"Tattoo" lyrics

[vandeleur]

On the subjecy of coal tattoo's my father in law has one , he got hit on the forehead with a shovel when he was an electrician down the pits ( when we used to have them), some bloke slipped and althout he has a scar it has a blackish line to it .

[academic punk]

I'm *only a little* surprised, being that Dave can be so forthright in his feelings for his Judaism (don't believe me? Read his autobiography) that nowhere in the lyrics is some kind of reference to concentration camps. No biggie, but just as the union references gives the song added depth and diversity to what a tattoo can mean, it would've worked.

Then again, and the reason I say "only a little", hey, it's classic Van Halen. A forum to party and celebrate, not really the place to contemplate and wax philosophical about genocide and anti-semitism.

[vandeleur]

I'm *only a little* surprised, being that Dave can be so forthright in his feelings for his Judaism (don't believe me? Read his autobiography) that nowhere in the lyrics is some kind of reference to concentration camps. No biggie, but just as the union references gives the song added depth and diversity to what a tattoo can mean, it would've worked.

Then again, and the reason I say "only a little", hey, it's classic Van Halen. A forum to party and celebrate, not really the place to contemplate and wax philosophical about genocide and anti-semitism.

Am going with the groove and dirty vibe to the song .. think that would have brought it down with a bang

[academic punk]

Am going with the groove and dirty vibe to the song .. think that would have brought it down with a bang

What? You don't think having the bridge suddenly turn into a dirge would've worked?

[clarathecarrot]

There is a, cronic lyricosis, thread in the non or music-forum somewhere...lol.......-I'm your fetus-..ROTFLMMFAO...almost spewed my coffee...

[vandeleur]

That would be a no..........

[vandeleur]

There is a, cronic lyricosis, thread in the non or music-forum somewhere...lol.......-I'm your fetus-..ROTFLMMFAO...almost spewed my coffee...

Had to look that up its class

[GreenEyedMurder]

I'm *only a little* surprised, being that Dave can be so forthright in his feelings for his Judaism (don't believe me? Read his autobiography) that nowhere in the lyrics is some kind of reference to concentration camps. No biggie, but just as the union references gives the song added depth and diversity to what a tattoo can mean, it would've worked.

Then again, and the reason I say "only a little", hey, it's classic Van Halen. A forum to party and celebrate, not really the place to contemplate and wax philosophical about genocide and anti-semitism.

Also, Jews aren't supposed to get tattoos. Many Jewish cemeteries refuse to bury a body with tats.

[academic punk]

Also, Jews aren't supposed to get tattoos. Many Jewish cemeteries refuse to bury a body with tats.

If that even exists, it's only the mega-Orhtodox. The idea is you're supposed to leave this world the way you came into it. But, if that's the case, women (or men) who have pierced ears (or anything else) wouldn't be allowed in. And show me a single cemetery where that's the case.

And I can assure any Auschwitz survivor would be granted burial at any Jewish cemetery anywhere in the world.

(this diversion is quite the bummer. lets get back on track to the song)

[Golden AWe]

Also, Jews aren't supposed to get tattoos. Many Jewish cemeteries refuse to bury a body with tats.

I'm not writing a "instead, they get" and a "cheap group cemetary offer" -nazi joke here no matter how much you ask for it.

[if6was9]

Thanks. The song makes a lot more sense now. The first two verses are about tattoos people make for fun (verse 1) or to show off with their "false virtues" & other BS (verse 2), while the last verse is about tattoos that are actually "autobiographic" and mean something. Uncle Danny must have worked hard to "earn" his coal tatto, it was a real thing.

After another 20 re-litens I tend to believe that the last verse is an irony, too. The number on the guy's shoulder may have no real mening, but the guy backs it up with a "personal" story to impress a girl. This is just a number, so the back-up stories may vary - it may be a number of a ticket to VH gig or anything else, depending on the situation. Union ativist Uncle Danny sounds good, but he may be just another bullshit.

What do you think?

[academic punk]

What do you think?

I think you read too much into it.

Not that it at all is a bad idea - it's actually a pretty cool spin - just I don't see anything in the lyric to support the theory.

[VAiN]

I'm *only a little* surprised, being that Dave can be so forthright in his feelings for his Judaism (don't believe me? Read his autobiography) that nowhere in the lyrics is some kind of reference to concentration camps. No biggie, but just as the union references gives the song added depth and diversity to what a tattoo can mean, it would've worked.

Then again, and the reason I say "only a little", hey, it's classic Van Halen. A forum to party and celebrate, not really the place to contemplate and wax philosophical about genocide and anti-semitism.

Actually, after a few more listens, I'm pretty sure the chorus is actually 'that-Jew that-Jew'..

But seriously, what an odd observation - you're actually surprised Dave doesn't sing about being a Jew? Really?

[Carmine]

After another 20 re-litens I tend to believe that the last verse is an irony, too. The number on the guy's shoulder may have no real mening, but the guy backs it up with a "personal" story to impress a girl. This is just a number, so the back-up stories may vary - it may be a number of a ticket to VH gig or anything else, depending on the situation. Union ativist Uncle Danny sounds good, but he may be just another bullshit.

What do you think?

I think the meaning of the last verse is very clear...Union Activism, Union Member, Union Struggles, Chapter number for his Local tatt'd on his shoulder...but then again, I'm biased...

such is life when only a single is released...the dissection will not be so deep when there are 12 more songs released all at once when the album hits...

...well, it may take a little longer...

[academic punk]

ahahahahahaa..I'll never be able to hear that chorus the same way again!

I DID say only a little...but yeah. If you've read the book (and if you haven't, you should) it's not like he feels that he has anything to hide. And he made clear his religion to him was far more based on overcoming obstacles and defeating enemies than not having a glass of milk with pork roll. (well, then there's the issue of the pork roll...)

IN that sense a lyric like "If you tattoo a number on my arm, I'll put my fist in your face" could've worked just fine in the song: nothing too gory or even explicit, but definitely within the vibe of Eddie's riffs.