I went down last night with a tattoo madam
To a nude dagger fantasy domain
Wrapped in hell, I lost my breath
Chest to stimulating chinese breast
Grisly smiles, that don't flake off
Corny-colored demons leering
Vampire photos, sucking the skin
Seeding the night at the inker's parlor
Flash permabrand pricked for a dollar
Her wrist surreal a heart and flying skull
Lettered "Life and love pass swiftly"
Grisly smiles, that don't flake off
Corny-colored demons leering
Vampire photos, sucking the skin.
This song was the B-side when their 1976 hit "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" was released as a single. The song can also be found on their album released that same year, "Agent of Fortune." It was the second song on the second side of the record.
This is definitely a darker take on the idea of tattoos. But you have to rememmber that when this song was first released, tattooing was still a fringe practice, definitely not the sort of thing a "good girl" would do. However, the tattooed, bad girl image invoked by the lyrics went well with the rock and roll lifestyle of the day and the heavy imagery and sound for which the band was known.
