The "bad man" in said song is blatantly a "certain" bass player Bernard and Phil used to work with. Or is it? As Shug mentioned on FB a few days ago this track does sound like Bernard's stab at a Lennon-esque "How Do You Sleep?".
Discuss 
Dates
· UTC
Bad Lieutenant "Poisonous Intent" lyrics
Archived62 replies · 6,677 views
This is an archived legacy thread. Replies are closed, but the discussion is preserved.
What are the lyrics? Transcribe them here so we can pour over them like Smash Hits teenagers.
EDIT: Hang on. Barney Sumner. Lennonesque?
Hooky is going to buy a brand new guitar with his new found wealth? I don't get it. Or Barney has new found wealth and is buying a new guitar? Who is the buyer? Were they fighting over money? Two references to money/wealth.
Many of the lines could be Barney talking about himself more than dissin' Hooky. All pretty vague but the song is one of the more inspired songs in an uninspired lot.
Half way through ... So Hooky says he "can't come back" (to the band), so Barney then tells him "so hit the road Jack"? Then Barney feels lost and old. Sounds plausible.
This song is a grower, would have been better as a New Order song, heck there is a perfect place for a bass solo.
I'm soooooo not your best friend any more and anyway Nick King says you looked at his willy in the showers after games and you've got stupid hair and your mum makes you wear black socks so I don't want to sit next to you in History any more.
Toolbox wrote: I'm soooooo not your best friend any more and anyway Nick King says you looked at his willy in the showers after games and you've got stupid hair and your mum makes you wear black socks so I don't want to sit next to you in History any more.
True, dat! 
I had it on loud in the car earlier and these are my random observations.
With the exception of Stink or Swim, the lyrics are sufficiently placed in the mix to be ignored if you want to, and that's a good thing. The odd phrase makes it's way into your head and they normally sit nicely. Shug's FB status earlier today was something about a 1st class room with a 3rd rate view (or something) and I knew where he got it from, but not what song or what words were around them. Lyrics like these are not meant to be studied, or even listened to properly. The voice is an instrument, it sounds great and that's all that matters. It's all you're getting anyway.
Sink or Swim tries to be a ballad, the words are presented as meaningful and they push into the song. Similarly, the crap 12 string riffs intrude too much. The rest of the tracks observe the correct dance/pop style of nice-sounding gibberish lyrics (anyone who's spent any time with a baby will understand what I mean by that) and unselfish orchestration.
As far as the absence of Hooky's bass, well I'm sure everyone will hear the gaps where it's 'supposed' to go and, if you're like me, you miss it. Also, if you're like me, you'll be incensed by every other bass sound on the cd - the ones that don't sound 'right' piss you off and the ones that do sound like Hooky piss you off even more. So what to do? Toss the bastard out of the window or try to appreciate it for what it is? Or isn't?
Actually, now I've listened to it a few times, I've realised that it's far more than Neworderwithouthooky. It's clearly a collaboration between more than just Barney and Steve and although their influences and trademarks ring clearly throughout, there's other themes in there that make you cry out "THAT'S NOT NEW ORDER". But it isn't New Order without Hooky, Half of Electronic or The Other Two, or Englandneworder without the footballers or Hooky.
I know all of this is completely obvious, but it took me a while to get my head around and I'm happier about it all now.
Not completely happy, but happier.
I should perhaps point out that the above thinking took place on a very long and pointless drive to meet some Americans in Warrington. They'd all gone to bed when I arrived very late because the football overran by SEVERAL MINUTES. So I had lots of time on my own to think and this was what I came up with.
And, anyway, isn't it about a girl, not a bloke, and so unless Hooky's had a sex-change... 
(Not really, just winding up Ally)! :p
Well, there are certain lines and the title itself that could indicate this track is a less than happy look back over the NO split. Of course, it might not be but erm it's a forum Two sections of the lyrics I noticed seem to be a tad provocative as if they were written with the Sumner/Hook rift in mind:
Hey bad man what are you going to do, when you can't go back to the life you knew, When you feel it's time would you give me a sign,
Easy, Bernard's stating life is different post-split and if Hooky wants to change things then once ready "give him a sign". Presumably once the yacht showroom has a new model in
You keep saying something but you're doing nothing, I'm here thinking that you're full of shit or something The whole world's waiting what are you gonna do?
Erm, it has been a while since Freebass were first announced 
All the other lyrics on the BL album are relatively benign and generic (lots of Hey Now What 'Cha Doin and Yeah Yeah Yeah-ing etc) but this particular track seems to have a very clear theme running through the words.
Can't we analyse 'Summer Days on Holiday' instead?
There's some ACE super-crap lyrics in there.. something about a 'moth got eaten by a dog' in 1993 perhaps... then there's some bloke 'who's off his tree', 'shaking his Scottishness(perhaps?)' or something. Did he meet Shug back then? 
Wasn't the track Liar (off Republic) supposed to have been about Tony Wilson?
Wouldn't surprise me if this track is about Hooky.
Bernard Sumner has always come across as a petty twat. 
Ger Boy wrote:
Wouldn't surprise me if this track is about Hooky. Bernard Sumner has always come across as a petty twat.
I dunno... I think it's fair game, having read all the shite re: split for last two years.
He should have changed some of the yeah yeah yeahs to NER NER NER NER. That would have been BRILL!
Poisonous Intent is good because it proves Bernard can still write decent lyrics/melodies if he wants to. I think the tune is more inspired than anything on WFTSC, I just wish the rest of the album was on the same level. Other that I keep wondering why Steven Morris was so undervalued on this record and Jake Evans bolstered up so high.
Anyway, what's with these lyrics, and these are some of the better ones I think.
"Just tell me that it's true.
I want you by my side.
Girl I'm doing it for you.
I'm gonna open your eyes.
I'm gonna take you higher,
than a bird can fly.
Girl I'm so in love with,
don't even think that it is true."
Or how about..
"What do you think you are proving baby? It's not the way you should exist. It's not the answer baby. Don't crush this flower with your first. You could hold me, with your mind you could know me. But you can't keep on losing It's so hard to say we're running out of luck."
And it only gets worse.
Burt Reynolds wrote: Can't we analyse 'Summer Days on Holiday' instead?
There's some ACE super-crap lyrics in there.. something about a 'moth got eaten by a dog' in 1993 perhaps... then there's some bloke 'who's off his tree', 'shaking his Scottishness(perhaps?)' or something. Did he meet Shug back then?
Indeed, and who is this Mark in that song?
Nick King wrote: And what does a "bed of roses laced with gin" taste like? :p
A drunk woman?
Surf Western wrote:
Nick King wrote: And what does a "bed of roses laced with gin" taste like? :p
A drunk woman?
I was just picturing pouring some gin over some roses and then munching on them! :p
(like Ermitrude, the cow in the magic roundabout)! :p
We can only hope the "gin/roses" lyric question made the Uncut magazine Q&A he's presumably doing this month.
The people need to know now.
:p
Nick King wrote: Indeed, and who is this Mark in that song?
Ah yes, it's to rhyme with Quadrant Park, the Liverpool nightclub! :p
I think the key is to just get high, slow down, and only hear the music. Otherwise you'll be up all night having nightmares about what Bernard is singing about. Yeahs, hey nows, hit the road jacks, drunk roses, and New Order covering The Who.
Surf Western wrote: I think the key is to just get high, slow down, and only hear the music. Otherwise you'll be up all night having nightmares about what Bernard is singing about. Yeahs, hey nows, hit the road jacks, drunk roses, and New Order covering The Who.
True.
"I'm going to take you higher, HIGHER, HIGH, than a bird can fly!" :)
On the other hand, if we were to over analyze the lyrics we might end up with something weird. For example, Bernard might be saying that Hooky assumes he will be better off without NO (new found wealth), and that Hooky will finally start playing a guitar instead of playing a bass like a guitar, etc. I doubt it though, sounds too witty or something for Bernard at this stage of the game.
Surf Western wrote: On the other hand, if we were to over analyze the lyrics we might end up with something weird. For example, Bernard might be saying that Hooky assumes he will be better off without NO (new found wealth), and that Hooky will finally start playing a guitar instead of playing a bass like a guitar, etc. I doubt it though, sounds too witty or something for Bernard at this stage of the game.
Maybe Barney is being kinda a sarcastic dick, by saying that Hooky has "new found wealth" since he can throw away the golden goose New Order. Or maybe there was some sort of buyout we don't know about and Barney is pissed off, or some sort of awkward reference to Hooky threatening legal action for the use of the name New Order?
I had assumed all the lyrics seemed like they were written by Susan Boyle, so I was ignoring them as much as possible, but this song has some bite. Does Sink or Swim have any meaning? ...cause it still seems moronic to me.
Toolbox wrote: As far as the absence of Hooky's bass, well I'm sure everyone will hear the gaps where it's 'supposed' to go and, if you're like me, you miss it. Also, if you're like me, you'll be incensed by every other bass sound on the cd - the ones that don't sound 'right' piss you off and the ones that do sound like Hooky piss you off even more. So what to do? Toss the bastard out of the window or try to appreciate it for what it is? Or isn't?
Actually, now I've listened to it a few times, I've realised that it's far more than Neworderwithouthooky. It's clearly a collaboration between more than just Barney and Steve and although their influences and trademarks ring clearly throughout, there's other themes in there that make you cry out "THAT'S NOT NEW ORDER". But it isn't New Order without Hooky, Half of Electronic or The Other Two, or Englandneworder without the footballers or Hooky.
Post of the Day!
Nick King wrote:
Surf Western wrote: I think the key is to just get high, slow down, and only hear the music. Otherwise you'll be up all night having nightmares about what Bernard is singing about. Yeahs, hey nows, hit the road jacks, drunk roses, and New Order covering The Who.
True.
"I'm going to take you higher, HIGHER, HIGH, than a bird can fly!" :)
This can refer to Miracles of the Pet Shop Boys:
'Birds fly even higher in the sky'
Ally wrote: The "bad man" in said song is blatantly a "certain" bass player Bernard and Phil used to work with. Or is it? As Shug mentioned on FB a few days ago this track does sound like Bernard's stab at a Lennon-esque "How Do You Sleep?".
Discuss
I think there are more people than only Hooky in Barneys life. 
Toolbox wrote:
With the exception of Sink or Swim, the lyrics are sufficiently placed in the mix to be ignored if you want to, and that's a good thing. The odd phrase makes it's way into your head and they normally sit nicely. Shug's FB status earlier today was something about a 1st class room with a 3rd rate view (or something) and I knew where he got it from, but not what song or what words were around them. Lyrics, like these, are not meant to be studied, or even listened to properly. The voice is an instrument, it sounds great and that's all that matters. It's all you're getting anyway.
Spot on. I havnae paid too much attention to the lyrics masel, just enjoying the album for what it is.
It's futile to second guess or analyse Barney's lyrics, it's very rare he will tell you what they are about. Hence me never trying to second guess him.....as soon as I heard PI, it reminded me of Lennon & McCartney's spat, McCartney with RAM and Lennon with How Do You Sleep
runwild wrote:
Ally wrote: The "bad man" in said song is blatantly a "certain" bass player Bernard and Phil used to work with. Or is it? As Shug mentioned on FB a few days ago this track does sound like Bernard's stab at a Lennon-esque "How Do You Sleep?".
Discuss
I think there are more people than only Hooky in Barneys life.
Mine's was merely an initial reaction to a song, don't take it too seriously.
Lots of songs can have different interpretations and I guess this is just one of them.
Although, about the roses laced with gin bit, I literally imagined gin soaked rose petals scattered on a bed!
