The Black Keys: Gold on the Ceiling Meaning

Song Released: 2011

Gold on the Ceiling Lyrics

Down in the waves
She screams again
Roar at the door
My mind can't take much more
I could never drown in

They wanna get my
They wanna get my
Gold on the ceiling
I ain't blind
Just a matter of time
Before you steal it
It's...

1. 1TOP RATED

   #1 top rated interpretation:
   eaterofcats

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   Jan 9th 2012 !⃝

   Here's my take. The whole album is about vices and falling for the wrong/greedy women (also vices). This song is about a guy who's got a woman (possibly women) after his money but he just can't give her (them) up. He keeps his gold in the ceiling which is a perfectly normal hiding place (http://mithan415.hubpages.com/hub/storing-gold-in-your-home ). He knows he's got a vice, he knows they want his gold, but he doesn't care about it because it (the gold) is not a god to him (not the most important thing to him).

2. 2TOP RATED

   #2 top rated interpretation:
   anonymous

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   Nov 9th 2017 !⃝

   Gold on the ceiling is slang for taking a morning P with a hard on. Hence the aggravation of the person that comes in the bathroom behind him. When she sits down on the toilet (down in the waves) and the “roar at the door” excuse me that’s the bathroom door and she screaming her head off because she sitting in P again. And he’s not willing to give up pissing all over the place with Morningwood for some bitch cuz he likes it (aint no blood in my eye).
   Cmon I win. Put me to the top.
   Terry

3. 3TOP RATED

   #3 top rated interpretation:
   anonymous

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   Mar 12th 2012 !⃝

   NO DAMMIT !!!!
   He is talking about the GOLD on the Ceiling! He's talkin about his girl. She's ridin him and he's lovin the gold on the ceiling!!!! She's cumming in the first of the song... down in the waves... she screams again!
   He can't do without - even tho he knows it won't last and someone will steal her...
   
   Listen with your pecker to their songs - NOT your pocket!!!!
4. anonymous

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   May 15th 2023 !⃝

   I think if all you guys are half right...this song has more meanings than Stairway to Heaven,Hotel California put together. I think maybe his just wanted to make people think.
5. anonymous

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   Mar 28th 2023 !⃝

   The song is about heroin addiction.
   He's an addict and a dealer.
   Gold on the ceiling is his stash of miner in the attic.
6. anonymous

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   Mar 22nd 2021 !⃝

   I think it's about wealth. But, not about the actual money itself. More, what the perception of wealth in another person does to people. Suddenly, you are important, a target and people are trying to steal or use what you have. But, what they really have is their talent and that's what the real wealth is, because, that's what they get paid for. It's what they get paid for in flesh and money and respect and in all sorts of ways. So, gold out of reach. I would say this better but I have to leave.
7. anonymous

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   Feb 21st 2020 !⃝

   I am the gold on the ceiling
   Lahhh
8. anonymous

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   Nov 19th 2019 !⃝

   maybe it has something to do with the fact that if you have sex in the missionary position, the girl can see the ceiling? so she will see his gold and steal it after they have sex? but he does not care about it 'cause the woman (or women) is like a drug to him and he accepted that sleeping around will cost him?
9. anonymous

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   Apr 26th 2019 !⃝

   Folks... this song is indeed about Gold Diggers... but you haven't caught the real gist... the Gold is his spew, the ceiling is her cervix.. He ain't blind to the fact that one of 'em will eventually get it.. ... and it not guard in the house...
   there is no God in his Eye... he is not judgmental of the women trying to get knocked up ... of course they are !!
   
   roar at the door is the approaching climax .. hence his mind cant take much more..
   
   Strung UP.. strung out by women , but he cant live without it.. Neither can I... love them crazy Btchs..
   
   For all those claiming a drug dealer is roaring at the door, look inward and lay off the goodies for a year or five...
10. anonymous

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    Apr 13th 2019 !⃝

    I think it means people are trying to steal his ideas, or lyrics, which might be rather lofty, hence ,"on the ceiling"
11. anonymous

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    Dec 27th 2018 !⃝

    Any addiction be it money, sex, drugs, gambling, etc. You can never ‘drown in’ too much. You don’t care as your closest relationship screams and leaves. You know you’ll eventually lose everything of value (including your intellect). Yet, you are willing to go that far to fulfill the addiction. In essence, you trade everything you ever thought was important for that one thing you can no longer live without.
12. anonymous

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    May 29th 2018 !⃝

    He's got a girl who's with him for the money. He hides it in the ceiling so she can't get it. Money's not the most important thing to him. But he just can't let her go.
13. anonymous

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    May 8th 2018 !⃝

    Side piece sent this to me in a message. As the wife I laughed my ass off- bitch please.... 30 year old wanna be has nothing on me. So he fucked you and you want money. Ok. I wish you well may karma be on your side ...”ain’t no blood in my eye....”
14. anonymous

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    Jan 31st 2018 !⃝

    I think it's about him not putting his faith in his money and saying it's okay to steal it. He has no guard because his money never was what made him who he was anyway.
15. Musicnerd

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    Dec 28th 2017 !⃝

    I agree with the comment about the mall tiles being stolen and both copper or tin (which could be painted gold) is stolen and sold for money to buy drugs by addicts. I was driving today when I heard the song and it suddenly made sense.
16. anonymous

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    Nov 29th 2017 !⃝

    I thought "gold on the ceiling" was a reference to the Vatican.
17. anonymous

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    Apr 18th 2017 !⃝

    How about it being about success in the music world? You know are on top but it may not last, not that important. Also how sometimes with success some relationships don't survive the stress of the transition into the limelight.
18. anonymous

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    Aug 14th 2016 !⃝

    Strung I'm strung out I just can't go without come on an obvious reference to heroin addiction!!!

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