Novocaine for the Soul is the first track from eels' debut album Beautiful Freak. It is also the the band's first single (released in 1996), proving a commercial success in both the United States and United Kingdom (where it reached number ten in the UK Singles Chart in February 1997.) The track is three minutes and eight seconds long, featuring a sample from Fats Domino's 1961 single "Let the Four Winds Blow."
The video for the single was directed by Mark Romanek and features the band suspended from wires so as to appear to be flying. Romanak has suggested that the video is inspired by the movie Mary Poppins.
In line with Mark Oliver Everett's philosophy the track has been remixed and recorded differently on a number of albums including a spoken word version on Useless Trinkets: B-Sides, Soundtracks, Rarities and Unreleased 1996–2006.
Lyrics[]
Life is hard, and so am I
You'd better give me something, so I don't die
Novocaine for the soul
Before I sputter out
Before I sputter out
Life is white and I am black
Jesus and his lawyer are coming back
Oh my darling, will you be here
Before I sputter out
Before I sputter out
Before I sputter out
Guess who's living here, with the great undead
This paint-by-numbers life is fucking with my head
Once again
Life is good and I feel great
'Cause mother says I was a great mistake
Novocaine for the soul
You'd better give me something to fill the hole
Before I sputter out
Before I sputter out
Before I sputter out
Before I sputter outBefore I sputter out
Single Track Listing[]
- "Novocaine for the Soul"
- "Guest List"
- "My Beloved Monster" (Live from Tennessee)
- "Fucker"