I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Rael:
I wandered lonely as a cloud,
Till I came upon this dirty street.
I've never seen a stranger crowd;
Slubberdegullions on a squeaky feet,
Continually pacing,
With nonchalant embracing,
Each orifice disgracing
And one facing me moves to say "hellay".
His skin's all covered in slimy lumps.
With lips that slide across each chin.
His twisted limbs like rubber stamps
Are waved in welcome say 'Please join in.'
My grip must be flipping,
Cos his handshake keeps slipping,
My hopes keep on dipping
And his lips keep on smiling all the time.
Slipperman:
"We like you, have tasted love.
Don't be alarmed at what you see,
You yourself are just the same
As what you see in me."
Rael:
Me, like you? like that!
Slipperman:
"You better watch it son, your sentence has only just begun
You better run and join your brother John."
A VISIT TO THE DOKTOR
Slipperman:
"You're in the colony of slippermen.
There's no who? why? what? or when?
You get out if you've got the gripe
To see, Doktor Dyper, reformed sniper
he'll whip off your windscreenwiper
Rael:
John and I are able
To face the Doktor and his marble table.
The Doktor:
Understand Rael, it's the end of your tail.
Rael:
"Don't delay, dock the dick!"
I watch his countdown timer tick
THE RAVEN
He places the number into a tube,
A yellow plastic "shoobedoobe".
It says: "Though your fingers may tickle
You'll be safe in our pickle."
Suddenly, black cloud comes down from the sky.
I wandered lonely as a cloud,
Till I came upon this dirty street.
I've never seen a stranger crowd;
Slubberdegullions on a squeaky feet,
Continually pacing,
With nonchalant embracing,
Each orifice disgracing
And one facing me moves to say "hellay".
His skin's all covered in slimy lumps.
With lips that slide across each chin.
His twisted limbs like rubber stamps
Are waved in welcome say 'Please join in.'
My grip must be flipping,
Cos his handshake keeps slipping,
My hopes keep on dipping
And his lips keep on smiling all the time.
Slipperman:
"We like you, have tasted love.
Don't be alarmed at what you see,
You yourself are just the same
As what you see in me."
Rael:
Me, like you? like that!
Slipperman:
"You better watch it son, your sentence has only just begun
You better run and join your brother John."
A VISIT TO THE DOKTOR
Slipperman:
"You're in the colony of slippermen.
There's no who? why? what? or when?
You get out if you've got the gripe
To see, Doktor Dyper, reformed sniper
he'll whip off your windscreenwiper
Rael:
John and I are able
To face the Doktor and his marble table.
The Doktor:
Understand Rael, it's the end of your tail.
Rael:
"Don't delay, dock the dick!"
I watch his countdown timer tick
THE RAVEN
He places the number into a tube,
A yellow plastic "shoobedoobe".
It says: "Though your fingers may tickle
You'll be safe in our pickle."
Suddenly, black cloud comes down from the sky.
The Colony of Slippermen: The Arrival/A Visit to the Doktor/The Raven song meanings
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How could no one have commented thus far? Well this song is very important in furthering the storyline of "Lamb". After eating the flesh of the Lamia, Rael turns into a Slipperman, but doesn't realise until others tell him they are as hideous as him. He meets his brother John (himself) again and they discuss the predicament. He is informed that the only way to free himself from serving as a 'sense satisfier' is to be castrated by Doctor Dyper, reformed Sniper... when all seems to be uncomfortable, yet looking up for the pair, a raven swoops through, picks up the remains of Rael's package, ironically packaged up and he tells John they should follow it to get it back. Poor Rael. He expects John to happily follow him along (after being deserted by him before he wouldn't think it would happen again) but just his luck, his brother doesn't want to endanger himself, so Rael is on his own. He follows the raven through the caverns and finally sees the outside for the first time since 'Fly on a Windshield'/'Broadway Melody of 1974'. The raven drops the package into a ravine and he prepares to go down to retrieve it.
But what does all this mean? well... This song prepares Rael for his biggest challenge, forgiving John in the rapids further after deserting him in this song. It shows Rael's desperation through his instant decision to escape Slippermanitis through castration and also for a taste of social interaction: along the journey, which didn't even take a day (but seems forever, in a amazingly good way), he only saw the Carpet Crawlers, Seer, Lamia and Slippermen, putting aside John. His isolation is prevailent in all the other pieces (especially the instrumentals which capture this alienation well) and his immediate urge to talk to the Slippermen reveals how out of place he is. It is also the start of Rael understanding his split personality and appreciating life. Some of the imagery is a little disturbing. It is my most disliked track on the album because of the forced rhyming, but musically the tune captures the mood Gabriel tries to communicate well... exceptionally.
It really is captivating stuff. Anyway, (excuse the pun) this song really is for furthering the plot and was a centrepiece of live performances with G dressing up as a Slipperman himself, giving a barely audible performance, but nonetheless... the creativity was immense and although the band didn't have much room to vent their musical spleens throughout the rest of the album, the have the opportunity numerously in this piece.
70% rating for the song. 95% rating for the album :-) Thanks. Arial XK.