Cherub Rock

I've always thought it was about the music industry, but I have a different take on what some of the lines actually mean.

The music industry execs are pretty much telling them what is hip, how it should be done, the kind of things they should play. This was during MTV's round-up of 'grunge' acts (they thought the pumpkins were grunge) and they were all "do a performance video."

Freak out, give in, doesn't matter what you believe in: Always thought it was just about them as a band, they used to be indie (sub pop) but then they moved to a new major label (virgin). Apparently, they were never really considered indie by most indie bands, that they were "careerists" from the start. I just thought that the lines "doesn't matter what you believe in" just relating to that, the music industry being so critical of what they do, that what they (the band) believes takes no precedence, it's no longer up to them.

Stay cool, and be somebody's fool this year: They were new to the whole major label thing, they had to play it cool. However, sounds like Corgan knew that they were being made fools of, often being told what to do - Today was initially chosen by the music execs to be the first song off the album - Corgan chose otherwise.

'Cause they know, who is righteous, what is bold: The music execs are the ones in power, they know when a band is good, they know what music is bold and new.

So I'm told: At least, that 's what they think.

Who wants honey As long as there's some money Who wants that honey? : A little vague. But it seems to fit in with the music exec thing - They only want to support their music provided they get money off it - like before, what they want or believe doesn't matter, just as long as they get their sweet sweet cash.

Hipsters unite, come align for the big fight to rock for you: Hipsters unite refers to their mainstreamness - it's up to the hipsters to decide their outcome, whether they're a success or a failure. This is seen in the next line, "come align for the big fight to rock for you" - choose a side, you decide whether we can rock for you, will be be a success or a failure?

But beware, all those angels with their wings glued on: Could refer to the music industry again, being quite fake about how they go about their business, only supporting them if they make money - the execs are funding their music, pretty much being the saviors of the band, keeping them alive. During this time, Corgan had gone through depression, and has said that he thought, if this record doesn't do well I'm gonna break up the band. However, while they may be keeping the band alive, should the band be a failure, they'll be quick to drop the pretense of angels, lose their glued on wings.

'cause deep down, we are frightened and we're scared: Probably refers to the band, not sure how the new album would do. Like I said before, Corgan was afraid the band would be quite a failure, saying "We felt a great pressure that if we didn't come up with a record that was huge, we were done. It was that simple in our minds. We felt like our lives depended on it."

If you don't stare: I think he just said this because it rhymed :)

Let me out: Seems pretty clear. He wants to get out of this routine way that the music industry has put them through, doesn't want the pressure of having to be a success.

Tell me all of your secrets, cannot help but believe this is true: I think it may refer to the music of the time, maybe tell me all of your secrets (to being a great success), you can't help but believe that what the music execs have been telling you is good or bad.

I know, I know, I know, should have listened when I was told: Corgan knows, he probably should listen to them, they seem to know what should be done. However, in contrast with the rest of the song, it seems to be more of a giving up sort of statement, saying "Okay, fine, have it your way, I'm tired of it anyway."

If you look at the lyrics in total, you could see that it starts out as more of a rejection of the music industry itself, saying that they (the pumpkins) should do it their way. Then the next verse, it changes, as though he's changing his mind, leaving it up to the world to decide, despite the fear they face in doing so. Then the "let me out"s are pretty much a complete "fear taken over" sort of thing, he just wants out of it, screw trying to do it your own way, screw letting others choose it for you. Third verse: He's still trying to figure it out for himself, wanting to know the secrets the industry has to offer. However, he's gone into a relapse, giving in to the industry, saying he should've listened what he was told.

That's just my interpretation anyway.