Small Stakes, while at first looking to be about drugs is actually about something much larger, the concept of Small Stakes, or living a generally uneventful life where the stakes are, well, small. Numerous times in the lyrics Britt references things characteristic of this monotonous lifestyle such...
[Chorus]
Small stakes give you blues
But you don't feel taken, don't think you've been used
[Verse 1]
'Cause it's alright Friday night to Sunday
It feels alright, keeps your mind on the page
Oh yeah, small stakes ensure you the minimum blues
But you don't feel taken and you don't feel abused
Small stakes tell you that there's nothing can do
Can't think big, can't think past one or two and alright
Yeah, alright
[Chorus]
Me and my friends sell ourselves
Short, but feel very well
[Verse 2]
We feel fine
Aw, we feel fine
And small-time danger in your midsize car
I don't dig the Stripes but I'll go for Har Mar
The big innovation on the minimum wage
Is lines up your nose, but your life on the page, so c'mon
Tell me I'm wrong
[Chorus]
Small stakes will kill time
When you're stuck in back of the line
[Verse 3]
It feels alright Friday night to Sunday
Aw, it feels alright, keeps your mind on the page
And small stakes bring you where you're caught in a rut
You feel so uptight, you just want to throw it all up
And small stakes leave you with the minimum blues
Can't think big, can't think past one or two, so c'mon
Aw, c'mon
[Outro]
C'mon
C'mon
'Mon-'mon-'mon-'mon
Aw, c'mon
'Mon-'mon-'mon-'mon-'mon-'mon-'mon
'Mon-'mon-'mon-'mon-'mon-'mon-'mon
'Mon-'mon-'mon-'mon-'mon-'mon-'mon
'Mon-'mon-'mon-'mon-'mon-'mon-'mon
'Mon-'mon-'mon-'mon-'mon-'mon-'mon
'Mon-'mon-'mon-'mon-'mon-'mon-'mon
'Mon-'mon-'mon-'mon-'mon-'mon-'mon
Small Stakes was written by Britt Daniel.
Small Stakes was produced by Mike McCarthy & Britt Daniel & Jim Eno.
Spoon released Small Stakes on Tue Aug 20 2002.