I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Manilla was a crude machine who'd taken his fair share
He gobbled up the world he owned as petals paved his stairs
Manilla thanked the very moon for money and his life
He trifled nothing minuscule including one, his wife
Leora, his arranged wife, did not need his greed
She asked that stars, the very moon, to one day cross the sea
Manilla gazed an empty stare nothing there could grow
She cherished dreams of flying high and leaving him below
Leora stands on her head
Doin' the two step on her hands
As her eyes move round the room
To catch someone watching
Leora stands on her head
Doin' the two step on her hands
Underneath the very moon each one was watching
Manilla wanted worldly things and everything he'd have
He built castles, moats, battleships and troops in iron clad
Manilla heard Mulberry's name under the very moon
His troops went running the next day to find the air balloon.
Leora, his arranged wife, cooked the men a feast
And cleaned herself up solemnly before she faced the beast
That night she asked the very moon was this her fate to be
At lunch she met the flying man whose airships crossed the sea
Leora stands on her head
Doin' the two step on her hands
As her eyes move round the room
To catch someone watching
Leora stands on her head
Doin' the two step on her hands
Underneath the very moon each one was watching
He gobbled up the world he owned as petals paved his stairs
Manilla thanked the very moon for money and his life
He trifled nothing minuscule including one, his wife
Leora, his arranged wife, did not need his greed
She asked that stars, the very moon, to one day cross the sea
Manilla gazed an empty stare nothing there could grow
She cherished dreams of flying high and leaving him below
Leora stands on her head
Doin' the two step on her hands
As her eyes move round the room
To catch someone watching
Leora stands on her head
Doin' the two step on her hands
Underneath the very moon each one was watching
Manilla wanted worldly things and everything he'd have
He built castles, moats, battleships and troops in iron clad
Manilla heard Mulberry's name under the very moon
His troops went running the next day to find the air balloon.
Leora, his arranged wife, cooked the men a feast
And cleaned herself up solemnly before she faced the beast
That night she asked the very moon was this her fate to be
At lunch she met the flying man whose airships crossed the sea
Leora stands on her head
Doin' the two step on her hands
As her eyes move round the room
To catch someone watching
Leora stands on her head
Doin' the two step on her hands
Underneath the very moon each one was watching
Lyrics submitted by LoriMeyers
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LEORA OF THE SEQUOIAS: The young trophy wife of Manilla Trane, known throughout town as a terrific chef. She earned her nickname because of her height as well as the size of her hair, which, according to the townspeople, looked as if were held up by branches. Lack of attention from her husband turned her into an insomniac, and she was often seen late at night staring out the window of the high tower of Manilla's fortress.
MANILLA TRANE: Extraordinarily wealthy entrepreneur whose riches allows him to control the entire town. As a young man, he began to amass his fortune by peddling weapons. He possesses a small army of extremely loyal men who will do his every whim. An avid arts collector, he married Leora of the Sequoias on the steps of his brand new museum. He is known as an extremely demanding and unforgiving tyrant.
MORRIS MULBERRY: A somewhat conniving, albeit benevolent, street hustler. He convinced Corrinado that the two of them could start a highly successful business by using Corrinado¹s hot air balloon invention to shuttle people across the sea. He mysteriously vanished one month after Hot Air Balloon Travelling was destroyed and Corrinado was arrested.
SCENE III - The Very Moon: The scene moves to Manilla's estate, before the arrest of Corrinado. We catch a glimpse of the relationship between Manilla and Leora. Manilla has reaped the rewards of many succesfull buisness enterprises. He works too hard to pay attention to his wife Leora, needing her only as a chef. Manilla invites Corrinado and Mulberry over for dinner in order to discuss the propositon of buying Hot Air Balloon Traveling. Corrinado and Mulberry are not willing to part with the business. As the scene ends, it becomes clear that Corrinado and Leora are enamored with one another, leaving Leora wondering whether Corrinado is the man to fly her far, far away.