Skinny, Mean Man (feat. Pete Yorn)

I love the intensity that Max sings this song with. There are some iffy lyrics; "dance like a heart attack?" Regardless, I'd give it a thumbs up overall and I'm pretty stoked for In Defense of the Genre.

And as for the meaning, it seems to be about a girl that is mistreated by the man she is with and Max is furious because he cares much more for her and wants to chance to make her feel better.

You guys are all missing it completely.

Her death is the metaphor. She's dating one of those people who listens to bands no one's ever heard of because he thinks it's cool, which is obvious by "Obscure records entombed in his room with mechanical lust diapered, desolate middle-aged doom." He got her to be with him not from love - which the narrator obviously feels for her - but by "feeding on her insecurities" - meaning that he probably made her think she'll be alone forever if she doesn't date him. And because he's guilted and tricked her into dating him, Max views her as dead. She's not herself - she's completely submitted herself to her boyfriend. She hopes that she'll "start breathing" which is a metaphor for her "coming back to life" and if not wanting to be with the narrator, at least realizing how awful her boyfriend had been. "You awake from the grave that he dug" (You realize he's taken away your life and independence) "Pulsing, boiling, angry blood" (and you're super-pissed about it) "Well aware that I’m falling in love" (self-explanatory) "Filled with fire, I’m drinking gasoline to make it go faster" (could be understood as a metaphor as a "flame" standing for love - and adding gasoline is like adding passion with her to make their love together grow into something big, and fast)

i dont think it is about a girl who was LITTERALLY killed by an ex boyfriend, perhaps metaphorically, the chorus is so fucking good, this cd is going to be epic, i CAN NOT stop listening to this song

ok. definitely not about tim kinsella. i know that genuinely pissed max off, but like.. not to a point where he'd write a metaphor of a song about it.

Also - if you want more evidence that he's basically brain-washed her into being with him, and that's what the metaphor of her being dead is all about - read the first verse carefully. You know, the one done in that "evil"ish voice. Yeah, that's the dick-boyfriend.

tthrwmyhrtawy: this is the song that got me to like say anything hah, it's amazing, :] not sure about the meaning, but i love the 'stretch your pretzel spine' hah, sounds pretty painfull

ummmm ok, this songs mean out for a week and say anything's been around for like 6 years, where have you been? other than probably elementary school

*been out, not mean out

i am parker lewis: stop being such an elitist bitch.

Anyway, I believe this song is about the character max (remember this is supposed to be a concept album) watching someone elses [mentally] abusive relationship. The relationship seems to be between a young woman who crookedly admires a much older "middle-aged" man. The man takes advantage of the girl as Max watches obsessively, wishing he could do something, knowing its wrong. This is where my interpretation goes a little crazy, but its what I believe. I think that Max kills her, thinking it the only way to get close to her, blaming it on the man. "I have in faith in you, child. From HIS nightmares I’ve plucked a plan. Where that prick to the world is revealed as a wicked man." He then lives out whatever fantasies he had with the dead girl. Not to be sick, but thats how I see it> "If only you could see me, we’d dance like a heart attack""If only you’d start breathing, I’d court you exclusively. With my shovel I’m pounding earth ‘til suddenly I see You awake from the dirt and the grime ...filled with fire and finally mine" As for the ending with the gasoline, either he drinks it and dies to be with her, or burns the scene of his crimes. I think the whole thing is just supposed to portray the really twisted and obsessive feelings Max or someone from another perspective had. And does anyone else feel that this whole thing is extremely similar to the book Lovely Bones?

if you listen carefully there is a match lit as he begins to say "gasoline will make it go faster" the first time, implying he burns something, and doesnt actually drink it.

i'm just sayin the way you phrased it made it sound like you heard this song years ago and have loved say anything forever