are pliable. Love need not be a command nor faith a dictum. I am my own god.” In the beginning of the song it says “Woke up this morning and it seemed to me, that every night turns out to be a little more like Bukowski.” This is showing that the lead singer is losing his faith and becoming more of a realist. Throughout the song he pinpoints certain things he finds to be flaws about religion and the concept of what God is to the general public. Even though he doesn’t believe in organized religion, he still believes that the writings of Charles Bukowski were a little too harsh and generally devoid of human compassion, which is why it says “But God who'd want to be? God who'd want to be such an asshole?” In short the lead singer is on the fence of whether to agree with Charles Bukowski or to be on the side of organized religion."

    Also Devil's Workday is a definitively a two part to this song. Especially with the "I am my own damn God" he is taking a humorous stance on Charles Bukowski's since in his writings he said "I am my own God"
    Flag cvaccon April 11, 2013   Link
  • -1
    My Interpretation:Well I wrote a paper about "Good News for People Who Love Bad News" so I might as well paste my section about Bukowski on here:

    "The theme of God or religion is eminent in the song “Bukowski”. It is the big indicator in this album of Isaac Brock’s questioning some persons involved in religion. The work is a response to the writings of Charles Bukowski, who was an American writer and an atheist. It is known that Charles Bukowski was an atheist and spoke about it openly in a particular statement. “We are pliable. Love need not be a command nor faith a dictum. I am my own god.” In the beginning of the song it says “Woke up this morning and it seemed to me, that every night turns out to be a little more like Bukowski.” This is showing that the lead singer is losing his faith and becoming more of a realist. Throughout the song he pinpoints certain things he finds to be flaws about religion and the concept of what God is to the general public. Even though he doesn’t believe in organized religion, he still believes that the writings of Charles Bukowski were a little too harsh and generally devoid of human compassion, which is why it says “But God who'd want to be? God who'd want to be such an asshole?” In short the lead singer is on the fence of whether to agree with Charles Bukowski or to be on the side of organized religion."

    Also Devil's Workday is a definitively a two part to this song. Especially with the "I am my own damn God" he is taking a humorous stance on Charles Bukowski's since in his writings he said "I am my own God"
    Flag cvaccon April 11, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I don't think the song is a literal complaint about "God" (in quotes because he is using the term as a hypothetical) being an asshole or control freak. It's more a lament at how absurd the notion that there is a God watching over or having a plan for people's individual lives seems to him. As someone who simply could never quite "get" religion despite growing up surrounded with it, I can easily relate. The relation to Bukowski is tied to the sort of anti-romantic anti-sentimental take the author had on life. For good or for evil, most people are just looking to get by and find some kind of contentment, nothing more, nothing less. Some win, some lose. There is no grand plan and if there was it would be have to be some kind of cruel joke.
    Flag mbs3580on February 11, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:OK. Now hang on a second. After the lyrics on this page it states:

    " "Bukowski" as written by Klas Frans Ahlund, Joakim Frans Ahlund, Patrik Knut Arve

    Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

    Lyrics powered by LyricFind"

    So Brock didn't write this song? That doesn't make sense,I looked into it and these guys are all songwriters but I saw no connections to "Bukowski" or MM. So what the hell? I've been a big MM fan for, wow, going on 10 years now actually and I've never noticed them doing a song cover in an album. I really doubt Brock and the band didn't write this, but if they didn't, are there others?
    Flagged FreedomIsGon November 29, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Um, that part where you said the lyrics are "I'm still awake," it's pretty obvious he is singing, "steal everything I could." Please correct. Thank you.
    Flag pockets75on August 22, 2012   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:"Woke up this morning and it seemed to me,
    That every night turns out to be
    A little more like Bukowski."
    -This's saying that as he gets older he realises life is more and more like the reality presented in Bukowski's writings; shitty.

    With the asshole stuff, I think it's directed at God for making the world so shitty, not Bukowski. I'm not really sure. The whole point of this is to say life is depressing and horrible.
    Flag marmiteson July 04, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:These lyrics are ruthless.
    Flag McMatthew23on February 16, 2012   Link
  • +3
    General Comment:The usage of "evil home stereo" means exactly this= the house you grew up in= The parents on the radio. What else has that much audio effect on ones life, ANYONE life. Your parents are your main "home" stereo (for how many years). He use stereo to mean a sort of indoctrination of sorts because that s your main feed. One could take this line further to mean one of two things; one the Main Street Radio all day everyday bullshit ((when ("one") good ones repeats it self over (the "ten") and over))is the means of a source of indoctrination it self; two switch radio into religion.
    Flagged speakALLon January 22, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:He clearly says "if God takes life he's an Indian Giver". Don't try to change it to what you believe he meant. He meant what he meant....he's clearly calling God out for being an asshole. There is no hidden message. Sugar coat and over think shit if you please, It is what it is.

    And yes, God is a control freak. He even tells us to fear him and only him in the Holy Bible. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, He is the rock, the majesty.......He is a control freak so deal with it. fuck, I do.
    Flag phillipjvaughnon November 18, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Guys, chill out. WHY care if Brock is an atheist? ...worry about your own shit and just to make you all feel fuckin stupid.....read his lyrics for the song styrofoam boots/ It's all nice on ice allright. He directly states he is an atheist. Straight up.....its clear as day. His exact words: "Im in heaven trying to figure out which stack they are gonna stick US ATHEIST into when peter and his monkey laugh and I laugh with them."


    New fans, listen to the older shit
    Flag phillipjvaughnon November 18, 2011   Link

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