Evil

It took me a while to figure this song out - extremely hard to piece together, but after reading the interpretations on the web, and reading more about Paul Banks, I think I got it. Paul Banks was fascinated with serial killers, and as a literally major in college, probably with a lot of ideas around the inner workings of people.

The references to the Rosemary West killings are pretty clear (not just her name, but the "trial", "cellmate" and "shards under the belly".

Still, it doesn't make sense that this is from Fred West until the final year of his life are looked at. He confessed to the killing pretty quickly - suggesting remorse. And he attempted to make some kind of emotional contact with Rosemary...he tried twice and failed. And a few weeks later, committed suicide.

I think this song is the story of Fred West dealing with the evil he had done, and trying to reach Rosemary...the Biblical references are pretty clear. So this is his story after he committed suicide and what he'd say to her.

The first verse of the song is about embracing Heaven and god. "Heaven restores you in life" - this is a clear reference to being alive and that there is a means to salvation in life. The rest of the verse is about what that is and if she comes with him what she gets - it's the smile on the package, the faces in the sand, the thought that holds you up, their embraces - all the good things in life...the "slow-release" (inner peace) as opposed to the instant and twisted gratification of torturing their victims.

The next verse is his message to her: Hey wait, great smile (his nickname for her?) - have faith and don't deny (Just confess and faith - don't play the victim card)...then again, "but hey who's on trial" An admission he coped out by committing suicide - so he can sympathize with her decision.

Then he confesses to her what his life was about. Being completely alone (a lifespan without a cellmate) searching for a way out...from the trap of just looking the other way to everything he did - all the suffering he caused. That's the root of his "evil". Just look the other way. What was wrong with that?

The next verse describes that world of what could be or could have been - perhaps the afterlife or fantasy existence. "I could take you places....Make a revision to a dream...."

Later on, the line, "You need something to which to care" - I think a reference to how serial killers are considered uncaring.

The next verse talks about their crimes, how they hoped to presume innocence and hope for a sympathetic jury....and whether or not they really loved each other and if that was over - "Is this motion everlasting or do shutters pass in the night"

The final verse mentions that she needs someone to take her there - perhaps him or someone else (earlier - "do you need another man"). and changes the chorus - "...play the other game" a reference to their interaction not involving the girls they tortured and murdered. Suggesting once again, his remorse.

"I spent a life span with no cellmate" is just brilliant piece of writing. paul's got the meaning of lonliness wrapped up in one line

Rosemary, Heaven restores you in life You're coming with me Through the aging, the fearing, the strife

It's the smiling on the package It's the faces in the sand It's the thought that move you upwards Embracing me with two hands

Right will take you places Yea maybe to the beach When your friends they do come crying Tell them now your pleasure's set upon slow release

Hey wait Great smile Sensitive to fate, not denial

It took a life span with no cellmate The long way back Sandy, why can't we look the other way?

We speaks about travel Yea we think about the land We smart like all peoples Feeling real tan

I could take you places Do you need a new man? Wipe the pollen from the faces Make revision to a dream while you wait in the van

It took a life span with no cellmate To find the long way back Sandy, why can't we look the other way? You're weightless; you are exotic You need something for which to care Sandy, why can't we look the other way?

Leave some shards under the belly Lay some grease inside my hand It's a sentimental jury And the making of a good plan You've come to love me lightly Yea you come to hold me tight Is this motion ever lasting Or do shudders pass in the night?

Rosemary, Heaven restores you in life

I spent a life span with no cellmate The long way back Sandy, why can't we look the other way? You're weightless, semi-erotic You need someone to take you there Sandy, why can't we look the other way? Why can't we just play the other game? Why can't we just look the other way?

(from the official interpol site)

I love the line: "I've spent a life span with no cellmate"

Masturbation. think about it..

This is possibly one of the most esoteric songs ever.

Rosemary West interpretation does hold water and was possibly an inspiration, but more generally it has to be about post-death experience. Video was a fairly blatant clue. Chorus makes it clearer:

It took a lifespan with no cellmate (a soul trapped in a body)

The long way back (mundane "life" in a physical reality, we have to get through the drudgery to "return" to heaven)

Why can't we look the other way? (once the soul resides inside a body, it can ONLY experience reality through the body and cannot relate to any other perspective. whereas after death, consciousness is universal.)

evil = live spelled backwards

"smart like all peoples" having a double meaning because "physical life" makes us wiser through experience, but "smart" also means to "hurt."

As for Rosemary, I would point out that Rose is anagram for Eros which is love, also related to "evil," "live," "veil." Maybe not etymologically correct, technically speaking, but its a pun. Life is a veil, under which we can only experience the particular and not the universal.

Mary derives from "Mar" meaning water, which leads to the beach metaphor and all the references to sand.

I would interpret this duality thus: human body is "land" whereas a free-floating soul is in the "water."

"Sand" is also likened to "pollen," because where would the soul reside but in the reproductive faculties!

Rosemary heaven restores you in life you're coming with me through the aging the fear and the strife

it's the smiling on the package it's the faces in the sand it's the thought that moves you upwards embracing me with two hands right will take you places yeah maybe to the beach when your friends say you come crying tell them now your pleasure's set upon slow release

they wait they smile sensitive to fake nods right on but hey who's on trial?

you took a lifespan with no cellmate a long way back saying "Me, why can't we look the other way?"

he speaks about travel yeah we think about the land we are smart like all peoples feeling real tan i could take you places but you need a new man? wipe the pollen from the faces make me vision to a dream while you wait in the van

anyway they smile sensitive to fake nods but hey who's on trial?

it took a lifespan with no cellmate but a long way back saying "Me, why can't we look the other way?" you're weightless you are exotic you need something for which to care saying "Me, why can't we look the other way?"

leave some shards under the belly lay some grease inside my hand it's a sentimental jury and the makings of a good plan you've come to love me like me yeah you've come to hold me tight is this motion everlasting or do shudders pass in the night?

Rosemary our heaven restores you in life

I've spent a lifespan with no cellmate a long way back saying "Me, why can't we look the other way?" you're weightless semi-erotic you need someone to take you there saying "Me, why can't we look the other way? Why can't we just play the other game? Why can't we just look the other way?"

[those are the correct lyrics, enjoy.]

on second though

Hey wait, Great smile

prolly referes to meeting rosemary initially

damn these are off....edit homie

woah this song does remind me of The Stranger, a LOT. This song just feels hot, all the mentions of the beach and sand and weightlessness. And in the Stranger a man kills another man basically because he's on a beach having heatstroke or something and just freaks out and shoots some guy. Then he goes to trial but his extremely lonely life that he has lived doesn't go over well with the jury. They're "sensitive to fake nods" and he's not giving any. oh! and the name of the song! Evil! in the Stranger everyone thinks this guy is Evil cuz he didnt cry at his mom funeral! ok i think i'm just talking out my ass now.