Antony and the Johnsons – Cripple and the Starfish

General CommentI can understand the drug explanation, but I would not agree. I believe this song's about love and obviously gay, as Antony is gay and also Mr. Muscle is a Man (M capital!:P). Anyway, love is like a drug, isn't it?!
For me, it's mostly about the humiliation and the pain of love and the fact that the more hurtful it is the stronger it is and the more pleasure you get from it. Something like masochism, I'd say. But also it's about the human strength and the ability to recover from most things.
To cut a long story short, I agree with most of you, boys and girls:)

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  @InBetweenTheLines

General CommentYou know....not EVERY song is about love and all it's joy.
It is so obvious to me that this song is about drug use..and as this song seems, this person has taken drugs because he has been through a hurtful relationship.

"Mr. Muscle forcing bursting
Stingy thingy into little me, me, me"

Forcing your muscle on your upper arm, with rope or whatever they use, to make the vein stick out, "bursting" out.
Stingy thingy into litle me, me, me is the needle. Pushing the needle into himself (me), the needle stings, obviously.

"As my jaw dropped to the ground
Smile smile"

Jaw dropped - everything relaxes and smile, smile - the drug has taken it's effect.

"It's true I always wanted love to be
Hurtful
And it's true I always wanted love to be
Filled with pain
And bruises"

This is where it says that the person has been through a traumatic relationship. Filled with pain, yes.
But bruises....bruises from needles.

"Yes, so Cripple-Pig was happy
Screamed " I just compeletely love you!
And there's no rhyme or reason
I'm changing like the seasons"

Everything is so easy going for him now that he has taken the drugs.

"Watch! I'll even cut off my finger
It will grow back like a Starfish!"

It's known to happen that drugs make you feel like you can do anything....so many people have died from jumping off buildings when they are high because they think that they have the ability to fly. In this part the person is saying that he can even cut off his own finger and it will grow back (like a starfish).

"Mr. Muscle, gazing boredly
And he checking time did punch me
And I sighed and bleeded like a windfall
Happy bleedy, happy bruisy"
The effect of the drugs is wearing off.

"I am very happy
So please hit me
I am very very happy
So come on hurt me"

Wanting another hit of the drugs. "hit me".

Let me know what you think of my interpretation of this song. It's a good song.

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  @4405
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  SHUT UP

  Flag artsluton July 25, 2009  

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  artslut is right!
  SHUT UP

  Flag Iphanon June 29, 2010  

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  artslut, you shut your mouth. if you're really a artslut than you would think like an artist. it's obvious that you don't. 4405 is right. it is about drugs. and iphan same for you stupid

  Flag Godzilla93on May 15, 2011  

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  4405, i agree with you. accualy, it's very impressive how you figured that out. most people first think about love. But I think everybody has an other interpretation of it, and that's the art of music.

  Flag Godzilla93on May 15, 2011  

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  Bravo 4405! I am not actually a fan of the drugs or drug-related explanations of the lyrics but in this case I believe you are absolutely right. Your interpretation of the lyrics sounds logical and true, and suits dark/noir atmosphere of the song. Thanks a lot!

  Flag estaalgunacoisaon October 01, 2011  

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  I don't think there's any right or wrong way to interpret song meanings, and your interpretation does make sense. But looking at Anthony's other lyrics, I am more inclined to think it is about (abusive) love, likening love to drug use rather than the other way around.
  But like I say, if this is the interpretation that resonates with you, then that's all that matters.

  Flag ljosberinnon October 18, 2011  

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  @4405
  Yes because if it's not about love, then it's about drugs... <.< ...

  Flag nikki10642on April 22, 2015  

General Commentdoes this not make anybody else cry like a baby?

i love the mix of the bizarre verses with the chorus which shows that he's quite prepared to be trampled on in this relationship, just to feel loved/wanted.

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  @Stay_Gold_Ponyboy

General Commenttheres something about the development and intensification of this song that just makes me shiver and catches my breath
the imagery of his lyrics are so naked and dark and perfect to me..
what a beautiful, natural gift

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  @crippleandstarfish

General CommentI cannot get enough of this song. It makes me happy to listen to such incredible beauty and sad, because...because it is such a sad person, who describes his/her point of view, here!
It's about one only becoming happy in life, when one is humiliated, hurt, destroyed!

I can well understand that: The love, that cuts deepest ist the love, that left most scars.

And still- I love this song!

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  @Gherilain

General CommentPersonally, when I listen to this song I don't think of drugs. I think of problems I've gone through being a not so attractive gay man, being used for pleasure and nothing more. Mr. Muscle in my mind represents a beautiful man, and Cripple-Pig is an ugly man, willing to do anything for the love and attention of Mr. Muscle, who is ashamed of Cripple-Pig and only wants pleasure.

"Mr. Muscle forcing bursting, Stingy thingy into little me me me...."; If you think of certain acts of gay love, perhaps this stanza could signify that.

"It's true I always wanted love to be hurtful...."; Speaks for itself, a person who doesn't know true love, who only seeks it on a physical level would probably feel hurt.

"Yes so Cripple-Pig was happy, Screamed I just completely love you, there's no rhyme or reason, I'm changing like the seasons, Watch I'll even cut off my finger, It'll grow back like a starfish....."; Cripple-Pig is happy with Mr. Muscle, he'll even change himself if it'll mean he'll love him, even something as drastic as cutting off a limb, because if Mr. Muscle would just love him, anything Cripple-Pig gave up would be meaningless.

"Mr. Muscle gazing boredly, And he checking time did punch me, And I sighed, And bleeded like a windfall, Happy bleedy, happy bruisy......."; Mr. Muscle is unphased by the confessions of love from Cripple-Pig, he hurts Cripple-Pig out of shame, yet Cripple-Pig merely takes it and is happy with it, because its attention nevertheless (Happy bleedy). He knows Mr. Muscle will always want the pleasure he offers.

"I am very happy, So please hit me....."; Cripple-Pig is happiest when Mr. Muscle is giving him the most attention, which happens to be when he is hitting him.

Let me know if you agree with this! :)

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  @Nope512
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  I do agree with nope512. I have always thought this song was about love and gay sexual experiences from Anthony's point of view as a non attractive and perhaps at the time inexperienced gay man. I think it was the first time things felt right, even though in some ways it felt wrong (perception from family, friends, society, knowingly being used by mr muscle).
  
  I think the "grow back like a starfish" is part of a running theme in Anthony and the Johnson's work of futile hope, or almost a magical hope. "One day i'll grow up, i'll be a beautiful woman" from "For today I am a boy" and "May all of your dreams come true" from "you are my sister". This theme of hope is what touches me the most in their work, because it is always delivered slightly knowing it is futile.
  

  Flag songmeaning1980on November 14, 2008  

General CommentI do agree with nope512. I have always thought this song was about love and gay sexual experiences from Anthony's point of view as a non attractive and perhaps at the time inexperienced gay man. I think it was the first time things felt right, even though in some ways it felt wrong (perception from family, friends, society, knowingly being used by mr muscle).

I think the "grow back like a starfish" is part of a running theme in Anthony and the Johnson's work of futile hope, or almost a magical hope. "One day i'll grow up, i'll be a beautiful woman" from "For today I am a boy" and "May all of your dreams come true" from "you are my sister". This theme of hope is what touches me the most in their work, because it is always delivered slightly knowing it is futile.

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  @songmeaning1980

General Commentbtw love this song.

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  @iancanderson

General CommentAm i the only one who thinks Antony should do something with the great Scott Walker?

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  @Tobra Exemples Tres
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  or john frusciante

  Flag Godzilla93on May 15, 2011  

General CommentThis was the first song I heard from Antony and The Johnsons and I think its amazing! I dont think I've heard or even felt so much pain and tenderness in a song before, it's quit unique.

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  @Tyler2004durden