SNAKES
(T. Kanal, G. Stefani)
from the album The Beacon Street Collection

A song which the band hardly plays live, it is also one of the most requested by fans. With lyrics written by Tony (in the style of Bad Religion's Greg Graffin) about the record industry people and the problems the band was having prior to the release of Tragic Kingdom, a live performance in 1993 at Glam Slam featured dancing by two Indian girls in saris... as well as Gwen's sister! The song was featured on the soundtrack and in commercials for Beavis And Butthead Do America, but it wasn't featured in the movie. This song features some of Adrian's best moments (in my opinion) and also one of Gwen's most spectacular vocal performances.

Open the basket
Listen to the flute play
Open the basket
Listen to the flute play
Toot toot toot play

Snakes in the basket
Lie to lead you astray
Snakes in the basket
Force to make you betray
Your innermost truth hidden away

Now you're falling down to the underground
Slither down to your lair
Hidden in the many trenches of a hopeless war
Those who were sold out by a corporate board

Carry the casket
Never mind the gun spray
Bury the casket
Pawns in someone's gameplay
Shoot shoot shoot obey

Now you're falling down to the underground
Slither down to your lair
Hidden in the many trenches of a hopeless war
Those who were sold out by a corporate board

Listen to the flute play
Listen to the flute play
Listen to the flute play

Subscription to the spreading of lies
Soldier catches a glimpse of his demise deep down inside
Even he knows snakes come in many shapes and sizes
Many shapes and sizes
Snakes have no hands to be tied

Concoction of malicious lies
Deep inside the general despises himself
Listen to the flute play
Another reptile in line
Snakes without grass cannot hide

Now you're falling down to the underground
Slither down to your lair
Hidden in the many trenches of a hopeless war
Those who were sold out by a corporate board
Now you're falling down to the underground
Slither down to your lair
Forked tongues spread the poison with another toxic sting
So much pain their serpentine inhibitions bring

Oh - listen to the flute play
Listen to the flute play
Listen to the flute play
Listen to the flute play

Open the basket
Open the basket
Listen to the flute play
Open the basket

Listen to the flute play
Listen to the flute play
Go ahead
Listen to the flute play

Open the basket
Oh - open the basket