The High Party Lyrics
Or I'm looking for another way to process what happened on that birthday
And either way, if you're gonna call it art
Then there's a cup in front of you and right away
If you're gonna play your part, you must drink it down
But mind eyes have seen the glory
Of the fields of flowers and factory floors
And my mind's content to lie at rest for hours
Behind my loved ones' doors and if there's a war
Another shitty war to fight for babylon
Then it's the perfect storm in a tea cup
But you must drink it down
And what do you make of the nights
When you thought you'd make much more
Than being too tired to turn the lights out
And too drunk to drink more?
And what does it take to not hear the cynics at your door saying
"It's time the turn the lights out, and you'll want to keep it down!"
So I'm lifting up that poison cup to drink a draught of propoganda
Or I'm giving up that other stuff in hopes that it will make me madder
But either way, if you're gonna call it art
Then there's a cup in front of you and right away
If you're gonna play your part
You must drink it down
And what do you make of nights
When you thought you'd make much more
Than being too tired to turn the lights out
And too drunk to drink more?
And what does it take to not hear the cynics at your door saying
"It's time the turn the lights out, and you'll want to keep it down!"
And what does it say of all the things you've said before
When you're too drunk to turn the lights out
And too tired to drink more?
And what do you save, and what does it feel like to be saved?
And can you "pull - 2 - 3 - 4! pull - 2 - 3 - 4!"
Can you drink it down?
"Or I'm looking for another way to process what happened on that birthday."
Ted Leo's birthday is on September 11, so here he's referring to the attacks on the World Trade Center.
He also refers to the then-impending war in Iraq: "and if there's a war Another shitty war to fight for Babylon Then it's the perfect storm in a tea cup" Babylon was located in present-day Iraq, and the First Gulf War was Operation Desert Storm, so that's where the "perfect storm" comes from.
@sublimerina for some reason, the music did not resonate with me when it came out. But, this song really did something to me a couple weeks ago when I just put a random shuffle on the lookout records catalog and a high party hit me...... Honestly, what really got me was the way he sang ba-ba babylon. I love how that's done throughout the whole song....pro pro propaganda. .....drink it down oun oun....fa fa factory farms I just saw something what's in my bag from amoeba records and he said people ask him so...
@sublimerina for some reason, the music did not resonate with me when it came out. But, this song really did something to me a couple weeks ago when I just put a random shuffle on the lookout records catalog and a high party hit me...... Honestly, what really got me was the way he sang ba-ba babylon. I love how that's done throughout the whole song....pro pro propaganda. .....drink it down oun oun....fa fa factory farms I just saw something what's in my bag from amoeba records and he said people ask him so you're really influence by Elvis Costello or Joe Jackson..... he says "nuh. ....Graham Parker". busts out Howlin Wind.
come on, what a cool song
its the bomb :)
the meaning i took from this song was an artists responsibility to make social/political commentary. ted basically saying the state of things aren't what i'd like them to be, and i will not censor myself because the president is fighting his war. i think that "there's a cup in front of you" is basically saying if you want to wear the badge of an artist be prepared to make your statement and accept the criticism you will undoubtedly recieve from those who don't agree with your opinion. ted has seriously changed my life. his lyrics, his music, and his conversations have been a constant inspiration to me.
just a small detail, but he says, "Than being too drunk to turn the lights out And too tired to drink more?"
plus, it makes a little more sense that way.
I agree with the previous sentiments, but in the DIrty Old Town DVD, Ted's view on the song was more one of a confusion as an artist over whether the message they were giving was deemed worthy at a time that made so many Americans consider mortality as something closer to them than they'd like to imagine. He also expressed regret at leaving the line in about his birthday being September 11th and dismissing the idea as cheesy and accidentally left in.
Brilliant song. :)
This is a political drinking song.
How cool is Ted Leo?
this is the best way you can possibly spend five minutes. you even have 7 seconds afterwards to recover from how great it is
And what do you save? And what does it feel like to be saved? And can you pull - 2 - 3 - 4, pull - 2 - 3? Can you drink it down?
Wow! Amazing lyrics. Just drink those words in. This song gives me chills.