Rattlesnake Smoking a Cigarette
Desert Heat: A Tale of Curiosity and the Rattlesnake's Dance
Lyrics
Well the year was 1985 and it was the hottest summer to date
The narrator recalls the year 1985 as the hottest summer and sets the scene.
I'd say it was as hot as flugen, a crispy hot, a silly hot
Describes the extreme heat as "flugen," emphasizing its intensity and silliness.
It was the kind of heat that only a cold cold heart could cure
Suggests that only a person with a cold heart could find relief from the intense heat.
Well in a desperation to find that cold heart, my daddy rallied the troops
Narrator's father seeks relief and gathers a group of people to find a solution.
He called upon me, Billy Beep from up the street, Sherbet Earl, and the Mad Man
Narrator and a group of individuals, including Billy Beep, Sherbet Earl, and the Wayward Son, are introduced.
himself played by the Wayward Son
The Wayward Son plays a role in the group's quest.
For one special day
Reference to a special day when the group embarks on their mission.
Well we piled into that Cadillac just as fast as we could
The group quickly piles into a Cadillac to escape the heat.
Unaware of our situation, driven crazy by Mother Nature's heat
Expresses the group's unawareness of their situation, driven mad by the extreme heat.
We drove 200 miles into that Arizona Desert
The group drives 200 miles into the Arizona Desert in search of relief.
Turning left at that faded sign and right at that cactus
Provides directions in the desert, emphasizing the remote location.
And as the sun was setting an we crept up to an old building
As the sun sets, the group approaches an old building.
Silhouetted
The building is silhouetted against the setting sun.
On the right side of the street there was a bright pink sign that said Cat House,
Describes a bright pink sign reading "Cat House" on the right side of the street.
but I didn't see any cats
The narrator doesn't see any cats despite the sign.
On the other side street there was a brilliant green sign that read Bunny Ranch,
Describes a green sign reading "Bunny Ranch" on the other side, without any visible bunnies.
but I didn't see any bunnies
The absence of expected animals raises curiosity about their whereabouts.
Where could they be?
Rhetorical question about the missing animals.
And that door swung open so fast
The door of the building opens quickly.
As if it had done 1000 times before
The door's swift movement suggests familiarity with such actions.
And upon entrance there was the sweet smell of pain
Upon entering, a distinctive smell is associated with pain.
And then a bell rang
A bell rings, perhaps signaling an event or the beginning of an activity.
Then a line of women came out
A line of women emerges, representing diversity in colors.
Red, yellow, black, and white, and all the beautiful colors in between
The women represent various races and colors.
And down on the end of the line there was a puff of smoke
At the end of the line, a puff of smoke appears.
I said, Daddy, what's that smoke down there?
The narrator inquires about the smoke to the father.
He said son, don't you worry about that smoke, that's not anything you need to worry about
The father dismisses the smoke, assuring the narrator not to worry about it.
I don't think that's anything that either one of us could handle
The father suggests the smoke is beyond their capacity to handle.
And now in my desperation
The narrator, desperate, decides to explore the source of the smoke.
I walked down to the end of that line
The narrator walks to the end of the line of women.
I looked that woman up and down
Observing a particular woman, the narrator considers her appearance.
She had something on her legs that I'd only seen used for fishing
The woman has something on her legs resembling fishing gear.
I'd never seen that on a woman's body before
The narrator notes the uniqueness of the woman's attire.
I was intrigued
The narrator is intrigued by the woman's appearance.
I had to choose her
Despite the intrigue, the narrator decides to choose her.
Faster that lightning, she struck me on the hand
The woman reacts quickly, striking the narrator on the hand.
Before I the...
The line is incomplete, leaving the action or consequence hanging.
It was a rattlesnake smoking a cigarette
Revelation: The woman chosen by the narrator is a rattlesnake smoking a cigarette.
She was a rattlesnake smoking a cigarette
Confirmation of the surprising revelation about the woman's nature.
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