The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
(How much do you make in that death factory?)
(Severance owed in the chamber of revolvers)
(Empty jails fall from my scalp)
(Shaped the globe and then let me out)
(Still, I can remember the day)
(That they took you from me)
Seems like I've been running
From your trenchant memory
Harpsichord will warn me when it's over
'Cause if heaven breathes
Then someone trade places with me
'Cause I don't want to tear feathers instead of rags
Instead of rags
When do I get to see the body preserved inside this brim?
"Sewn on the lips" were her last words
I'll be damned I can still hear her laughing
Your angels have tangled their breasts again
The comfort of doubt, still it keeps you thin
And still, I can remember the day
That they took you from me
Seems like I've been running
From your trenchant memory
Harpsichord will warn me when it's over
'Cause if heaven breathes
Then someone trade places with me
'Cause I don't want to tear feathers instead of rags
Instead of rags
Does your temperature ache?
Is your glass about to break?
Are you purple with currant?
Will you now become the servant?
Gordian knots in the power lines
Saucer fills to empty with pesticide
Like the pharaohs of old
Bury me in gold
I'll make your son refuse to fight
In the Stockholm city that we provide
If your heart does cease to speak
My fingernail choir will make your chalkboard sing
(Severance owed in the chamber of revolvers)
(Empty jails fall from my scalp)
(Shaped the globe and then let me out)
(Still, I can remember the day)
(That they took you from me)
Seems like I've been running
From your trenchant memory
Harpsichord will warn me when it's over
'Cause if heaven breathes
Then someone trade places with me
'Cause I don't want to tear feathers instead of rags
Instead of rags
When do I get to see the body preserved inside this brim?
"Sewn on the lips" were her last words
I'll be damned I can still hear her laughing
Your angels have tangled their breasts again
The comfort of doubt, still it keeps you thin
And still, I can remember the day
That they took you from me
Seems like I've been running
From your trenchant memory
Harpsichord will warn me when it's over
'Cause if heaven breathes
Then someone trade places with me
'Cause I don't want to tear feathers instead of rags
Instead of rags
Does your temperature ache?
Is your glass about to break?
Are you purple with currant?
Will you now become the servant?
Gordian knots in the power lines
Saucer fills to empty with pesticide
Like the pharaohs of old
Bury me in gold
I'll make your son refuse to fight
In the Stockholm city that we provide
If your heart does cease to speak
My fingernail choir will make your chalkboard sing
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Page
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This album is supposedly a soundtrack to a kidnapping. Luciforms pretty well captures that feeling in both lyrics and tone. I hear this as a lamentation from the perspective of the parent/friend/relative/whoever of a kidnapped person. It goes through alot of the stages of thought that a loved one might go through. "How much do you make in that death factory? severance owed in the chamber of revolvers" Hating the kidnappers. "Empty jails fall from my scalp, shake the globe and let me out if still I can remember the day that they took you from me." Empty jails, as in they haven't been caught. shake the globe, as in shake my head, wake me up from this nightmare.
The chorus is essentially about how this event becomes a central part of their life against their will. they're haunted by it until they die, no matter how hard they try to escape it. If heaven is real (breathes) they don't want to go there,(trade places) because they're consumed with a violent urge for revenge.(don't want to tear feathers instead of rags, don't fight angels instead of demons)
the second verse is about remembrance as time goes on. They are still obsessed with the lost loved one while everyone else moves on and comforts you with menial things. (comfort of doubt still it keeps you thin. "maybe she survived?" "you look well")
The last verse is a lashing out at the kidnappers, as it was alluded to in the chorus. (if your heart does cease to speak, my fingernail choir will make your chalk board sing. fingernails on a chalkboard = torturous sound. if you die, I'll see you in hell, and make your afterlife miserable.)
Nice work kantieb. I'm going to build off of your post, if I may.<br /> <br /> A "Gordian Knot" was a part of Mediterranean(?) folklore concerning Alexander the Great... In the story, it was said that whoever could untie the knot would rule all of the known world. Alexander the Great, however, couldn't (or lacked the patience to) untie it, and cut it in two. If you guys are familiar with the history concerning Alexander the Great, I'm sure you can figure out the rest (Hint: he got fucked up).<br /> <br /> So, when Cedric writes about "Gordian knots in the powerlines", it seems to me as if the troubled parent or loved one of the one who was kidnapped was so extremely desperate to, as you put it, seek revenge, that he/she would put aside all rational thought and rashly cut the "Gordian Knot" in two, even though it would be the death of him/her (citing Alexander the Great's downfall, and of course, powerlines - im sure trying to cut a powerline in two would probably be the last thing one would do).