Techno Ted may be a person who caused Chris incredible emotional pain & trepidation as well as moments of peace & happiness but now is removed and awaiting his fate. Darling may be a different person who is also free of him and can live her life free of Ted's tyranny. "In between all the laughing, and daydreams ... lies: a desert of truth" Lies are like a desert or the omission of Truth: Where there were Lies then Truth was absent. The song, "Techno Ted", may be a cathartic celebration of the downfall of this person.
Took the fireworks and the vanity
The circuit board and the city streets
Shooting star, swaying palm tree
Laid it at the arbiter's feet
If I could change my mind, change the paradigm
Prepare myself for another life
Forgive myself for the many times
I was cruel to something helpless and weak
But here it comes, that heavy love
I'm never going to move it alone
Here it comes, that heavy love
Tag it on a tenement wall
Here it comes, that heavy love
Someone's got to share in the load
Here it comes, that heavy love
I'm never going to move it alone
I was dressed in white, touched by something pure
Death obsessed like a teenager
Sold my tortured youth, piss and vinegar
I'm still angry with no reason to be
At the architect who imagined this
For the everyman, blessed Sisyphus
Slipping steadily into madness
Now that's the only place to be free
But here it comes, that heavy love
You're never going to move it alone
Here it comes, that heavy love
Tattooed on a criminal's arm
Here it comes, that heavy love
Someone got to share in the load
Here it comes, that heavy love
You're never going to move it alone
No, I don't want to play
It's a shell game, it's a shell game
Distorted sounds on oscilloscopes
Distorted facts, I could never cope
My private life is an inside joke
No one will explain it to me
We'll be everything that we ever needed
Everyone, on the count of three!
Everyone, on the count of three!
All together now!
Here it comes, that heavy love
We're never going to move it alone
Here it comes, that heavy love
Playing as the cylinder rolls
Here it comes, that heavy love
I only want to share in the load
Here it comes, that heavy love
I'm never going to move it alone
The circuit board and the city streets
Shooting star, swaying palm tree
Laid it at the arbiter's feet
If I could change my mind, change the paradigm
Prepare myself for another life
Forgive myself for the many times
I was cruel to something helpless and weak
But here it comes, that heavy love
I'm never going to move it alone
Here it comes, that heavy love
Tag it on a tenement wall
Here it comes, that heavy love
Someone's got to share in the load
Here it comes, that heavy love
I'm never going to move it alone
I was dressed in white, touched by something pure
Death obsessed like a teenager
Sold my tortured youth, piss and vinegar
I'm still angry with no reason to be
At the architect who imagined this
For the everyman, blessed Sisyphus
Slipping steadily into madness
Now that's the only place to be free
But here it comes, that heavy love
You're never going to move it alone
Here it comes, that heavy love
Tattooed on a criminal's arm
Here it comes, that heavy love
Someone got to share in the load
Here it comes, that heavy love
You're never going to move it alone
No, I don't want to play
It's a shell game, it's a shell game
Distorted sounds on oscilloscopes
Distorted facts, I could never cope
My private life is an inside joke
No one will explain it to me
We'll be everything that we ever needed
Everyone, on the count of three!
Everyone, on the count of three!
All together now!
Here it comes, that heavy love
We're never going to move it alone
Here it comes, that heavy love
Playing as the cylinder rolls
Here it comes, that heavy love
I only want to share in the load
Here it comes, that heavy love
I'm never going to move it alone
Lyrics submitted by thecomaboy
Shell Games Lyrics as written by Conor M Oberst
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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IMHO this is about the love of god that comes with religious life and how he's torn between wanting that love and not wanting the "heavy love" or religious life because at times it can be a burden. he touches on judgement, forgiveness, purity, madness, the idea that you can live without god, etc
Doubtful. Conor is an atheist. Even in interviews(check out his latest with Chuck Norris) he concedes he just can't believe in anything of the sort. While in his older work it applies in some way or another, it's doubtful it works here. That's my opinion, to be clear. I'm not saying you're wrong, I just feel there is a lot of doubt against what you've said.
I gotta agree with BrightEyesAtheist. I'm pretty sur Conor is either atheist of at least agnostic. I think he's hinted at his religious views in the past but highly doubtful he's talking about it in this song. I'm not 100 percent on it though, just my thoughts.
Yeah i think he's constantly going back and forth as many people do but as a religious person myself, i just saw "heavy love" as the love of god right off the bat. but i could be wrong as well. and see this: youtube.com/watch<br /> also his lyrics in 'dear god' off the Monsters of Folk:<br /> songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858789273/<br /> but yeah who knows he obviously doesn't divulge his personal beliefs in a very apparent way whether in interviews or lyrics, etc.
You guys are so wrong. This album proves how in touch with God Conor is.<br />
I completely think that Conor is NOT an atheist. Although he might have been in doubt in his younger years, something that almost every young person goes through, it seems obvious that he has opened himself up to the idea of a higher power. I don't think he's a Christian necessarily, or part of any definite organized religion, but that he thinks there is no God at all is pretty crazy.... <br /> <br /> I mean, look at all of Digital Ash, especially the line from I Believe in Symmetry: "And if it seems like an accident, a collage of senselessness, then you aren't looking hard enough. I wasn't looking hard enough."
Oberst has stated that organized religion is the worst thing to ever happen to the world so I think it's safe to say that he's not a Christian. But he talks about God enough to suggest that the concept plays some significant role in his life. Naturally, however, I feel that you're all wrong and find it creepy that you all think you're on a first name basis with him. If he wanted us to know everything about his personal life, we would.