The Mouse and the Model

To build on what InkBleedsDeeper said, maybe even about how difficult it is to be someone with two sides to them?
"The mouse and the model are laughing at us" - maybe they're laughing because they both have set, secure personalities, and "us" doesn't. Like, even the mouse, though it's the opposite of the model, at least has a stable personality.

"you're a crook you're a fake you're committed / if you did it say you did it if you didn't suck it up and say you did"

if you don't act consistently, you get called a crook, a fake, and possibly get diagnosed with some personality disorder and committed to a mental hospital. So, when someone accuses you of acting a certiain way because "it's characteristic" you have to say you did even if you didn't, to give the impression that you are not of changeable character.

I don't have any overarching theory on this song yet either, but thought I'd add for anyone who doesn't know, that 'Macavity' is a probably a reference to the 'master criminal' cat in T.S. Eliot's poems/the musical 'Cats'. Obviously 'Bonnie and Clyde' is referring to the American outlaws, Jekyll and Hyde to the R L Stevenson character(s). I can't place the 'Mackenzie' reference - maybe someone else knows?

Anyway, there seems to be a theme of criminality/living on the edge/being an outcast, but I haven't worked out any more than that yet. The 'mouse and the model' bit always makes me think of animal testing vs using computer modelling techniques, but that's probably way way out. It could suggest a search for facts/solutions/truth that ultimately seems futile or something though?

I like the media slant theory too - seems to make a lot of sense, although I feel like there's something else in there too I can't work out.

And that's all I've got!

Not going to even try to work out what this song means, but for anyone who's never heard it go to http://www.automaticjoy.com/ and you can download a live version there. Splendid, my friends, splendid.

I think it's just about how there's two sides to someone? "the mouse and the model" "She's Jekyl and Hyde" "She's Bonnie & Clyde"

I'm shore there's way more to it than that, just like every other song written by Amanda, but um, yes.

says media attention to me..

"if you did it say you did it if you didn't suck it up and say you did"

seems to mean making the most out of any kind of publicity

I haven't the energy for a full analysis.

www.myspace.com/georgiegone

hi (=

I think No_One_Really may be on to something. I think it has a media-esque slant to it. “This time of day” may well be prime time - when the very best of the bullshit is doled out. “You could reverberate; you could decay.” The media can offer stimulating or decaying effects on the noggin, depending on the attitude of the beholder. We’re being manipulated by “the mouse and the model” - Mickey Mouse and mass-produced skinny women, the ultimate landlords of television and film. When we’re desperate with no-one left to trust, we'll still have our faithful box. “Let's start a new heart; the new charts are in. We'll take them, we'll break them, we'll make them give in.” The chorus and the rest of the song makes me think of reality TV – for every new season, there is a fresh batch of suckers to be fucked over for the entertainment of the brainless populace and the pockets of the media moguls. “By counting your blessings, you wind up in debt.” The nice guys are first off the cliff. “It starts with your family and camps in your bed” The all-pervading variety of reality TV programs. Stick whatever you like under the microscope: family life, sex, whatever. “You Jekyll and hide it” – You divide yourself a hundred of different personas for the benefit of the ratings. Let your guard down, your dress up” – Loosened morals and promiscuity make for better viewing. “The flipside of reason” is that wacky land of TV. “We'll tax them, relax them, and make them forfeit.” The producers are cheating the contestants out of their prize money. “The vote by a landslide, the Jekyll and Hyde.” Two-faced pretence makes for bloodier competition and more interesting contestants; the Jekyll/Hyde/Mackenzie/Macabre/Bonnie/Clyde aspects of the person win over the audience who collectively snap their little thumbs voting ‘til the cows came home, and, YES!, the bastard won!!!

I think No_One_Really may be on to something. I think it has a media-esque slant to it. “This time of day” may well be prime time - when the very best of the bullshit is doled out. “You could reverberate; you could decay.” The media can offer stimulating or decaying effects on the noggin, depending on the attitude of the beholder. We’re being manipulated by “the mouse and the model” - Mickey Mouse and mass-produced skinny women, the ultimate landlords of television and film. When we’re desperate with no-one left to trust, we'll still have our faithful box. “Let's start a new heart; the new charts are in. We'll take them, we'll break them, we'll make them give in.” The chorus and the rest of the song makes me think of reality TV – for every new season, there is a fresh batch of suckers to be fucked over for the entertainment of the brainless populace and the pockets of the media moguls. “By counting your blessings, you wind up in debt.” The nice guys are first off the cliff. “It starts with your family and camps in your bed” The all-pervading variety of reality TV programs. Stick whatever you like under the microscope: family life, sex, whatever. “You Jekyll and hide it” – You divide yourself a hundred of different personas for the benefit of the ratings. Let your guard down, your dress up” – Loosened morals and promiscuity make for better viewing. “The flipside of reason” is that wacky land of TV. “We'll tax them, relax them, and make them forfeit.” The producers are cheating the contestants out of their prize money. “The vote by a landslide, the Jekyll and Hyde.” Two-faced pretence makes for bloodier competition and more interesting contestants; the Jekyll/Hyde/Mackenzie/Macabre/Bonnie/Clyde aspects of the person win over the audience who collectively snap their little thumbs voting ‘til the cows came home, and, YES!, the bastard won!!!

...I actually have no idea what to make of this song. I like evolutionaried and InkBleedsDeeper's opinions on it, but...I personally have nothing to add.

I guess that's why I'm so obsessed with listening to it right now...trying to figure out what the heck it means.

The lyrics are wrong. According to the Virginia Companion, the lyrics at the end are "Mackenzie Macavity to Bonnie and Clyde." No idea what it means, but I figured it'd help for anyone who knows what the heck that is :P

I'm with InkBleedsDeeper and evolutionaried's comments but like loverly23, I've nothing to add ^^;

Such a strange song, to me. I honestly had no idea what on earth to think of it before I came here, giving up on trying to figure it out myself. Beautiful piece, though. I wish there were more comments on this one :P I'd love to see the epiphanies people get for this song.