Modest Mouse - Teeth Like God's Shoeshine Lyrics
From the top of the ocean - Yeah
From the bottom of the sky -Goddamn
Well I get claustrophobic
I can you know that I can
And he said:
keep in line you're an old friend stranger.
you'll burn me if effigy and I'll burn you in effigy."
A rattle snake up in buffalo Montana
he bit the leg of the old sheriff
Ha! That boy fell down on his harelip -Ow! Ow!
Well I might be wrong
but you you tag along
and we we all been wronged
and I get dizzier by the mile
Said hell! The money's spent
and paid the rent said "Uh-oh."
Oh! If you could compact your conscience
Oh! And you might.
Oh! If you could bottle and sell it you might have done
Oh! And you might
Oh! If you could compact your conscience
and sell it save it for another time
you might have to use it.
And the televisions gone
Go to the grocery store, buy some new friends
and find out the beginning, the end, and the best of it
Well, do you need a lot of what you've got to survive?
Here's the man with teeth like God's shoeshine
He sparkles shimmers shines
let's all have another Orange Julius
This syrup standing in lines
The malls are the soon to be ghost towns
so long, farewell, good-bye
Take 'em all for the long ride
and you'll go around town
no one wants to be uptight anymore
You can be ashamed
or be so proud of what you've done
but not no one, not now, not ever or anyone
take 'em all for the sense of happiness
that comes from hurting deep down inside
Or you can walk th line and give a shit
I'm on the corner of this and this and this and this
and its all all wrong, and its all all gone
Well, you can add it up and give a shit
go to the family doctor
Its all worth it
and its all all gone, and its all all wrong
Here's the man with teeth like God's shoeshine
He sparkles shimmers shines
let's all have another Orange Julius
Thick syrup standing in lines
The malls are the soon to be ghost towns
so long, farewell, good-bye
And the telephone goes off
pick to receiver up, try to meet ends
and find out the beginning, the end and the best of it
Other Lyrics by Artist
- Modest Mouse - Spitting Venom
- Modest Mouse - March Into The Sea
- Modest Mouse - The Good Times Are Killing Me
- Modest Mouse - One Chance
- Modest Mouse - Black Cadillacs
- Modest Mouse - Blame It On The Tetons
- Modest Mouse - Satin In A Coffin
- Modest Mouse - The View
- Modest Mouse - This Devil's Workday
- Modest Mouse - Dashboard
- Modest Mouse - Fire It Up
- Modest Mouse - Steam Engenius
- Modest Mouse - Little Motel
- Modest Mouse - Education
- Modest Mouse - Fly Trapped In A Jar
- Modest Mouse - We've Got Everything
- Modest Mouse - Missed The Boat
- Modest Mouse - Parting Of The Sensory
Rand Lyrics
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Modest Mouse Teeth Like God's Shoeshine Comments
“If you could compact your conscience.
And sell it, save it for another time
You know you might have to use it“
One of the greatest life advice I've got from rock music lyrics...
156 people have no concept of depth in music.
"The malls are the soon to be ghost towns." Prophetic
I genuinely believe this is gold. How do I know I'm not biased?
Never noticed how the chords at 6:33 -6:37 are the exact same ones in Dramamine
Song of the Day
11-21-19: Teeth Like Gods Shoeshine | Modest Mouse
also on: www.onecuriousworld.com
Adam shut up
From the top of the ocean, yeah
From the bottom of the sky, goddamn
Well I get claustrophobic
I can you know that I can
From the top of the ocean, yeah
From the bottom of the sky, goddamn
Well I get claustrophobic
I can you know that I can
And he said
"I am not allowed much danger
Keep in line you're an old friend stranger
You'll burn me in effigy and I'll burn you in effigy"
A rattle snake up in Buffalo Montana
He bit the leg of the old sheriff
Ha that boy fell down on his harelip -ow! Ow!
Well I I, might be wrong
But you you tag along
And we we all been wronged
And I get dizzier by the mile
Said hell the money's spent
Went to the county line and paid the rent said "uh-oh"
I said "uh-oh"
Oh if you could compact your conscience
Oh and you might
Oh if you could bottle and sell it you might have done
Oh and you might
Oh if you could compact your conscience
And sell it save it for another time
You know you might have to use it
And the televisions gone
Go to the grocery store, buy some new friends
And find out the beginning, the end, and the best of it
Well, do you need a lot of what you've got to survive?
Here's the man with teeth like god's shoeshine
He sparkles shimmers shines
Let's all have another Orange Julius
Thick syrup standing in lines
The malls are the soon to be ghost towns
Well so long, farewell, goodbye
Take 'em all for the long ride
And you'll go around town No one wants to be uptight anymore
You can be ashamed Or be so proud of what you've done
But not no one, not now, not ever or anyone
Take 'em all for the sense of happiness
That comes from hurting deep down inside
Or you could add it up and give a shit, give a shit
Go to the family doctor It's all worth it, all worth it
All, all wrong, and it's all, all gone
Or you could add it up and give a shit, give a shit
I'm on the corner of this and this and this and this
All, all wrong, and it's all, all wrong
Here's the man with teeth like God's shoeshine
He sparkles, shimmers, shines
Let's all have another Orange Julius
Thick syrup standing in lines
The malls are the soon-to-be ghost towns
Well, so long, farewell, goodbye
And the telephone goes off
Pick the receiver up, try to meet ends
And find out the beginning, the end and the best of it
Oh my, God damn!
Take 'em all for the long ride
And you'll go around town no one wants to be uptight anymore
You could be ashamed or be so proud of what you've done
But not no one, not now, not ever or anyone
This is my favorite album ever
The beginning sounds like another one of their songs but I can’t quite pinpoint which
I'm hurting everyday. I don't want to leave everything behind but I want to leave so fucking bad. I have a feeling of homesickness for a place that I know doesn't exist.
❤️❤️
This is the perfect prequel to Arcade Fire's "Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)"
Does anyone else feel lonely when they listen to this song?
The soon to be ghost towns.
Every time I listen to this, I sweat.
This song is a seriously intense experience.
The malls are now GHOST TOWNS!!
This song would lend itself so well to a skateboard video!
“the malls are the soon to be ghost-towns”.
yup.
Scary accurate prediction
The beginning is the manic part of me, but the whole thing is emotional to me, really.......🤘💖
God damn, this song is the best way to begin the album!!!!!
GET IT BOYS!!!!
#ILoveMMForever
This is an absolute masterpiece. My favourite MM song for sure, although I love "This is a long drive.." the most, even if "Lonesome crowded west" is insanely good too.
"cities all look the same to me" - arthur morgan
Joe M. What you say to meh boah!
Arthur Morgan is basically Cowboy Dan lmao
Maxinov Marks damn I wanna beat that game for the third time now smh
One of the best opening tracks I've ever heard
The malls are now ghost towns! Closing like Issac predicted!
nice, almost forgot about this
Hey Plankton, can our first song go like this: 0:00
And turn into one of those songs that go like: 0:03
Thick syrup, waiting in line.
4:00-4:25ish gives me goosebumps.
Omgosh the memories of 18 all flooding back with this cd
"Up over Montana! "
[Intro]
From the top of the ocean, yeah
From the bottom of the sky, goddamn
Well, I get claustrophobic
I can, you know that I can, well
From the top of the ocean, yeah
From the bottom of the sky, goddamn
Well, I get claustrophobic
I can, you know that I can
[Verse 1]
And he said
"I am not allowed much danger
Keep in line, you're an old friend, stranger
You'll burn me in effigy and I'll burn you in effigy."
Well, a rattle snake up in Buffalo, Montana
He bit the leg of the old sheriff
Ha! That boy fell down on his harelip—Ow! Ow!
Well I, I might be wrong
But you, you tag along
And we, we've all been wronged
And I get dizzier by the mile
Said, "Hell, yeah! The money's spent!"
Went to the county line and paid the rent
I said, "Uh-oh", I said "Uh-oh"
This album is a reaction to my childhood home Issaquah being paved over and turned into block after block of strip mall, which occurred in the decade after my graduation.
THPARKLES SHIMMERSTH SHINESTH
fuckn love this song!!!!!!!GERRRRR💥💥💥💥👌✊🤓
Probably the best unknown American band of all time. Forget Nirvana, Foo BS, Rage, Red Hot crap, nin, perhaps NOT Tool, but still...
Love this song!
Incredible song. Reminds me of when I was young.
Such a good song
I could go for an orange julius
Man he fucking nails the feeling of being rurally closterphobic, all the space to physically raom but nowhere clear to go while time closes in fast. Probably the most epic MM song, coming from someone who lives in BFE I most say this strikes right at home
Time to pack up all your guitars and amps, folks. We achieved rock perfection in 1997.
Happy 20th Anniversary! This song, this album and this band are still so relavant and needed to our lives.
Isaac is completely insane
GyroLamb but still cool as all hell
"Oh if you could combat your conscience . . . and you mi-ight"
Part song, part long farts in my dong, my heart was wrong when it said "don't play ping pong."
-Mr. Mouse
Why no one told me that before going into Indie rock, britpop, modest mouse was a post-hardcore Band? I cant stop listen this
This isn't post-hardcore at all dude. Bands like From First To Last and Senses Fail are post-hardcore.
S'mores The Husky yes those bands are technically post-hardcore but post-hardcore can also be stuff like Fugazi, Hot Water Music, Glassjaw, Refused, At The Drive-In etc. The thing is post-hardcore doesn’t necessary have one exact sound (the name of the genre is literally after hardcore) but this song can definitely be considered post-hardcore due to it’s chaotic nature and almost midwest emo style guitar playing
@Apathy&Exhaustion True. but this doesn't have that Post Hardcore sound like those other bands. It doesn't have electric guitars or that crazy metal type screaming. It's definitely post hardcore I'd say in vocals, but instrumentally, I wouldn't call it so.
That's my view on it.
@S'mores The Husky this doesnt have electric guitars ?
@E S P nuff said
Oh my god damn
All all wrong.
Thick syrup falling over in line...
Someone said agencies once
240p nice one youtube got me again
still bummed out they never came to belgium after they cancelled werchter few years ago, fuckin sucked
I wonder if the muttered, off-tempo "1, 2, 3, 4" at the end of "Styrofoam Boots", the last song on this album, is meant to lead into the beginning of this song, the first track on the album. I also note that both songs are the exact same length, 6 minutes and 53 seconds (at least on iTunes), which is so unlikely that it must have been intended.
They like to do little things like that every now and again. Not Radiohead Ok Computer/In Rainbows-levels of crazy but little things. For instance, if you listen to the song on shitty speakers (presumably on which the song is meant to be listened, given its age), that pause before the last big crescendo isn't a pause at all - there's a low buzzing noise that gradually gets more high-pitched until Isaac's "OH G-GOD DAMN"
It could just be an audio artifact given the hectic way the record was recorded (if you've never seen the Pitchfork documentary on the album's recording you should, it's pretty damn good), but who knows.
To this day I'll never be able to point out exactly what I love about this song. It just brings out so much emotion buried within me. It's just...brilliant...somehow. I don't know how but I'll figure it out. Also it's 3:20 am why am I still awake. Can someone please help actually.
Literal Dirt its because this speaks to our hearts. Its real in our experience obviously. The malls are soon to be ghostowns. Actually one of the malls i spent my youth at doing drugs and hanging out with friends is abandoned now.
I legit read this comment @ 3:20 am lmao
How did I use to hate this song so glad I convinced myself to get into MM
people tell me i'm weird for liking modest mouse haha idgaf one of the best bands of all time
What kinda people are you talking too, Ky03t Moses?
Lol no shit you need to talk to different people .........
WICKED.
coming out with guns blazing
Anybody else have a hard time knowing what he's saying at any given moment, but somehow still end up incredibly existential afterwards?
andy thompson it shimmers n shines
you'll burn me in an effigy and then uh oh!
I feel dizzier by the mile
Dude. Best explanation ever of MM.
HOLY FUCK I LOVE THIS!
This is the best song Modest Mouse has ever written
@RegularRaccoon Yea totally understandable. This album was pretty much recorded live so it does get pretty messy at times. Personally, I really enjoy that aspect because I believe it's real musicianship and it works real well on this album. There are a lot of times on the album where Isaac will hit a wrong note and it's funny to look forward to each mistake lol. But yeah I also enjoy neat and cleaned up songs as well. You can't beat a studio recording. lol
Goctagon you can hear his mistakes? haha that's awesome
@Shane Pantone Haha yeah I mean being a guitar player, you really start to notice those things.
Goctagon I totally agree with that. lyrically this is my favorite song of all time because it tells how everyone must feel. amazing track. captured the feeling of desolation and grief
Goctagon do you like the band "the dismemberment plan"?
Sometimes I have no idea if I'm sleeping or awake. Sometimes I'm seriously not aware where I am and how I got there, but I always have headphones and modest mouse to help me through that.
just kidding, thought that just sounded cool and fitted the song. Im not insane
this song gives me that feeling from time to time. It also makes me want to try an orange julius.
Harry Dykhoff I ordered an orange Julius yesterday just because of this song but the machine wasn't working
How do i love this record so much?
Best song ever.
I love the reference to Dramamine in the end, really wraps up this masterpiece
Of course, that’s the reason why I love this fucking song so much. It has a little bit of Dramamine in it. Which is by far the best song
Most of their earlier stuff ties into or references another one of their songs in one way or another.
The more I listen to it, the more I realize the entire ending is a mix of the dramamine sound
@Cowboy Dan It is called xenochrony.
Xenochrony is a studio-based musical technique developed at an unknown date, but possibly as early as the early 1960s, by Frank Zappa, who used it on several albums. Xenochrony is executed by extracting a guitar solo or other musical part from its original context and placing it into a completely different song, in order to create an unexpected but pleasing effect.
@Leonardo Fernandez like the reference to Jewish Princess in Catholic Girls?
what's this song about?
I have thought a lot aboout the same thing. There was something I heard once which makes me think of this song. Some people are super into taking classic cars and maintaining them in pristine condition. I mean every part original, every part in mint condition, not a spec of oil on the engine or any dirt on the undercarriage. In oder to maintain that condition a certain amount of non usage has to take place. Essentially this incredibly sought after automobile is now pointless and a complete waste if you think about. "here's the man with teeth like gods shoeshine". If god is omnipotent you could say maybe his shoshine would be immaculate? Untarnished. "he sparkles, shimmers shines" as if he maintains a certain amount of non usage.. What's the point in having an incredible gift, if you are not going to do something with it? Get it dirty? "let's all have another orange julius, thick syrup, standing in lines" Sugar rots your teeth, makes them tarnished after repeated use. Everyone is so obsessed with going to malls and buying clothes they don't need that they will never get dirty and it is all a complete waste. It will make them seem happpy, but it stems from the hurt of not being accepted. You could be ashamed of your dirty teeth. Of your tarnishes. Or you could be proud of what you have done. That you have loved and hurt. That you didn't die an old man kept in pristine condition living a life of non usage, taking them all for a sense of happiness that comes from hurting deep down inside. I hope I'm god damned. Get dirty. Make mistakes. Life is calling. Pick the reciever up, try to meet ends and find out the beginning, the end and the best of it. Because that's all you are going to remember. Live
Conner Davidson this song is about the greed of big businesses, how they dont care if they are screwing over the average person by overcharging them or selling them a crappy product. it's also all about consumerism/materialism
My fav modest mouse song
I agree. Isaac's best.
I love Modest Mouse.They are so damn good.
"take 'em all for the sense of happiness
that comes from hurting deep down inside". You have to admit that line hits hard
Peter Joseph i think he says take em all for the sad sad happiness that comforts us deep down inside
Lol its "sense of happiness"
nice name
remember tuning to this on my way to work man. songs the fucking shit!
The more I listen to this song the more I realize it's not long enough.
I actually thought the exact same thing about a week ago
I actually thought a second ago
Modest Mouse, honestly, is really shit.
Every
Single
Album
is the same.
It's really stale.
Not to mention how easily they lure you into listening to their albums again. It's really frustrating when you're deceived into listening into a masterpiece, making you think it's brand new.
0/10 avoid at all costs if you want to keep your money
I'll take you for the long ride and we'll go around town and no one will be uptight anymore
What have you listened to more than one album by them? They're nowhere near the same they basically change genres
Filthy Harry nice meme
Filthy Harry wut
this is them at the peak of greatness
What the fuck is this?
+Paul Johnson start at 3:00 and listen till the end a couple times. I didn't like this song much at first but its actually pretty glorious starting right there
+Paul Johnson Modest Mouse
+Paul Johnson Classic Modest Mouse at their height.
Paul Johnson Commentary on capitalism by one of the greatest bands out of Seattle ever.
Genius commentary on Neo-Liberal Capitalist USA. Thanks for posting it.
Ahead of its time by a decade and a half.
Fuck liberals and their socialism, it never worked and it never will
#mallfucked
As good as rock lyrics get!
By far one of MM's best songs
OH MY GODDAMN
From the top of the ocean - Yeah
From the bottom of the sky -Goddamn
Well I get claustrophobic
I can you know that I can
And he said:
"I am not allowed much danger
keep in line you're an old friend stranger.
you'll burn me if effigy and I'll burn you in effigy."
A rattle snake up in buffalo Montana
he bit the leg of the old sheriff
Ha! That boy fell down on his harelip -Ow! Ow!
Well I might be wrong
but you you tag along
and we we all been wronged
and I get dizzier by the mile
Said hell! The money's spent
went to the county line
and paid the rent said "Uh-oh."
Oh! If you could compact your conscience
Oh! And you might.
Oh! If you could bottle and sell it you might have done
Oh! And you might
Oh! If you could compact your conscience
and sell it save it for another time
you might have to use it.
And the televisions gone
Go to the grocery store, buy some new friends
and find out the beginning, the end, and the best of it
Well, do you need a lot of what you've got to survive?
Here's the man with teeth like God's shoeshine
He sparkles shimmers shines
let's all have another Orange Julius
Thick syrup standing in lines
The malls are the soon to be ghost towns
so long, farewell, good-bye
Take 'em all for the long ride
and you'll go around town
no one wants to be uptight anymore
You can be ashamed
or be so proud of what you've done
but not no one, not now, not ever or anyone
take 'em all for the sense of happiness
that comes from hurting deep down inside
Or you can walk th line and give a shit
I'm on the corner of this and this and this and this
and its all all wrong, and its all all gone
Well, you can add it up and give a shit
go to the family doctor
Its all worth it
and its all all gone, and its all all wrong
Here's the man with teeth like God's shoeshine
He sparkles shimmers shines
let's all have another Orange Julius
Thick syrup standing in lines
The malls are the soon to be ghost towns
so long, farewell, good-bye
And the telephone goes off
pick to receiver up, try to meet ends
and find out the beginning, the end and the best of it
+ap2pat OH MY GODDAMN!
@Caleb Adams He says so much in this song I figured it be a good idea to post them amazing lyrics lol.
Thick syrup*, not "this syrup" :)
@zZDanthraxZz Gotch ya.
So long, farewell, goodbye
Looooove it!!!!
This shouldn't even classify as a song, it's a fucking masterpiece
+uplm This is my favorite Modest Mouse "masterpiece"
@GhostbustersBG amen to that brother
it's an epic along the lines of Bohemian Rhapsody.
uplm I actually refer to this song and album as a masterpiece all the time
I rate it above Bohemian Rhapsody, largely because the later has been utterly ruined by hordes of 12-13 year old casuelitist music fans; these days I want to vomit every time I hear it.
I looove the beginning , I also love Isaacs voice especially where he goes" oh! If you could compact your conscience"
very charming imo
Forget them.they will be.remived from the game
Files : terminated
What do you think is the best on the album? Hard to choose. Love them all.
@Ricardo Castro long drive though. haha it so impossible to choose.
@Joseph Christopher Trailer Trash for me, but yeah they're all so good. It's why this is one of those universally accepted 10/10 albums.
+Chardee MacDennis Mimicking Birds is amazing
+Joseph Christopher Number 1: Teeth Like God's Shoeshine Number 2: Convenient Parking/Truckers Atlas Number 3: Lounge (Closing Time)
Truckers atlas
Favorite song from them!
00:30 ....and he sthed!
oneznzeroz he has a speech impediment, if anything it makes him sound better
I love how he talks. It's kind of like the buff dude from 50 first dates.
I AM NOT ALLOWED MUCH DANGER
28 real dirty cunts
30 new baddies
+frogblast 38 popsicles
Modest mouse is coming to saskatoon, sk soon!!! In july
He sparkles shimmers shines
let's all have another Orange Julius
This syrup standing in lines
The malls are the soon to be ghost towns
so long, farewell, good-bye.
So cool
the fixer of standing in lines*
@Mason O'Brien thick syrup, standing in lines
i stand corrected.
@Mason O'Brien
it's better for all of us like this
Even if this isn't the best song on the album, it's probably the best album opening song of any album I've listened to. It just sets the mood for the rest of the album so perfectly.
Almost all comments are people throwing out their suggestions and showing off their music cred, yet not one of them arguing that this is in fact the best song on the album. From the opening lick, to the final minute and a half-- "oh my goddamn!" Come on, people.
Sam you’re right there
@Sam amen. thank you for saying just what I was thinking
Mexican Hairless by Toadies off of Rubberneck
Also yeah this, Heart Cooks Brain, and Convenient Parking are my three favorite songs off LCW
Milli vanilla ooh girl you know it's true.
My appreciation of this band can not even be put into words. Just saw them live in Richmond VA. Hearing Isaac live was #1 on my bucket list and I can say they played a kicking show. I was close enough to shout I love you Isaac and have him hear me to look down. Best moment of my life.
That last riff... reference to Dramamine?
@Rees De Tar i hear it for sure