"Tattoo" lyrics

[Yount]

People don't listen to lyrics anymore! Just like they don't read!

[DRD]

Here is a link to artwork of a Tramp Stamp Cat I found.

http://captainsblog1701.tumblr.com/post/3328997343

[DRD]

Also for Mousewife to Momshell

http://blogs.babble.com/famecrawler/tag/from-mousewife-to-momshell-the-rules-and-celebrity-secrets-for-being-a-thinner/

[if6was9]

Guys, do yo know what a "coal tattoo" is?

There are plenty of coal mines in my country, so I know how miners look. Because of the coal dust they have black lines aroud their eyes, which are almost permanent. They don't call it "coal tattoo" in my country, but maybe this is what Dave meant?

[Sensible Shoes]

Somebody found a page on the internet that an injury that leaves that black mark is also called a coal tattoo. There was actually a song about it.

[Nitro Express]

Guys, do yo know what a "coal tattoo" is?

There are plenty of coal mines in my country, so I know how miners look. Because of the coal dust they have black lines aroud their eyes, which are almost permanent. They don't call it "coal tattoo" in my country, but maybe this is what Dave meant?

I was thinking it was like maybe New Zealand natives or prisoners making their own tattoo ink out of soot. You can take a walk around tour in the old Idaho state prison and they had on display some of the confiscated make shift tattoo making equipment and some of the art. They made their own inks out of all sorts of crazy stuff.

[Nitro Express]

Here is a link to artwork of a Tramp Stamp Cat I found.
http://captainsblog1701.tumblr.com/post/3328997343

I thought maybe it was referring to the tattoo artist Kat Von D.

[ashstralia]

Somebody found a page on the internet that an injury that leaves that black mark is also called a coal tattoo. There was actually a song about it.

indeed. here it is.http://sniff.numachi.com/pages/tiCTATTOO;ttCTATTOO.html

[Nitro Express]

Union pensions make wonderful slush funds. Are there any decent unions anymore? It seems like everything is crooked these days.

[Sensible Shoes]

All but the biggest unions have been torched. Ask Carmine how hard it is to fight the battles these days.

[Nitro Express]

My dad was in the bricklayers union. That was a good one because for what you paid in dues you got health insurance benefits that you never could afford on your own. All the unions I had to join I got nothing from. I actually had to join the screen actors guild for one job. They just garnish your check and give you nothing for it.

[fifth element]

so who's posting the actual lyrics? Tattoo is tattooed in my brain but I want to sing the correct lyrics!

Well....here is a different (slightly ) take on the lyrics after listening to the song line by line over and over....

Tattoo, tattoo

I got Elvis on my elbow
and when I flex Elvis talks
I got hula girls on the back of my leg
and she hulas when I walk

Speak in cherry red
Screaming 'lectric green
Purple mountain's majesty
really talk to me
Talk to me babe

Swap-Meet Sally
Tramp-stamp Cat
Mousewife to Bomshell in the time it took to get that new tattoo
Tattoo-tattoo

(Tattoo, tattoo)
Show me your dragon magic
(Tattoo, tattoo)
So autobiographic!

Best believe that needle will hurt you
Best to see these true colors that follow money for your false virtutes

Here's a secret to make you think
Why is the crazy stuff we never said poetry in ink
Speak in day-glow red
Explodo paint
Purple mountain's majesty
show me you,
I'll show you me

Swap-Meet Sally
Trampstamp Cat
Mousewife to Bomshell in the time it took to get that new tattoo,
tattoo-tattoo

Woo!
(Tattoo, tattoo)
Sexy dragon magic
(Tattoo, tattoo)
So very autobiographic!
(Tattoo, tattoo)
Got a hold on me
(Tattoo, tattoo)
You put a spell on meeeee!

Uncle Danny had a coal tattoo
He fought for the unions
Some of us still do
On my shoulder is a number of the Chapter he was in
That number is forever like the struggle here to win

Everybody!
Swap-Meet Sally
Trampstamp Cat
Mousewife to Bomshell in the time it took to get that new tattoo, tattoo-tattoo
Tattoo
tat-too!

(Tattoo, tattoo)
Sexy dragon magic
(Tattoo, tattoo)
So very autobiographic!
(Tattoo, tattoo)
You got a hold on me
(Tattoo, tattoo)
You put a spell on me
(Tattoo, tattoo)
I'm in love with you
(Tattoo, tattoo)
Show me, show me your
(Tattoo, tattoo)
Look at me, look at you!
(Tattoo, tattoo)
Whoa!

[Lyrics to Tattoo performed by Van Halen]

[if6was9]

Somebody found a page on the internet that an injury that leaves that black mark is also called a coal tattoo. There was actually a song about it.

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. If this is the context here, then the last chorus (with all those flying balloons and confetti) is ironic rather than funny, followed by surrealistic outro, which to me sounds like an elegy (yes, I know it's from DIF).

Uncle Danny may be a reference to Danny Radnor, a fictional character from "Meteman" movie or Daniel Weaver, one of the founders of American Miners' Association in 1861.

[Carmine]

All but the biggest unions have been torched. Ask Carmine how hard it is to fight the battles these days.

Its been extremely difficult the last 4 or 5 years. Public employers are victims of state budget cuts and ever decreasing amounts of funding, private employers are the victims of the economy. But,with over 2 million members, we are still the largest Union in North America and we continue to organize new members. The fact that there is no money out there, employers are doing anything to create "funds" and that includes unjust terminations...attempts at wiping out pensions and retirements. I've been running around NY just protecting what we have, namely...their jobs and current benefit levels. Contract extensions with no changes have become the safe play....on both sides...and that protection is reaffirming peoples belief that having a voice, having union protection at their job is the way to go...it always was. I was a member before I became the Business Agent...I know what its like on the job...I spend everyday out there servicing my members on the front lines...the office is a place for my secretary.

[academic punk]

Nailed it. Classic Dave wordplay. "Momshell" is terrific: it's basically a synonym for "MILF".

Btw, when I first heard the lyrics, I thought "Swapmeet Sally, Trampstamp Cat" was "Swampmeat salad, Crab Stab Can't". Which makes no fucking sense. So I was relieved to read this. Very cool, very Dave lyrics.

(Btw, the first time, as a teenager, I heard Bananarama's version of "Venus" I misheard the chorus as "I'm your fetus/I'm on fire" and thought it was an anti-abortion song.)