Thirty Whacks

Reminds me more of Lizzie Borden. Contrary to rhyme, she didn't give her mother forty whacks, not her father 41. Her mother recieved at least 20 blows; her father ten. 30 Whacks. That and the 'theres still mom, theres still damage to do before they wrest the axe from my hands'

The first verse is saying basically that she is hurting her self physically but is lying to herself saying she isnt. She is also regretting the pain. Second verse says that she is drinking and that she is getting violent and there is still mom and damage to do therefore saying she is indeed violent. Then they take the axe trying to stop her. Third is saying you should leave because im wasting my time. Fourth is saying that she is always victimmised and in the wrong place at the wrong time. Also if she could shut them out maybe she wouldnt feel so victimised. fifth is saying that she has been placed in a place such as a hospital that would be safe. sixth is saying that she has a bit of a temper and will enforce harm and someone is leading her onto this harm. SItxh she is keeping a secret that the demons so to speak are yelling at her for and that they "arent being paid enough" because their effort is useless and she wants a second chance because she could be decent still or yet...and she is saying she could be so decent that she woudl be a great person and that she would even be nice enough to be "president"...and the corrections are below.

thirty licks with a belt - playing tricks on myself and i wonder if everyone else is this way a succession of tests a triumphant success each time it’s still intact at the end of the day

thirty drops in a glass - keep my temper and pass with my breath held you bastards you've lucked out again its not really so bad, there’s still mom there’s still damage to do before they wrest the axe from my heads

its no mystery: you should obviously go before i break everything you’re always telling me that youre dying to know but you’re not really listening

how do i manage to station myself in harms way and only get hit with a ticket for loitering that i have no way to pay - and no strength to argue Mypersonal demons can skeeve with professional care oh god their after me if i could shut them out just for an hour i swear (i could) stop this catastrophe

thirty day guarantee but that can’t include me after all i’m at home in this childproof world no sharp corners or glass no small objects or plastic bags please, these are death to a delicate girl

its no mystery - you should obviously know that i’ll destroy everything so dont keep telling me that youre dying to know cause you’ll get what youre asking for

how can it be that i still put myself in harms way and only get hit with a ticket for loitering that i have no way to pay -stating i came the wrong day now all the demons are screaming their wages arent fair I've held a secret kept if i could shut them up just for a second i swear it’ll look like an accident i could be decent yet the magnificent i could be president....

there you go

Firt of all, I'd like to point out that the correct lyrics are indeed "you bastards / you've lucked out again"

This song is about the Lizzie Borden murders. It is from Lizzie's point of view, and uniquely expresses her frustration at her father and stepmother.

"After all, I was born to a child-proof world.." and "please, these are death to a delicate girl!" express Lizzie's frustration at the opression of Victorian ladies, who were expected to be "delicate". This could also explain "you're not really listening". Women were ignored for the most part.

"if I could shut them up just for a second..." is referring to how she wants to shut up her parents for good. She views them as a source of her problems and frustration.

Also, "thirty drops in the glass" refers to poison. Supposedly, Lizzie bought poison the day before the ax murders. The day of the murders, Lizzie's stepmother was feeling ill to what the doctor supposed was minor food poisoning.

Thus, "you bastards, you've lucked out again" is referring to the fact that Lizzie is trying to knock these people off, but they keep surviving the attempts.

I love this song.

ditto.

Yeah, I got the Lizzie Borden thing too...

i believe its " my personal demons can scheme with professional flair."

'stead of

"My personal demons can skeeve with professional care"

ooh... lizzie borden. excellent explanation. its such a beautiful song.

"theres still mom theres still damage to do before they wrest the axe from my hands"

not heads.

I get the idea of Lizzie Borden, but with the Dresden Dolls there are usually 2 meanings to the songs. There is the outter meaning (the lizzie borden) But then Amanda writes the songs so that there is another layer to it. The second layer to me is about her releshonship with her family. Possibly comparing herself to Lizzie Borden.

i agree with Sordida. This song can have multiple meanings, but it could also associate with Amanda's relationship with her Dad. (Like Half-Jack). Especially in the line 'there's still Mom, theres still da-mage' i don't know if it's just me, but i thought she was going to say 'Dad' when saying this, but instead, Amanda says 'damage'

Yet again, maybe i'm just crazy...