I think it's definately 'a little ditty about transvestite hookers from the first album'. I like the transister radio interpretation, but I don't think it works as well.
Here's my ramblings on a transvestite interpretation.
It all happens in the 'dirty belly of a secret town'. It's 'secret' not only because it has a 'dirty', illegal underworld hidden away, but because its where people secretly go to enjoy this underworld - to live a part of their life thats hidden and kept secret from others. So (to pick an example totally at random), where a man might go to express his transvesticism, secretly dressing up as a woman without others knowing.
What if the 'she' that's referred to is this guy's secret side, it's the woman that he dresses up as, its himself? It's as if he's telling his 'Pa' about himself as a transvestite hooker, pretending she's another person entirely (though it does seem a bit wierd that he'd tell his Pa about his time with a prostitute or his furniture-based bondage sessions). How he describes her makes sense, then, as she only 'gets off' when there are other people near her - is only turned on when there are guys close by who think she is genuinely a woman. She 'gets off' even more when she's 'crossed the line' - when she's getting it on with a guy who still thinks she's really a woman.
I love the line 'Chances are that that worm in his lap doesn't even know which fish he'd like to bite tonight', like the nodding bubbas in the crowd are looking up at the dancing hookers and don't even care which one they get (and so end up getting with a transvestite!). But it could equally be referring to the transvestite hooker himself, who's up on the stage dancing, looking down at the crowd of nodding bubbas, not caring which one he reels in. The transvestite is fishing for a guy, and doesn't know or care which one he'd like to bite his worm. The line 'Oh maybe tonight...' suggests that it doesn't happen a lot, or maybe hasn't happened at all yet.
This works with the line 'weeding out the freaks' as well, as if the transvestite is discovered and kicked out, the police turning up and just kicking the shit out of him. That would be why he's 'laying on the ground blowing out white noise sound' - when he's trying to speak he's gasping and wheezing, gurgling and choking on blood, and spluttering through cracked teeth. He's not only LIKE a transvestite on a 'ten' of cocaine, he IS a trani on ten.
totally agree with the words, great interpretation, and I do agree totally, but I believe theres a double meaning, a play on words so to speak. The spelling, the ten, and the white noise all is literally about the transistor radio, but it works so well in a visual/lyrical sense, thats why this song is a perfect example of calebs genius. and whats better than a song that can be interpreted a million different ways?
totally agree with the words, great interpretation, and I do agree totally, but I believe theres a double meaning, a play on words so to speak. The spelling, the ten, and the white noise all is literally about the transistor radio, but it works so well in a visual/lyrical sense, thats why this song is a perfect example of calebs genius. and whats better than a song that can be interpreted a million different ways?
Fortunatus, you are correct about 95%. (1) It absolutely is about a transvestite. Caleb said during KOL's show at Bonnaroo in 2007.. "this one's about a cross-dresser's life in a small town, it's called Trani". Most everyone knows that "trani" is an abbreviation for 'transvestite'. But for those who didn't, you do now. Anyway, (2) the first hiccup in your synopsis of the lyrics is where you said he's 'laying on the ground'. That's incorrect, it's "oscillatin on the ground". Imagine a transvestite doing an act on stage, gyrating back and forth (oscillating) on his knees, lip-syncing a pop song.....
Fortunatus, you are correct about 95%. (1) It absolutely is about a transvestite. Caleb said during KOL's show at Bonnaroo in 2007.. "this one's about a cross-dresser's life in a small town, it's called Trani". Most everyone knows that "trani" is an abbreviation for 'transvestite'. But for those who didn't, you do now. Anyway, (2) the first hiccup in your synopsis of the lyrics is where you said he's 'laying on the ground'. That's incorrect, it's "oscillatin on the ground". Imagine a transvestite doing an act on stage, gyrating back and forth (oscillating) on his knees, lip-syncing a pop song.. really over-doing it (if you've ever seen a live show featuring transvestites you know they go all out).But in this small town, none of the patrons know the trani is not a girl (well, some bubba's may know or suspect, but would act like the didn't). (3) "ten" has nothing to do with cocaine. Remember, he only had a '"little bump" of cocaine'. Nobody can O-D on just a little bump. No, the word ten in "like a Trani on 10" is referring to a transvestite that is maxed out (like when you crank a stereo to it's loudest setting) going overboard in every possible way. So, if you gauge his actions from 1-10, he's turned all the way up, exaggerating everything. (4) "Blowing white noise sound" {and I'm guessing on this one} When a trani lip-syncs a song (as I mentioned earlier) he has to really belt it out to make it believable, BUT he can't make any noise or it will be heard over the accompanying music. So, the only sound he makes is 'white noise' - just a powerful airy sound. Finally, kudos to you for understanding the line "cops on the call, weeding out the freaks". Most people get that wrong. And, my take is similar to yours, whereas the trani (freak) gets his ass kicked by the cops and is left on the ground.. I picture a transvestite missing his wig, smeared makeup, his dress is ripped, and he's on his hands and knees in the dirt, bleeding from the mouth and spitting out teeth. This is a tremendously powerful and imaginative song. One of the Kings best. IMO
I think it's definately 'a little ditty about transvestite hookers from the first album'. I like the transister radio interpretation, but I don't think it works as well. Here's my ramblings on a transvestite interpretation.
It all happens in the 'dirty belly of a secret town'. It's 'secret' not only because it has a 'dirty', illegal underworld hidden away, but because its where people secretly go to enjoy this underworld - to live a part of their life thats hidden and kept secret from others. So (to pick an example totally at random), where a man might go to express his transvesticism, secretly dressing up as a woman without others knowing.
What if the 'she' that's referred to is this guy's secret side, it's the woman that he dresses up as, its himself? It's as if he's telling his 'Pa' about himself as a transvestite hooker, pretending she's another person entirely (though it does seem a bit wierd that he'd tell his Pa about his time with a prostitute or his furniture-based bondage sessions). How he describes her makes sense, then, as she only 'gets off' when there are other people near her - is only turned on when there are guys close by who think she is genuinely a woman. She 'gets off' even more when she's 'crossed the line' - when she's getting it on with a guy who still thinks she's really a woman.
I love the line 'Chances are that that worm in his lap doesn't even know which fish he'd like to bite tonight', like the nodding bubbas in the crowd are looking up at the dancing hookers and don't even care which one they get (and so end up getting with a transvestite!). But it could equally be referring to the transvestite hooker himself, who's up on the stage dancing, looking down at the crowd of nodding bubbas, not caring which one he reels in. The transvestite is fishing for a guy, and doesn't know or care which one he'd like to bite his worm. The line 'Oh maybe tonight...' suggests that it doesn't happen a lot, or maybe hasn't happened at all yet.
This works with the line 'weeding out the freaks' as well, as if the transvestite is discovered and kicked out, the police turning up and just kicking the shit out of him. That would be why he's 'laying on the ground blowing out white noise sound' - when he's trying to speak he's gasping and wheezing, gurgling and choking on blood, and spluttering through cracked teeth. He's not only LIKE a transvestite on a 'ten' of cocaine, he IS a trani on ten.
totally agree with the words, great interpretation, and I do agree totally, but I believe theres a double meaning, a play on words so to speak. The spelling, the ten, and the white noise all is literally about the transistor radio, but it works so well in a visual/lyrical sense, thats why this song is a perfect example of calebs genius. and whats better than a song that can be interpreted a million different ways?
totally agree with the words, great interpretation, and I do agree totally, but I believe theres a double meaning, a play on words so to speak. The spelling, the ten, and the white noise all is literally about the transistor radio, but it works so well in a visual/lyrical sense, thats why this song is a perfect example of calebs genius. and whats better than a song that can be interpreted a million different ways?
I too agree! This song aint about no radio.
I too agree! This song aint about no radio.
Fortunatus, you are correct about 95%. (1) It absolutely is about a transvestite. Caleb said during KOL's show at Bonnaroo in 2007.. "this one's about a cross-dresser's life in a small town, it's called Trani". Most everyone knows that "trani" is an abbreviation for 'transvestite'. But for those who didn't, you do now. Anyway, (2) the first hiccup in your synopsis of the lyrics is where you said he's 'laying on the ground'. That's incorrect, it's "oscillatin on the ground". Imagine a transvestite doing an act on stage, gyrating back and forth (oscillating) on his knees, lip-syncing a pop song.....
Fortunatus, you are correct about 95%. (1) It absolutely is about a transvestite. Caleb said during KOL's show at Bonnaroo in 2007.. "this one's about a cross-dresser's life in a small town, it's called Trani". Most everyone knows that "trani" is an abbreviation for 'transvestite'. But for those who didn't, you do now. Anyway, (2) the first hiccup in your synopsis of the lyrics is where you said he's 'laying on the ground'. That's incorrect, it's "oscillatin on the ground". Imagine a transvestite doing an act on stage, gyrating back and forth (oscillating) on his knees, lip-syncing a pop song.. really over-doing it (if you've ever seen a live show featuring transvestites you know they go all out).But in this small town, none of the patrons know the trani is not a girl (well, some bubba's may know or suspect, but would act like the didn't). (3) "ten" has nothing to do with cocaine. Remember, he only had a '"little bump" of cocaine'. Nobody can O-D on just a little bump. No, the word ten in "like a Trani on 10" is referring to a transvestite that is maxed out (like when you crank a stereo to it's loudest setting) going overboard in every possible way. So, if you gauge his actions from 1-10, he's turned all the way up, exaggerating everything. (4) "Blowing white noise sound" {and I'm guessing on this one} When a trani lip-syncs a song (as I mentioned earlier) he has to really belt it out to make it believable, BUT he can't make any noise or it will be heard over the accompanying music. So, the only sound he makes is 'white noise' - just a powerful airy sound. Finally, kudos to you for understanding the line "cops on the call, weeding out the freaks". Most people get that wrong. And, my take is similar to yours, whereas the trani (freak) gets his ass kicked by the cops and is left on the ground.. I picture a transvestite missing his wig, smeared makeup, his dress is ripped, and he's on his hands and knees in the dirt, bleeding from the mouth and spitting out teeth. This is a tremendously powerful and imaginative song. One of the Kings best. IMO