Sheep Go To Heaven
by Cake

Album: Prolonging the Magic (1998)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song is about acceptance. Those who follow blindly (sheep) are accepted or go to heaven, and those who form their own opinions are goats, and are not accepted or go to hell. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Marc - Toronto, Canada
  • The lyrics are based on a passage in the New Testament of The Bible: Gospel of Matthew chapter 25. In this passage, a shepherd divides his sheep and goats, with the sheep going to heaven and the goats to hell.
  • Because goats have cloven feet, they were considered unclean. The lyrics, "I just want to play on my panpipe, 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," indicate that you can't help whether or not you're born with cloven feet, so just don't worry about it and have a good time. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Adel - Jonesborough, TN

Comments: 6

  • Kurt from TexasLol, it's a fun song, good for a laugh but don't take yourselves too seriously in the commentary. Check your source for frigs sake, goats are not unclean.
    According to the OT split hoof and cud chewing clean? Okay, lol. Split hoof, no cud, Mr Piggy, unclean, lol> That a--hide... crank up the tune and the bbq and let's eat, I'm famished.
  • Omaha Tim from The Middle1. The sheep / goat reference is a friggin' analogy because Jesus was analogized as a shepherd.
    2. Animals with cloven feet are considered unclean to eat. Old Testament. Way before Jesus and other sanitary measures like cooking temperature. From the era that brought us circumcision and bathing in running water.
    3. If you are going to post or write songs about scripture, you should prolly understand the script.
    4. Love this song!
    5. Love this band!
    6. God loves goats. Who doesn't?
  • Jared from AusThis song also has links to absurdist theatre, in Samuel becketts 'Waiting for Godot' (1948-1949) it states "the grave digger puts on the forceps" this it a direct link to the concept of being enlisted to die at birth, forceps are used (or at least were used in the time of the plays writing) to deliver a child. Implying you were born to die, which kinda links into the whole song
  • Colin from EarthYou guys have the right idea but seem to be missing some very blunt Christian/Pagan imagery. "The carpenter can take you out to lunch" Jesus was a carpenter, and the good sheep will dine with Him in Heaven.

    Conversely, Pan was the Greek half man/half goat (satyr) diety of wine and revelry, and the namesake of the panpipes. The singer is making it plain he wants to have a good time like a goat-legged pagan party god and doesn't care for being a good sheep.
  • Kerry Ditson from Shrewsbury, MaThis song always reminded me of death, with the "gravedigger puts on the forceps" (pretty obvious), "The stonemason does all the work" (tombstone) "The barber will give you a haircut" (Cutting the hair of the dead/making them look nice before burial) "The carpenter will take you out to lunch" (Coffin). I think it's about the singer coming to terms with the death of someone he loved, and wondering what happened to them.
  • Jas from Clifton, TxThis song is oddly pretty ingenious. I really like the whole theme of the song, that society will judge you based on things like outward appearances regardless of the fact that you can't change who you are without being totally artificial. Why worry about what people think when they are only going to see things their way anyway?
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Eric Burdon

Eric BurdonSongwriter Interviews

The renown rock singer talks about "The House of the Rising Sun" and "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood."

Lita Ford

Lita FordSongwriter Interviews

Lita talks about how they wrote songs in The Runaways, and how she feels about her biggest hit being written by somebody else.

Scott Stapp

Scott StappSongwriter Interviews

The Creed lead singer reveals the "ego and self-fulfillment" he now sees in one of the band's biggest hits.

00s Music Quiz 1

00s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

Do you know the girl singer on Eminem's "Stan"? If so, this quiz is for you.

Bill Withers

Bill WithersSongwriter Interviews

Soul music legend Bill Withers on how life experience and the company you keep leads to classic songs like "Lean On Me."

Best Band Logos

Best Band LogosSong Writing

Queen, Phish and The Stones are among our picks for the best band logos. Here are their histories and a design analysis from an expert.