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Cake — Sheep Go to Heaven
Album: Prolonging the Magic
Avg rating:
6.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2489









Released: 1998
Length: 4:39
Plays (last 30 days): 0
I'm not feeling alright today,
I'm not feeling that great,
I'm not catching on fire today,
Love has started to fade,

I'm not going to smile today,
I'm not gonna laugh,
You're out living it up today,
I've got dues to pay,

When the grave digger puts on the foreceps,
The stonemason does all the work,
The barber can give you a haircut,
The carpenter can take you out to lunch,

Now, I just want to play on my panpipes,
I just want to drink me some wine,
As soon as you're born, you start dying,
So you might as well have a good time,

Sheep go to Heaven,
Goats go to Hell,
Sheep go to Heaven,
Goats go to Hell,

I don't wanna go to Sunset Strip,
I don't wanna feel the emptiness,
Old marquees with stupid band names,
I don't wanna go to Sunset Strip,

I don't wanna go to Sunset Strip,
I don't wanna feel the emptiness,
Old marquees with stupid band names,
I don't wanna go to Sunset Strip,

The grave digger puts on the forceps,
The stonemason does all the work,
The barber can give you a haircut,
The carpenter can take you out to lunch,

Now, I just want to play on my panpipes,
I just want to drink me some wine,
As soon as you're born, you start dying,
So you might as well have a good time,

Sheep go to Heaven,
Goats go to Hell,
Sheep go to Heaven,
Goats go to Hell,

Sheep go to Heaven,
Goats go to Hell...
Comments (334)add comment
Panpipes
Playing too many of the same songs over and over.
Great band! Funny song.
 
 

Gathered Herdwicks
Gathered Herdwicks

 
 lily34 wrote:


it's pretty obvious, actually. all biblical references throughout. and read the comment about how they were not too subtly telling their record company (capricorn) to go to hell.



Thank You for the info.   ...works for me!   
 Montreal_Mort wrote:

Someone should ask the band about these lyrics …. What the F are they singing about?!!



it's pretty obvious, actually. all biblical references throughout. and read the comment about how they were not too subtly telling their record company (capricorn) to go to hell.
Love the slideshow of sheep and goats.

Put a smile on my face on an otherwise glum day.

Thanks William & Co. 
Dreadful dribble😡
I. LOVE. CAKE. 
They are musical artists!  Watch them play their instruments and enjoy the show! It's like having your cake and eating it too!
 lizardking wrote:

Forceps are used to deliver babies, so a grave digger delivering a baby means you're born to die?  That's what I'm thinking that line means.  

And that thought goes along perfectly with the lyric "As soon as you're born you start dying, so you might as well have a good time"

Also this song has a biblical theme, and I've always assumed "The carpenter can take you out to lunch" was a Jesus reference.  I'll save everyone from what I think all that means, other than to say it's what I LOVE about CAKE's songs; the lyrics just drip with sarcasm and meaning.  

To me, this song is a 9, the album is a 9 and the band is a 9. 

Long Live RP and having a good time!!


i had all these same thoughts! 

all 9s here, too. i just love these guys. i know lots dislike the delivery of the lead vocalist, but that's what makes it for me.
This song was my introduction to CAKE (back in 1999)
I swear i made this cartoon double-take sound when i heard it... still nothing quite like it.
I think this is a fun song in an irreverent sing along kind of way. Like much of Cake. Clearly many don’t think so :)
 Decoy wrote:

Eddie Vedder better be real careful.


& alsostevie nicks
This sucks!
 kweavr99 wrote:


agreed - 3 9's. Goats go to hell


or is that 666
What's with all the Cake hate?
Sheep Go to Heaven
But Goats are Hilarious!
Written by a three year old by the sound of it. Clicking on Skip today, apols.
Everything by Cake is awful
A "fun song" in the same vein as They Might Be Giants.  It's getting to be a lost art.  Everything out there is trying to make a serious statement, or is just a parody of something else.
 lizardking wrote:

Forceps are used to deliver babies, so a grave digger delivering a baby means you're born to die?  That's what I'm thinking that line means.  

And that thought goes along perfectly with the lyric "As soon as you're born you start dying, so you might as well have a good time"

Also this song has a biblical theme, and I've always assumed "The carpenter can take you out to lunch" was a Jesus reference.  I'll save everyone from what I think all that means, other than to say it's what I LOVE about CAKE's songs; the lyrics just drip with sarcasm and meaning.  

To me, this song is a 9, the album is a 9 and the band is a 9. 

Long Live RP and having a good time!!


agreed - 3 9's. Goats go to hell
 TRC wrote:

The grave digger puts on the forceps  WTF?


Forceps are used to deliver babies, so a grave digger delivering a baby means you're born to die?  That's what I'm thinking that line means.  

And that thought goes along perfectly with the lyric "As soon as you're born you start dying, so you might as well have a good time"

Also this song has a biblical theme, and I've always assumed "The carpenter can take you out to lunch" was a Jesus reference.  I'll save everyone from what I think all that means, other than to say it's what I LOVE about CAKE's songs; the lyrics just drip with sarcasm and meaning.  

To me, this song is a 9, the album is a 9 and the band is a 9. 

Long Live RP and having a good time!!
 Montreal_Mort wrote:

Someone should ask the band about these lyrics …. What the F are they singing about?!!




Who cares? it's still a catchy tune! ...I like it!
 Easyrider wrote:

This lot suck😡




If you don't like it, hit the SKIP BUTTON, Skippy! ...and shut up !!!
 joejennings wrote:

Great tune! Weird, but great!




Well Stated !!!
The grave digger puts on the forceps  WTF?
Someone should ask the band about these lyrics …. What the F are they singing about?!!
Good Cake variety BillG
This lot suck😡
 oooresultooo wrote:
why do you still play this stupid song?
 

Better question, why can't you just skip the song and let us enjoy come Cake without your negativity?
Great tune! Weird, but great!
and the grave digger puts on the forceps ?  WTF
 oooresultooo wrote:
why do you still play this stupid song?
 
Loves Mumford and Sons
Hates Cake.
Some vanilla ice cream for you dear?
 kingart wrote:
Fun song, but weird. What the hell is he singing about? Is the song just a big goof? If not, it's just dumb. 

 
Matthew 25.  Jesus separates the sheep from the goats on the day of judgement and the sheep go to Heaven and the goats go to Hell.

Also, the story is that they were not so subtly telling off their production company, Capricorn Records, on the last album they did with them.  (Capricorn being a goat)
 kingart wrote:
Fun song, but weird. What the hell is he singing about? Is the song just a big goof? If not, it's just dumb. 
 
My opinion?  AND IT"S JUST AN OPINION, Y'ALL ...... well, my opinion is that this song has no meaning.  To which I will add, does it really matter? Not to me;  I like their offbeat, unconventional music and lyrics.


Despite the ratings I always like a bit of Cake.

A bit of fun, lightens the mood and always end up playing the desk bongos.

Catchy is not necessarily bad. It is just is what it is, a bit of froth.
 
 kcar wrote:

All this %#$&! Cake is killing Tom Hanks in a cloakroom.  

Killing him.  {#Arghhh}{#Fire}

 
Poor Tom.  Well, as they say, you can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs.  Or Toms.
gif of Tom Hanks looking distressed and confused
All this %#$&! Cake is killing Tom Hanks in a cloakroom.  

Killing him.  {#Arghhh}{#Fire}
Well like 'em or not, these guys are doing their own thing. I admire that. 
 leafmold wrote:
I just don't see why goats should go to Hell.

 
Repent, you heathen you. {#Lol}

Considering the ratings, the negative commenters are a vocal minority. Personally, I'm a big fan of Cake, but whatever floats your boat, people.
 kingart wrote:
Fun song, but weird. What the hell is he singing about? Is the song just a big goof? If not, it's just dumb. 
 
The chorus is from the bible.  And it's peppered with literary references.  The wiki page is interesting:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheep_Go_to_Heaven 
Nope. They still suck.
why do you still play this stupid song?
I normally like this group but this is......"baaaaaaaaaaaaad"
And Squirrel Nut Zippers in 5... 4... 3...
Holy crap..... who are the bozo's that propelled these tone deaf bozo's up the charts.....  jesus....... I prefer hearing teeth being drilled to these no tallent hacks
Sheep go to heaven, goats go to hell!
Fun song, but weird. What the hell is he singing about? Is the song just a big goof? If not, it's just dumb. 
My daughter just told me a few minutes before this that she wanted to get a herd of fainting goats!  Then her little girl can scare them all the time.
With a internet radio station that is put together with so much love, it baffles me there is so much hate here.
A friend of mine just sold the house to buy a place to raise goats. Maybe that's an evil place to be.
PSD its you I love.
 lkovathana wrote:
I've always had a weakness for Cake ...

There's this one song (maybe another album) about being on a cruise ship with all these Europeans.  They have us Americans spot on — what with our velour track suit splendor and gym shoes.  Love that whole imagery (so true too).
 
You talking bout Wheels?  From Pressure Chief?
Goats wear short skirts, sheep: long jackets.
I've always had a weakness for Cake ...

There's this one song (maybe another album) about being on a cruise ship with all these Europeans.  They have us Americans spot on — what with our velour track suit splendor and gym shoes.  Love that whole imagery (so true too).
I almost never hit the stop button (I cannot remember the last time I did it for one specific song) .... but Cake is able to perform the trick.

It is something about the guy's voice that pretty much annoys me to no end.  
I was shocked when I saw I had given this song a 1.  I just don't dislike it that much anymore.  I'm sort of in between on this song these days. Up to a 5!
 leafmold wrote:
I just don't see why goats should go to Hell.
 
You haven't spent a lot of time around goats, have you.



i guess this is bill's afterlife playlist
not sure i can trust the advice but then again makes about as much sense as the story line you get from religion
 
I just don't see why goats should go to Hell.
Bad Cake!
 ziakut wrote:
Oops big mistake RP made in following something wonderful (Rodgrigo y Gabriela) with something banal and plain STUPID.
 
That BIG word up there. First one that came to mind for me.
Hey Bill, thank for the, "Cake Alert," I was able to hit the mute button prior to being subjected to even one note of this talentless drivel!
NOT THIS SONG      .just keep the trumpet.
 fingerpin wrote:
Today's edit: I love Cake.
 
Me, too. Not enough downright silliness in rock'n'roll. Whee!
This is good. We need more satyr songs.
Love the crunchy guitar and Herb Albert trumpets. It's all about the rhythm. Check em out on the Guitar Center sessions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3X1tUkdc_6A

{#No}
 aspicer wrote:
This is REALLY not good!!! While not a great band really to begin with, I think short skirt is still the only decent track I've heard from them.....maybe just my taste, but there is SO MUCH better out there.....!  One more thing - the fact people have ranked this at a 9 or even 10 scares the hell out of me?!! Is there a time warp I need to step through for this music to somehow sound like.........pink floyd, radiohead, porcupine tree, the beatles, rolling stones, etc, etc, etc?? Yikes!

 
Other people liking music that you don't like is certainly nothing to be scared about.  Sure, John McCrea's "vocal" style certainly annoys a lot of people, but a whole lot of people like it too.  Yes, there's better stuff out there, but there's a lot of worse stuff too.  I really don't want to live in a society where all of the music has to sound like five or six different bands.
Oops big mistake RP made in following something wonderful (Rodgrigo y Gabriela) with something banal and plain STUPID.
 brulie wrote:

Interesting to me that you use the phrase "crappiness of lyrics" because "Cowboy Mambo" has one of my favorite verses lyrically:
Green grass grows 'round the backyard shit house
That is where the sweetest flowers bloom
We are flowers growing in God's garden
And that is why he spreads the shit around


I think it works musically (i.e., sounds better than it reads), and I love how his simple, evocative imagery speaks to something much deeper. 
 
Thanks for your positive response. I'll give DB a little more slack when I hear "Cowboy Mambo" again. It's easy to be snarky and grouchy, esp. when you're listening to someone with limited singing abilities. 

As for Cake...I'll just use the PsD button.  

 d-don wrote:
I can't eat this Cake. 1, wish it could be lower.

 
More Cake for me then.  

 


(You think I got this cuddly turning down extra Cake?)


hell: sheep go to heaven. goats
goto hell
 NeuroGeek wrote:
I honestly don't know why I almost like this song....

Yah... the last words say it all to all the haters... "Go to hell!" lmao!  



Hey Sue...Just rated it a 10 for you!
 Deadwing wrote:
So many members here love Devo and The B 52s, but they get all butthurt and whargarbl about Cake...

Jesus.

Stop taking yourself so damn seriously.

Grab a beer out of the fridge, put your feet up, and listen to how sublimely silly and fun these guys are.

Do I want this song played at my funeral? No. But I think Cake is entertaining as Hell.

The world is turning into such an unforgivable, reprehensible, cold, hateful place that I really appreciate people that have the brass cajones to just be goofy and fun.

Sue me  {#Tongue-out}
 
Shit...I thought it was just me getting old. I find this sentiment to be so true and unfortunately it's beginning to permeate everything. It makes me think of the river of sludge running beneath Manhattan in Ghostbuster's 2 (?) {#Neutral}
Yeah, I know...wah.
Anyway Peace, y'all. {#Devil_pimp}

Today's edit: I love Cake.
I can't eat this Cake. 1, wish it could be lower.

3>2.  I never did like this band.
 johnjconn wrote:
Squirel Nut Zippers, Kinks, and Cake all have the same thing in common
Stupid songs
 
Took the words right out of my mouth.
This song totally offends me. Not for its reference to Hell, that doesnt bother me. Just because it sucks.
I LOVE stupid songs!   They make me happy ...
this is too funky for words
even the lyrics are funky 
Let's just go ahead and finish this trio w/ Black Sabbath's "'Heaven & Hell"
                                                           (RJD version)
If I could pick one band to ban from RP, it would be Cake.

 Stingray wrote:
"0"
 
I agree here too.
 aspicer wrote:
Do we really need so much Cake on RP?!  This song is HORRIBLE! They are an "decent" band - FAR from deserving so much airplay IMHO. (Sorry to bitch AGAIN - but it really drives me a bit nuts - and I'm generally VERY tolerant...)
 
Couldn't agree more!
Do we really need so much Cake on RP?!  This song is HORRIBLE! They are a "decent" band - FAR from deserving so much airplay IMHO. (Sorry to bitch AGAIN - but it really drives me a bit nuts - and I'm generally VERY tolerant...)


 kcar wrote:
Which song is worse: this one or its immediate predecessor, David Byrne's "The Cowboy Mambo" ? Feel free to comment on both singers' lack of ability, crappiness of lyrics and arrangements, etc. 

 
 
Interesting to me that you use the phrase "crappiness of lyrics" because "Cowboy Mambo" has one of my favorite verses lyrically:
Green grass grows 'round the backyard shit house
That is where the sweetest flowers bloom
We are flowers growing in God's garden
And that is why he spreads the shit around


I think it works musically (i.e., sounds better than it reads), and I love how his simple, evocative imagery speaks to something much deeper. 


I honestly don't know why I almost like this song....
Y'know, I don't give out very many "1" ratings. I nearly gave this a "2" but I just...can't...stand it. Sorry. Some of the lyrics are cute, but this band gets on my nerves.
Weird.
Which song is worse: this one or its immediate predecessor, David Byrne's "The Cowboy Mambo" ? Feel free to comment on both singers' lack of ability, crappiness of lyrics and arrangements, etc. 

 
 aspicer wrote:
This is REALLY not good!!! While not a great band really to begin with, I think short skirt is still the only decent track I've heard from them.....maybe just my taste, but there is SO MUCH better out there.....!  One more thing - the fact people have ranked this at a 9 or even 10 scares the hell out of me?!! Is there a time warp I need to step through for this music to somehow sound like.........pink floyd, radiohead, porcupine tree, the beatles, rolling stones, etc, etc, etc?? Yikes!

 

Dude, No... Cake is not Pink Floyd, nor are they Radiohead. I would say they are better than Porcupine Tree and I know that will bring out the haters, but they are a good band. The band has a trumpet for crying out loud. They're an acquired taste.
Songs with constant repetition begin to wear thin quickly.  I like Cake, but this is not one I care to hear.  I turn the volume off while it is playing.
This is REALLY not good!!! While not a great band really to begin with, I think short skirt is still the only decent track I've heard from them.....maybe just my taste, but there is SO MUCH better out there.....!  One more thing - the fact people have ranked this at a 9 or even 10 scares the hell out of me?!! Is there a time warp I need to step through for this music to somehow sound like.........pink floyd, radiohead, porcupine tree, the beatles, rolling stones, etc, etc, etc?? Yikes!

I love me some Cake but this is the only cut I have been hearing on RP lately. Even good cake can get stale ;o) hint hint.
Ugh, how much would we have to collectively donate to get Cake out of the RP rotation forever?


 
vit wrote:
... the guy who did those wine commercials ("no wine before it's time")...


————————————————————————————————————————
 

 Businessgypsy wrote: 

Orson Welles, William Shatner and John McCrea walk into a bar...


————————————————————————————————————————

McCrea = The prie
st

Shat = The rabbi

Orson = The random fat lush

(Could some genius make it possible to have threaded conversations on these Comment boards? I'm beggin 'heah...)

 


 Wilfrue wrote:
Cake is as absurd as they are amazing. Cake has an absolutely unique sound and style. There is no one like Cake. Sure, they are derivative of themselves, but if you're good, that's no bad thing.
Cake possesses an absolute unique quality of being beyond the norm and challenging, while still being melodic, catchy and poppy.
I think Cake is aptly named... it's good whether you make it from the box or whether you pay a baker a bunch of bucks to make it for you... It just depends on whether you can accept that. Nowhere is it said that interesting worthy music needs to be difficult to listen to or high concept.
Cake. Is. Awesome. No matter the flavor.

 



pretty bad

2


As soon as you're born, you start dying
So you might as well have a good time

{#Cheesygrin}
This song makes me happy. :P
 MiracleDrug wrote:


I dunno, this might be kinda COOL at a funeral...{#Dancingbanana_2}
  A Cardiologist's Funeral

A very prestigious cardiologist died, and was given a very elaborate funeral
by the hospital he worked for most of his life. A huge heart, covered in
flowers, stood behind the casket during the service as all the doctors from
the hospital sat in awe. Following the eulogy, the heart opened, and the
casket rolled inside. The heart then closed, sealing the doctor in the
beautiful heart forever.

At that point, one of the mourners just burst into laughter. When all eyes
stared at him, he said, 'I am so sorry, I was just thinking of my own
funeral... I'm a gynecologist.'



Cake is as absurd as they are amazing. Cake has an absolutely unique sound and style. There is no one like Cake. Sure, they are derivative of themselves, but if you're good, that's no bad thing.
Cake possesses an absolute unique quality of being beyond the norm and challenging, while still being melodic, catchy and poppy.
I think Cake is aptly named... it's good whether you make it from the box or whether you pay a baker a bunch of bucks to make it for you... It just depends on whether you can accept that. Nowhere is it said that interesting worthy music needs to be difficult to listen to or high concept.
Cake. Is. Awesome. No matter the flavor.

 Deadwing wrote:
So many members here love Devo and The B 52s, but they get all butthurt and whargarbl about Cake...

Jesus.

Stop taking yourself so damn seriously.

Grab a beer out of the fridge, put your feet up, and listen to how sublimely silly and fun these guys are.

Do I want this song played at my funeral? No. But I think Cake is entertaining as Hell.

The world is turning into such an unforgivable, reprehensible, cold, hateful place that I really appreciate people that have the brass cajones to just be goofy and fun.

Sue me  {#Tongue-out}
 
{#Clap} Personally, I DO want this song played at my funeral.  Unless I get cremated, in which case I want my ashes scattered over Disneyland by a low-flying crop-duster with a sheep painted on the underside of one wing and a goat on the other.

Vivé la CAKE! {#Roflol}
What in the hell is this?
{#Yes}

 
kcar wrote:


Yer not alone. 

The lead singer's detached, bored style is probably due to his limited vocal ability, but this too-cool schtick permeates almost everything the band does.  And if the song isn't that strong...then the schtick becomes insufferable. 
 


 Deadwing wrote:
So many members here love Devo and The B 52s, but they get all butthurt and whargarbl about Cake...

Jesus.

Stop taking yourself so damn seriously.

Grab a beer out of the fridge, put your feet up, and listen to how sublimely silly and fun these guys are.

Do I want this song played at my funeral? No. But I think Cake is entertaining as Hell.

The world is turning into such an unforgivable, reprehensible, cold, hateful place that I really appreciate people that have the brass cajones to just be goofy and fun.

Sue me  {#Tongue-out}
 

I dunno, this might be kinda COOL at a funeral...{#Dancingbanana_2}
 Deadwing wrote:
So many members here love Devo and The B 52s, but they get all butthurt and whargarbl about Cake...

Jesus.

Stop taking yourself so damn seriously.

Grab a beer out of the fridge, put your feet up, and listen to how sublimely silly and fun these guys are.

Do I want this song played at my funeral? No. But I think Cake is entertaining as Hell.

The world is turning into such an unforgivable, reprehensible, cold, hateful place that I really appreciate people that have the brass cajones to just be goofy and fun.

Sue me  {#Tongue-out}
 
Couldn't agree more.

Have just started to appreciate Cake.

For all the aforementioned reasons.
 

So many members here love Devo and The B 52s, but they get all butthurt and whargarbl about Cake...

Jesus.

Stop taking yourself so damn seriously.

Grab a beer out of the fridge, put your feet up, and listen to how sublimely silly and fun these guys are.

Do I want this song played at my funeral? No. But I think Cake is entertaining as Hell.

The world is turning into such an unforgivable, reprehensible, cold, hateful place that I really appreciate people that have the brass cajones to just be goofy and fun.

Sue me  {#Tongue-out}


Okay, the lead singer does not have a great voice but I can understand what he's singing!  And it's just different and catchy.  Plus I like it when he says, "Go to hell".  That's funny!{#Roflol}
 2cats wrote:

After reading this, I think I figured out why I like this song so much.

 
Yeah, that's interesting.  I already knew why I liked this song so much...  because it's fun, catchy, and original. 

 NewFee wrote:
Maybe this is obvious or old news, but I read somewhere that Cake was in a dispute with Capricorn Records, but needed to release one more album with them.

The goat being the symbol for astrological Capricorn, tell me you can't hear the smug pleasure in John McCrea's voice as he repeats the line "Goats, go to hell" at the end...

 
After reading this, I think I figured out why I like this song so much.

 vit wrote:
... the guy who did those wine commercials ("no wine before it's time")...
Orson Welles, William Shatner and John McCrea walk into a bar...

 rabbi_phil wrote:

'cuz they've been baaa  baaa  baaaad.   (I'm sorry about that, I really am).

 
You don't look sorry {#Lol}
 kcar wrote:


Yer not alone. 

The lead singer's detached, bored style is probably due to his limited vocal ability, but this too-cool schtick permeates almost everything the band does.  And if the song isn't that strong...then the schtick becomes insufferable. 
 
That's not detached and bored — that's him practicing herculean restraint against emotion that's almost too strong to hold together. Think Shatner, or the guy who did those wine commercials ("no wine before it's time"). If you don't believe me listen to the Cake song called Jolene. Then you'll get to hear him lose it (and yet still somehow stay within the tiny vocal range you hear on this song). I myself must resist with all my might adding various bold and italic bits to this post. That's powerful.