on the left side
a parking attendant sleeps
selling space and time.
on the right side...
they have grasped the concept
of property.
understand that space and time
can be twisted into someone's
monetary advantage
but, i can see myself
In that building that stands
across from me.
Reflecting in the sky.
You can see yourself
Swim along the giant whales
down the street.
Reflecting in the sky
On sunny days
The people on the beach
Like ants in my food.
They must have closed the mall.
Here comes whitey to exploit
The simple pleasures nature gave me,
Then Try to tax them all.
Lay in the yard.
Curled in a ball.
hails in your mouth.
Keys still in the car door.
Face in the dirt.
Smells more than clean.
Synapsis tapped.
You're well out.
On the side of the house.
Its burned in the ground.
That secret code.
That signal go.
There's a stain on the grass
That's calling us home
You lie inside for the
Transistor send.
My heart skips a beat.
Lie blinded.
Out of reach.
Out of touch.
Out of ink.
Out of kindness
Never hazing new guys.
Out of teeth.
Out of thought.
Out of time.
Out of life
Like cattle grazing.
Your mind.
On the way to the car.
On the of the stone.
On the edge of the lake.
On the end of the joke.
On the crack of the floor
On the slab of the day.
On the dent of the face.
On the mind of the cop.
On the scar of the rat.
On the last of the calls.
On the rest of the doc.
On the smile of the kid.
Pick me up.
Take me home.
Get me out of here.
Please.
On the underside i'm letting go...
they know were on to them.
we know to avoid - their snare
they're pulling us back
we run for cover
escape is far
i'm letting go...
its scaring me
break...
i'm gonna break...


Lyrics submitted by Mopnugget

Grey Machine Lyrics as written by

Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB.

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Grey Machine song meanings
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    General Comment

    The line "you can see yourself , swim along the giant whales down the street" refers to a mural by the conservationist/muralist Wyland of giant gray whales in downtown San Diego (Pinback's origins) . The verse, I think, describes the longing to set oneself free of the drudgery and monotony of life by imagining to swim along freely with giant whales. The question is how is this accomplished? The answer is what distro alludes to above with a man free-falling from a building and in turn, "swimming" with the whales on the mural as he descends and plummets ultimately to his death. As enchanting and melodic as the song is, it does have references to falling from a building, "there's a stain on the grass that's calling us home" and "pick me up, take me home, get me out of here". That is the beauty of this Pinback song; very hypnotic with an almost subliminal message of despair.

    prof_buddy_loveon March 10, 2005   Link

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