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Cake — You Turn the Screws
Album: Prolonging the Magic
Avg rating:
6.4

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1035









Released: 1998
Length: 4:09
Plays (last 30 days): 0
You turn the screws,
You tear down the bridge,
Flimsy as it is,
It's business like,

You shake my hand,
You break up the band,
Flimsy as it is,
It's open mike,

Punk rock,
Red white and blue,

You twist the knife,
Then go home to kiss your wife,
A bigger better slice,
Is what you like,

You kick the sand,
You get the upper hand,
You sell it to Japan,
It's natural,

Punk rock,
Red white and blue,

You turn the screws,
It's what you choose to do,
You think that I,
Must turn them too,

You think that I,
Must be so satisfied,
I stay inside,
I wonder why,

And the cement,
Makes or gets him, already,
One good time at a time,

They're pouring it slowly and steady,
You're showing me where I can sign,
What I can expect to find,

But how can you say,
You'll be happy,
When you turn the screws,

You turn the screws,
Is what you choose to do,
You turn the screws,
Is what you choose to do,

You think that I,
Must turn them too,

You turn the screws,
Is what you choose to do,
You turn the screws,
Is what you choose to do,

You turn the screws...
Comments (120)add comment
Talent-free, one-song wonders!  AAAAARGH!  
 south wrote:
erichb wrote:
You can't honestly think of a worse band than Cake? Let me help you:

New Kids On The Block
Everclear
Poison
Megadeth
White Snake
Quiet Riot

Should I keep going?




I know Megadeth are fast and loud and likely a different taste than many on RP prefer, but they are actually pretty musically and lyrically talented in their own right and don't deserve to be on this list. I suppose Cake is somewhat of an acquired taste also, which may account for the negativity. I say we should all listen to Cake after listening to Megadeth (or vice versa)! 
Cake > ∏
it's strange how much i'm in tune with this one...
Lyrics for the win backed up by the band.
One of my favorite bands of all time. I can see how some wouldn't like it, but I love their style of music.
I rarely rate a song, but this inspired me to do so. Spoiled cake for me, this is drivel to my ears. I truly am happy that there are others that like it, though. Surely there is music I like that others don't.
Can't I have my Cake and eat it, too?

missaloria wrote:
Cake should be eaten and not heard.
 

Cake should be eaten and not heard.
It seems to me like Cake receives a disproportionate level of vitriol in the comments, relative to both the quality of their music and also to their RP song ratings. So, let me add some sunshine here:

Cake, generally, is a very good band. This song, in particular, is a very good song. 
Well, I've always appreciated this song...kinda like a modern re-do of "Have A Cigar." If you ever get the chance to see 'em live, DO IT!
 jhorton wrote:

Every band listed has at least one song that doesn't make me PUKE when I hear it. Can't say that about this moronic noise.

I would rather be strapped down to a chair, my eyes held open with toothpicks and forced to watch Hillary Clinton have sex with Rush Limbaugh that listen to this inane drivel!

Eight years later and Cake is STILL the worst band ever!

 
Amen to that ,,, except the Rush Hillary thing,, that would not be good. 
kinda painful...
 erichb wrote:

You can't honestly think of a worse band than Cake?  Let me help you:

New Kids On The Block
Everclear
Poison
Megadeth
White Snake
Quiet Riot

Should I keep going?
 
Every band listed has at least one song that doesn't make me PUKE when I hear it. Can't say that about this moronic noise.

I would rather be strapped down to a chair, my eyes held open with toothpicks and forced to watch Hillary Clinton have sex with Rush Limbaugh that listen to this inane drivel!

Eight years later and Cake is STILL the worst band ever!
just a wild guess.  this song wasn't about entertaining anyone.  read the lyrics.
I just turned the knob. Down,,,,,Way down
Music-free music. Who enjoys this crap?
boy i hate this song
Byronape wrote:

Sorry dude...Love them or hate them...they are not ever going away,

  
You mean...like herpes?

Gif of Shaquille O'Neal licking Charles Barkley's bald head
OK so I was looking for a "turrible" gif but hey this is a lot funnier and might just ease your collective pain. 

Lovelovelove that PSD button aka Cake Escape.  
Not a very good piece of Cake.
Cake has their ups and their ...downs. This is a downer.
Meh too!
Meh.
So many great cake songs, too bad this one's in the rotation instead.
I am not rdo...rdo is not me...rdo is not rdo...Vodka!
 Businessgypsy wrote:
That's exactly what I thought about that Rembrandt hack! Dark background with light on the subject. Seen it already. Didn't he ever change the channel? Don't get me started on Van Gogh. Heavy strokes. What a one trick pony! Their fanboys claim they both had a unique and groundbreaking style, but I say they were stuck in one gear.

 

For one moment I thought you we´re being serious.
gimmick
 Byronape wrote:

Sorry dude. not going to happen.  In today's musical landscape, there are already too few unique bands.  Cake is one of them.  Love them or hate them (I happen to love them and have Pressure Chief in my car cd player right now), they are not ever going away,
 
I like most of the material I've heard from this band and I do appreciate their relative distinctiveness.  After reading so much of the negative commentary for their songs here on RP, I've developed a greater appreciation for their music.  If an artist can elicit such visceral, angry responses from listeners who seem (or allege) to be learned in popular music, then that artist may be doing something right.  However, they will eventually have to go away - at least physically.
 kcar wrote:
Cake: You Screwed Your Turn. 

You are hereby banned from RP for one month. Do not pass Go. Go directly to Jail.

Bad Cake! Very Bad! 

 
 

 I agree....this cake leaves a bad taste in my mouth,
Cake: You Screwed Your Turn. 

You are hereby banned from RP for one month. Do not pass Go. Go directly to Jail.

Bad Cake! Very Bad! 

 
We can interleave CAKE w/ PT on PSD if that would help

Cake is GREAT!!   Totally original sound and good lyrics.  It took a few listens to get them.   And yes the songs are a bit sameish, but in a good way  {#Roflol}


i turned it off
I like CAKE!

Let them eat...
All would rate a 1/10, Cake rates a 0.

 
erichb wrote:

You can't honestly think of a worse band than Cake?  Let me help you:

New Kids On The Block
Everclear
Poison
Megadeth
White Snake
Quiet Riot

Should I keep going?

 


 FeydBaron wrote:
Seeing them live tonight with Calexico! Should be a blast.
 What a lineup! How was it?

Seeing them live tonight with Calexico! Should be a blast.
 Businessgypsy wrote:
That's exactly what I thought about that Rembrandt hack! Dark background with light on the subject. Seen it already. Didn't he ever change the channel? Don't get me started on Van Gogh. Heavy strokes. What a one trick pony! Their fanboys claim they both had a unique and groundbreaking style, but I say they were stuck in one gear.

 
Yeah, but Cake is still crap. Rembrandt rocks.


 BikeCoachDave wrote:
Dont get Cake, dont like Cake, cringe when I hear Cake, looking forward to the day they are a forgotten niche band.

 
Sorry dude. not going to happen.  In today's musical landscape, there are already too few unique bands.  Cake is one of them.  Love them or hate them (I happen to love them and have Pressure Chief in my car cd player right now), they are not ever going away,


a rock band with a global conscience. beautiful.
Dont get Cake, dont like Cake, cringe when I hear Cake, looking forward to the day they are a forgotten niche band.

Cake is yummy.


not the best CAKE but still very tasty!
 Businessgypsy wrote:
That's exactly what I thought about that Rembrandt hack! Dark background with light on the subject. Seen it already. Didn't he ever change the channel? Don't get me started on Van Gogh. Heavy strokes. What a one trick pony! Their fanboys claim they both had a unique and groundbreaking style, but I say they were stuck in one gear.
 
Ha!
Cake doing war pigs. https://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=US#/watch?xl=xl_blazer&v=CdKanlFBPdE
 ziggytrix wrote:

It was a Parsimmon tree at the Dallas show.

If you want to win a tree at a Cake concert you have to stand at the front.
 
it was an apple tree in SLC
Nice!
Mandible wrote:
i like them but most of their songs sound sooooo similar!{#Foot-in-mouth}
That's exactly what I thought about that Rembrandt hack! Dark background with light on the subject. Seen it already. Didn't he ever change the channel? Don't get me started on Van Gogh. Heavy strokes. What a one trick pony! Their fanboys claim they both had a unique and groundbreaking style, but I say they were stuck in one gear.

 CleveBurg wrote:
There are three things I like about Cake — and especially this song.  1.  Their lyrics really get you to think about yourself (for those of us who think); 2. The minimalism of the music helps us focus on the lyrics; and 3.  They don't take themselves too seriously — thus, again, the (I think) purposeful simplicity of the instrumentation.
 
The BNL for alt-kids.

I Love This Stuff......always asking for the icing on the CAKE.   We do "turn  the screw."  Thanks Bill.
There are three things I like about Cake — and especially this song.  1.  Their lyrics really get you to think about yourself (for those of us who think); 2. The minimalism of the music helps us focus on the lyrics; and 3.  They don't take themselves too seriously — thus, again, the (I think) purposeful simplicity of the instrumentation.
I use to like these guys to a certain degree, but lately and especially this song reminds me of 10 yr old kids picking up instruments and trying to be a rock band. Bleech!
When I first hear Cake I am annoyed but darn-it...i hear horns and before I know it their catchy tunes get my head bobbin. I am just annoyed at myself for getting sucked in.
 bugleboy624 wrote:
I think Cake is kinda Geek Rock. That's why a lot of people don't like them that much. You have to have a certain twisted point of view to really get into them. I really like their stuff. And I'm a geek {#Propeller}.
 
Yes! Even their most depressing songs make me oddly happy.

- Twisted Jenna

 Mandible wrote:
i like them but most of their songs sound sooooo similar!{#Foot-in-mouth}
 
same here...

 bobrk wrote:

The concerts are fun. At the one and only concert I went to earlier this year, they gave an avocado tree to a lucky audience member.
 
It was a Parsimmon tree at the Dallas show.

If you want to win a tree at a Cake concert you have to stand at the front.

I think Cake is kinda Geek Rock. That's why a lot of people don't like them that much. You have to have a certain twisted point of view to really get into them. I really like their stuff. And I'm a geek {#Propeller}.
 Shesdifferent wrote:
I cannot imagine going to a concert to see these guys........{#Sleep}but for an off chance song here and there they're OK.
 
The concerts are fun. At the one and only concert I went to earlier this year, they gave an avocado tree to a lucky audience member.
Bill's been rockin' the CAKE mix lately, AWESOMER!
smdeeg wrote:
Heard Cake. Came looking for the inevitable RadioDoc trash of the song/band. Wasn't disappointed.

And here you are with your predictable off topic snark.


 jhorton wrote:
Still the worst band ever!!!!
 
You can't honestly think of a worse band than Cake?  Let me help you:

New Kids On The Block
Everclear
Poison
Megadeth
White Snake
Quiet Riot

Should I keep going?

Still the worst band ever!!!!
The excessive ratio of Cake to other artists on RP is pretty much exactly equal to that of my iPod. {#Dancingbanana_2}
i like them but most of their songs sound sooooo similar!{#Foot-in-mouth}
 smdeeg wrote:
Heard Cake. Came looking for the inevitable RadioDoc trash of the song/band. Wasn't disappointed.
 
Predictability in one aspect of life can be a good thing when the rest of the world is unpredictable, don't you think?
I cannot imagine going to a concert to see these guys........{#Sleep}but for an off chance song here and there they're OK.

 lathyris wrote:
Aww yeah!

Aww right!

I freaking love these guys. I love their good songs. I love their less good songs. I would marry them if I could.
 

Couldn't have said it better myself. {#High-five}
 smdeeg wrote:
Heard Cake. Came looking for the inevitable RadioDoc trash of the song/band. Wasn't disappointed.
 

I'm with RadioDoc on this one.  These guys are a bunch of melodically challenged frat boys.

I love Cake.  I especially love it when i hear it on RP!  Keep it up.
Stale Cake.
Sounds more like a mud pie to me ...
Right as I was telling a friend that I was going to see Cake tonight, this song started playing.  Last night I was reading a Cake concert review that mentioned Spoon as the opening act.  "I've heard them on Radio Paradise before... I can't remember what they sound like."  A few minutes later... Spoon!

This station frightens me sometimes.

 choiceimage wrote:
Hate Cake, love pie however
 
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm pie...........

Aww yeah!

Aww right!

I freaking love these guys. I love their good songs. I love their less good songs. I would marry them if I could.
Heard Cake. Came looking for the inevitable RadioDoc trash of the song/band. Wasn't disappointed.
Hate Cake, love pie however
jzekeb wrote:
Love Cake. Hate this song. They should have left it off this otherwise wonderful album.
Hate Cake. Hate this song. Wish they would find some other playground to pollute.
trekhead wrote:
It's weird when he plays a whole string of 9s or 10s. Its like, 'Is he playing this for me??' Kudos indeed!
I know what ya mean. I wish I could rate Bill a 10 for the show he's put on for me in the past hour. :-)
Love Cake. Hate this song. They should have left it off this otherwise wonderful album.
a_genuine_find wrote:
It keeps growing... 7:06 am - Fisher - Miseryland 7:02 am - Grant-Lee Phillips - Fountain Of Youth 6:58 am - Bruce Springsteen - The Promised Land 6:54 am - Pernice Brothers - There Goes the Sun 6:49 am - Dave Matthews Band - Grey Street 6:46 am - Thievery Corporation - Doors Of Perception (Feat Gunjan) 6:42 am - God is an Astronaut - A Deafening Distance 6:40 am - Jimi Hendrix - Little Wing 6:36 am - Neko Case - Deep Red Bells (Live) 6:33 am - Calexico - Minas de Cobre (live) 6:26 am - Vlatko Stefanovski & Miroslav Tadic - Dafino, Vino Crveno 6:20 am - Ayub Ogada - Kothbiro 6:17 am - Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - 100 Days, 100 Nights 6:12 am - The Audreys - Oh Honey 6:09 am - Harry Manx - Forgive & Remember 6:05 am - VAST - Dead Angels 6:03 am - Neil Young - The Needle and the Damage Done 5:59 am - Christians and Lions - Skinny Fists 5:54 am - Morphine - Take Me With You 5:52 am - Beatles - Because
It's weird when he plays a whole string of 9s or 10s. Its like, 'Is he playing this for me??' Kudos indeed!
timc wrote:
Don't forget "hey!" and "aw no/yeah".
Really. Is it a contractual clause that they have to say that on every track? It's like Tourettes...
a_genuine_find wrote:
This has got to be some kind of new world record.... :46 am - Thievery Corporation - Doors Of Perception (Feat Gunjan) 6:42 am - God is an Astronaut - A Deafening Distance 6:40 am - Jimi Hendrix - Little Wing 6:36 am - Neko Case - Deep Red Bells (Live) 6:33 am - Calexico - Minas de Cobre (live) 6:26 am - Vlatko Stefanovski & Miroslav Tadic - Dafino, Vino Crveno 6:20 am - Ayub Ogada - Kothbiro 6:17 am - Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - 100 Days, 100 Nights 6:12 am - The Audreys - Oh Honey 6:09 am - Harry Manx - Forgive & Remember 6:05 am - VAST - Dead Angels 6:03 am - Neil Young - The Needle and the Damage Done 5:59 am - Christians and Lions - Skinny Fists 5:54 am - Morphine - Take Me With You 5:52 am - Beatles - Because 5:46 am - Peter Gabriel - Lovetown
It keeps growing... 7:06 am - Fisher - Miseryland 7:02 am - Grant-Lee Phillips - Fountain Of Youth 6:58 am - Bruce Springsteen - The Promised Land 6:54 am - Pernice Brothers - There Goes the Sun 6:49 am - Dave Matthews Band - Grey Street 6:46 am - Thievery Corporation - Doors Of Perception (Feat Gunjan) 6:42 am - God is an Astronaut - A Deafening Distance 6:40 am - Jimi Hendrix - Little Wing 6:36 am - Neko Case - Deep Red Bells (Live) 6:33 am - Calexico - Minas de Cobre (live) 6:26 am - Vlatko Stefanovski & Miroslav Tadic - Dafino, Vino Crveno 6:20 am - Ayub Ogada - Kothbiro 6:17 am - Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - 100 Days, 100 Nights 6:12 am - The Audreys - Oh Honey 6:09 am - Harry Manx - Forgive & Remember 6:05 am - VAST - Dead Angels 6:03 am - Neil Young - The Needle and the Damage Done 5:59 am - Christians and Lions - Skinny Fists 5:54 am - Morphine - Take Me With You 5:52 am - Beatles - Because
This is a brilliant album very creative love their play on words.
I like Cake very much but they can be quite ascerbic and ridiculously left wing at times. Not my favorite song from them but descent.
Dreadful.
It's my birthday next weekend. Play it then.
I like Cake even when it's not my birthday. More, please. horstman wrote:
I like cake. On my birthday. This too, is good.
tnt_thomas wrote:
Not bad track from a 'uuhg' band.
Don't forget "hey!" and "aw no/yeah".
I like cake. On my birthday. This too, is good.
Pipes wrote:
What's not to like? Fun music!
Picked up this album last week on a long road trip (4,000km) at an unlikely roadhouse somewhere in remote Western Australia
Pipes wrote:
What's not to like? Fun music!
exactly
What's not to like? Fun music!
What's not to like. Fun music!
Schmackdown wrote:
Weak track from a fine band, IMO.
Not bad track from a 'uuhg' band.
This is a scrumptious combination of ingredients!
Gets a little repetitive at the end, doesn't it?
WOO HOO!!! I love these guys!
Cake should be due for a new album soon, right?
Damn, can't rate it any higher.
Great lyrics
Wahoo!!! More Cake!
Gotta love the trumpet in this one. :trumpeter: (oh wait there isnt a trumpeter emoticon)
Encore wrote:
I remember thinking along similar lines when Cake first hit the scene with "The Distance" in 1996. This is cute, but it can't last. Well, it's been 6 going on 7 years and the cute keep cranking out catchy little jigs with a bit of cultural bite. Ouch, and hmmm at the same time.
Actually "Rock and Roll Lifestyle" was a pretty big radio hit off their 1994 album "Motorcade of Generosity" so I'd say CAKE is here to stay with well over a decade of music.... so sorry to all the CAKE-HATERS out there
Most excellent Cake tune (but then again, I think all Cake is most excellent)! Hasn't been played in awhile, I see... thanks for rectifying that Bill
Give me Cake.....and eat it too
Weak track from a fine band, IMO.
Shimmer wrote:
Cake! Let's hear something off their new CD. "Commissioning a Symphony in C" perhaps?
Can we hear something off their very last CD? Soon please?
Shimmer wrote:
Cake! Let's hear something off their new CD. "Commissioning a Symphony in C" perhaps?
I'll certainly second this request, that's one of my favorite songs. Cake can do no wrong.
"You turn the knife and then go on to kiss your wife". Some great wordplay in this song, I always liked Cake for their lyrics and the melancholic melodies.
Originally Posted by slim: I love Cake. They do seen to have one sound. But it's a good one.
One sound: monotone.
Great to hear Cake here a couple times. Love their quirky sound and thought provoking lyrics...
Just can\'t get into this band, \"the distance\" just irritated the hell out of me and i\'ve heard nothing else from them i\'ve enjoyed. i wonder if the distance poisoned me ;)
Maybe I\'m too pessimistic, but, though (by now) I often enjoy them, I wonder where a band like this will be in a couple of years. Or is it just fun for the time being?
Cake! Let\'s hear something off their new CD. \"Commissioning a Symphony in C\" perhaps?
I like this band, even have one of their CDs. I know every band has a \"sound\" but I\'m starting to think Cake doesn\'t have much room for variety in theirs. Hope that isn\'t true.