Devil's Roof Lyrics
Where's the man, he's late
One burns, one's sky
Where's the man, he's late
I'm two headed one free one sticky
Is sticky ever blue?
For instance where's my husband?
God, this is the devil too bad he's late
I love the smell of beer
The smell of dar, the feel of dark, to feel the rug
To press the rug beneath me
A small party
I hear we let them speak
For instance where's my husband
Dance on the devil's roof
Under a devil's moon
I don't care and you don't move
I love "for instance - where's my husband?" Wonderfully surprising change in mood, as in many of her songs.
Perhaps the 'two heads' are mania ('one free') and depression ('one sticky'). 'The devil's moon' being a reference to what was once referred to as lunacy.
This is about bi-polar disorder.
One mind is up and heavenly and the other is down and hellish.
But it ponders if up can be bad in certain circumstances then perhaps down could conversly be good in others. I think this deals with the battle when taking meds for bi-polar. you take the pills to prevent the crazy swings, but your inner voice is always saying "cmon we don't the meds, we'll have more fun without them". in the short term.
It's not actually about finding a man. the guy in the lyrics is a metaphor for the kind of debauched behaviour that awaits when you "go off the meds". hence the beer/tar (read sleazy bar/smokes) references.
The devils roof is the heinous heights that can be reached when you lose all self-control. I guess this counts also for addictions...not that i'm saying kristin was/is a drunk. great song too. :)
The crickster is spot on. This is about bipolar disorder, a topic which Hersh frequently comes back to. I am huge Muses fan and I think Crickster's interpetation of "the man" is interesting but I always thought of it as Hersh relating a melt down. Her husband is late and she is trying to tell herself to keep calm but her emotions are running away from her. Anybody who suffers from bipolar disorder can relate. Another great song about just the depression aspect of bi-polar by TM is "Fall Down," also on Hunkpapa.
Great interpretations. I think of it as a choice of being free and single but potentially lonely, and being in a relationship... with all that that entails. This doens't necessary contradicts stut's or thecrikster's interprestations.
This could've been my mother's jam when she was an undiagnosed bipolar in the 80's. The drinking, partying constantly...and my father took off b/c he couldn't understand her mania. Usually it was her leaving all of us, so when my father left we really knew there was something wrong with my mother. He came back when she got her diagnosis and lithium. "Where's the man, he's late" sounds like a manic person pacing back and forth, as they do. My mother paced for months, she barely ate, and stayed up all night literally losing her mind. Thank you Kristin Hersh for writing this tune.
@brokentelephone78 Despite being on lithium for over 25 years, and also despite beating cancer this year my mother attempted suicide last week. First attempt in 2 decades. Going to listen to some bipolar musicians today to try to understand the bipolar mind. Bipolar disease is so confusing to me, but many songs by Kristin help address issues and feelings about the bipolar mind. She is probably the best at writing about the raw emotions of being bipolar.
@brokentelephone78 Despite being on lithium for over 25 years, and also despite beating cancer this year my mother attempted suicide last week. First attempt in 2 decades. Going to listen to some bipolar musicians today to try to understand the bipolar mind. Bipolar disease is so confusing to me, but many songs by Kristin help address issues and feelings about the bipolar mind. She is probably the best at writing about the raw emotions of being bipolar.
@brokentelephone78 I should have called it 'bipolar disorder' instead of disease...but my Mom calls it 'a mind disease'. Just in case someone needed to correct me on here at some point in the future.
@brokentelephone78 I should have called it 'bipolar disorder' instead of disease...but my Mom calls it 'a mind disease'. Just in case someone needed to correct me on here at some point in the future.
i think of this as "i am of two minds". one has to do with constantly waiting for "the man" who brings you your heroin, and the other is the state of being free from that sinfulness. Which way will she choose?