Coattails Of A Dead Man

Album: Antipop (1999)
Play Video
  • He wasn't lookin' for fanfare or fame
    But it all came around just the same.
    He then met a girl with desire in her eye,
    He gave her love, she took his name.

    The times they were good, the times they were bad,
    Most times it was just in between.
    The hard pill he swallowed was the times that they had,
    She put on display for all to be seen.

    Some find their solace in work or the lord,
    She was quite content in her dream.
    When his eyes they burned from the bright lime light,
    He found comfort in the bottle of Ol' Jimmy Beam.

    One day from the depths of his deep darkened hole,
    He reached out for something to feel.
    She offered back nothin' but lack of respect
    So he left himself out with two barrels of steel.

    She cried in the day, she cried in the night.
    She cried loudest when someone was near.
    Whether crying for him or she cried for herself,
    The bigger the camera, the bigger the tear.

    Most folks agree that she was living a hell
    And publicly she showed her pain.
    And never once was there a thought for herself,
    And the ever-growing slices of fortune and fame.

    Now on the coattails of a dead man she'll ride
    On the coattails of a dead man she'll ride.
    On the coattails of a dead man she'll ride she'll ride,
    On the coattails of a dead man she'll ride she'll ride high. Writer/s: BRYAN KEI MANTIA, LES CLAYPOOL, REID L. III LALONDE
    Publisher: Downtown Music Publishing
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 1

  • Don Ellis from Lake City, Ky"This tale is very similar to the life of Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love, but nobody knows if this was intentional."

    This is obviously about (mostly) Courtney and Kurt.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Bob Daisley

Bob DaisleySongwriter Interviews

Bob was the bass player and lyricist for the first two Ozzy Osbourne albums. Here's how he wrote songs like "Crazy Train" and "Mr. Crowley" with Ozzy and Randy Rhoads.

David Bowie Leads the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired Men

David Bowie Leads the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired MenSong Writing

Bowie's "activist" days of 1964 led to Ziggy Stardust.

Al Jourgensen of Ministry

Al Jourgensen of MinistrySongwriter Interviews

In the name of song explanation, Al talks about scoring heroin for William Burroughs, and that's not even the most shocking story in this one.

Linda Perry

Linda PerrySongwriter Interviews

Songwriting Hall of Famer Linda Perry talks about her songs "What's Up" and "Beautiful," her songwriting process, and her move into film music.

Danny Clinch: The Art of Rock Photography

Danny Clinch: The Art of Rock PhotographySong Writing

One of rock's top photographers talks about artistry in photography, raising funds for a documentary, and enjoying a County Fair with Tom Waits.

Boy Bands

Boy BandsFact or Fiction

From NKOTB to 1D, how well do you know your boy bands?