4 Meanings
Add Yours
Follow
Share
Q&A
Clockwork Lyrics
It's too hot babe, pull the covers back,
Don't touch me babe, I don't remember ever liking that,
Don't touch me babe, roll over.
O brother, you don't know what you've got, only time flies...
You've gotta do some clockwork.
Sometimes you hear the broken bell sound up on the whore's hill,
The ladies clamor for the Salvo's sale, bickering like little girls
For second hand womens' things, for countless prying mans' hands.
O working girl, you don't get round enough, it's like your daddy says...
You gotta do some clockwork.
(in a berth of the port wharf the song of the penitent sailor... upon
what stage? A slab in the gut of a Japanese whaler... a material blue
and tailored and time is a tailor... both brief and slow.)
Now I can hear the broken bell,
Now I can hear the clockwork,
It has me reaching for the hidden rail,
It has me listening for the song bird,
But I hear it very minor,
But I hear it very minor...
O singer, I don't believe your song, or your lying lines,
O singer, I don't believe your song, or your lying lines...
You've gotta do some clockwork:
The Pneuma, Cecilian, the Metzler, Angelus, Virtuos, Apollo, Paragon, Minerva, Stella
Clockwork, all clockwork.
O but I didn't write this song with a machine,
And I don't know how to stop it from its accidental purpose.
Don't touch me babe, I don't remember ever liking that,
Don't touch me babe, roll over.
The ladies clamor for the Salvo's sale, bickering like little girls
For second hand womens' things, for countless prying mans' hands.
what stage? A slab in the gut of a Japanese whaler... a material blue
and tailored and time is a tailor... both brief and slow.)
Now I can hear the clockwork,
It has me reaching for the hidden rail,
It has me listening for the song bird,
But I hear it very minor,
But I hear it very minor...
O singer, I don't believe your song, or your lying lines...
And I don't know how to stop it from its accidental purpose.
Song Info
Submitted by
hydrargyrum On Dec 13, 2006
More Augie March
One Crowded Hour
There Is No Such Place
Asleep in Perfection
Pennywhistle
Owen's Lament
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
WHY ARE THERE NO COMMENTS??
THIS IS THE GREATEST SONG OF ALL TIME!!
OH MY GOD!
@worlds_best_grandma I totally agree. The song truly deserves the best use of the word epic. I listen to it all the time and it evokes so many different emotions. It never stops giving.
@worlds_best_grandma I totally agree. The song truly deserves the best use of the word epic. I listen to it all the time and it evokes so many different emotions. It never stops giving.
You're not far wrong. There's a great acoustic version as a b-side on the One Crowded Hour single. (Incidentally it doesn't include that killer closing couplet about the "accidental purpose).
I'd be interested if anyone could explain the lyrics:
"The Pneuma, Cecilian, the Metzler, Angelus, Virtuos, Apollo, Paragon, Minerva, Stella"
Are these all classical Greek/Roman mythological entities? What's the connection?
Pneuma means interaction with God, Cecilian was a Catholic reform movement having to do with music, Metzler is a type of organ (also a surname), Angelus is angel, Virtuos is virtue, paragon is essentially perfection (I've heard it mostly used in religious themes), continuing with the religious theme, Diego de Stella was the name of a Spanish Christian/Mystic who wrote on the subject of Luke. Minerva and Apollo go without saying, though they are from opposing mythologies (neither Christian, further Minerva's Roman, Apollo Greek).
The meaning I'd like to think is hidden in there there, as it's preluded by "Oh singer, I don't believe your song and your lying lines. You've gotta do some clockwork" I'm guessing, and only guessing that it has to do with a combination between technology (signified by clockwork), and religion (the final lines).
We can also perhaps look at clockwork as a sign of religion, when you take into consideration clocktowers and bells on top of churches? Perhaps its about interaction with God through music (Cecilian and Metzler are preluded by the Pneuma, and followed by Angelus, Virtuos and Paragon)?
On the other hand it could be more cynical, maybe the line "O singer I don't believe your song or your lying lines," could refer to the church?
You're all right though, it's a fantastic song. I'd really like to hear some other takes on it though, it is rather hard to interpret. This is one of the things I truly most enjoy about Augie March, their lyrics are fantastically poetic and intelligently written. It makes interpretation all the more enjoyable.
@Wohngespenst Love your definition. I sometimes think it's better not to find out the meaning of those perplexing songs as much as the mystery kills us . Sometimes the real explanation falls way short of the meaning and magic we have given to it lol. Whenever I think about the words to this song, I think it's a wistful ode to the passage of time itself. Whether you're a prostitute or a singer .... you've always got to put in the hard yards and do some more work, inner and outer.
@Wohngespenst Love your definition. I sometimes think it's better not to find out the meaning of those perplexing songs as much as the mystery kills us . Sometimes the real explanation falls way short of the meaning and magic we have given to it lol. Whenever I think about the words to this song, I think it's a wistful ode to the passage of time itself. Whether you're a prostitute or a singer .... you've always got to put in the hard yards and do some more work, inner and outer.
"The Pneuma, Cecilian, the Metzler, Angelus, Virtuos, Apollo, Paragon, Minerva, Stella"
These were all the names of clockwork music boxes, I think Glenn has said. I don't think there was any religious intent there.
@blackrockbound1 That just makes it all the more profound and weird.
@blackrockbound1 That just makes it all the more profound and weird.