Cross Bones Style was written from Chan Marshall’s experience of meeting two orphans in South Africa. Their parents, who worked in the blood diamond mines, had been killed.
Though not specified in the song, one can presume they were shot, as indicated with Marshall’s hand movements resembling a gun...
Oh, how time flies
With crystal clear eyes
And cold as coal
When you're ending with diamond eyes
Oh, come child
In a cross bones style
Oh, come child
Come and rescue me
Cause you have seen some unbelievable things
Hater, I have your diamonds
And still
Cause you have seen some unbelievable things
Hater, I have your diamonds
Oh, come child
In a cross bones style
Oh, come child
Come and rescue me
Cause you have seen some unbelievable things
Hater, I have your diamonds
And still, so still
Oh, how time flies
With crystal clear eyes
And cold as coal
When you're ending with diamond eyes
Oh, come child
In a cross bones style
Oh, come child
Come and rescue me
Cause you have seen some unbelievable things
Cross Bones Style was written by Cat Power.
Cross Bones Style was produced by Matt Voigt.
Cat Power released Cross Bones Style on Tue Sep 22 1998.