Take A Dive
Underground Gambler's Dilemma: Take A Dive by The Dust Collectors
Lyrics
I was the underdog on the undercard of an underground gambling ring,
The narrator was a lesser-known participant in an illegal betting scheme.
hired to go down in the seventh, visualized the whole damn thing
Was expected to lose intentionally in the seventh round and had visualized the outcome.
So I’m floating like a butterfly and stinging like one too, easy money, New York City, Friday night
Feels confident and agile like a butterfly but also ready to strike like one; sees it as an easy opportunity for money on a Friday night in New York City.
Now my conscience took control somewhere inside the second round “if you beat him, they’d
The narrator's conscience intervenes during the fight, suggesting that winning could lead to redemption.
redeem you, such a noble turnaround”
The internal conflict between doing the right thing versus the temptation of financial gain becomes apparent.
But the devil on my shoulder starts to whisper in my ear “you’ll be sleeping in the Hudson if you win”
The devilish side is portrayed as a voice warning of dire consequences if the narrator wins.
Take a dive, take a dive, swallow all your stupid pride, now is not the time to be a better man
Encouragement to deliberately lose the fight, ignoring personal pride for financial survival.
Hit the canvas like a stone and you might make it out alive, you don’t mess around with crooked bookie men
A warning to accept defeat heavily to survive and not antagonize dangerous individuals involved in illegal betting.
I knocked him out bout thirty seconds shy of the fourth bell and when the family’s captain
The narrator unintentionally knocks out their opponent just before the fourth round ends.
showed up I knew things were gone to hell
The arrival of someone significant signals trouble for the narrator.
In the alley waiting for me with a barrel full of lead, Joey Mad Dog put two bullets in my head
The antagonist, Joey Mad Dog, awaits the narrator in an alley with lethal intentions.
When they buried me in Cherokee under the setting sun they were not aware I’d made a bet at fifty-five to one
Despite the narrator's demise, they had placed a winning bet before their death.
Now my wife and kids are on a train to Philadelphia with a suitcase for the winnings, set for life
Family unaware of the narrator's actions, now heading to Philadelphia with winnings, oblivious to the danger.
Take a dive, take a dive, swallow all your stupid pride, now is not the time to be a better man
Reiterating the advice to intentionally lose and ignore personal integrity for survival.
Hit the canvas like a stone and you might make it out alive, you don’t mess around with crooked bookie men
Emphasizes the need to succumb heavily to ensure survival when dealing with unscrupulous bookies.
Comment