Don't tell my sister about your most recent vision.
Don't tell my family they're all wicked-strict Christian.
Don't tell the hangers-on, don't tell your friends.
Don't tell them we went down to Ybor City, again.
Don't tell the dancers, they'll just get distracted.
Don't tell the DJs. They already suspect us.
Don't mention the bloodshed, don't mention the scams.
Don't tell them Ybor City almost killed us, again.

We are the theater, they are the people dressed up to be seated,
Lookin' upwards and dreamin'. We're the projectors.
We're hosting the screening.
We're dust in the spotlights, we're just kinda floating.

Don't drop little hints. I don't want them to guess.
Don't mention Tampa, they'll just know all the rest.
Don't mention bloodshed, don't tell them it hurts.
Don't say we saw angels, they'll take us straight to the church.
They queue up for tickets to see the performance, they push to get closer,
Lookin' upwards with wonder. We are the actors.
The cameras are rollin'.
I'll be Ben Gazzara, you'll be Gena Rowlands.

Sometimes, actresses get slapped.
Sometimes, actresses get slapped.
Sometimes, fake fights turn out bad.
Sometimes, actresses get slapped.
Some nights, makin' it look real might end up with someone hurt.
Some nights, it's just entertainment, and, some other nights, it's real.

They come in for the beating, to see the stadium seating.
They're holding their hands out for the body and blood, now.
We're the directors, our hands will hold steady.
I'll be John Cassavettes, let me know when you're ready.
Man, we make our own movies. Man, we make our own movies.
Man, we make our own movies. Man, we make our own movies.


Lyrics submitted by idolatry, edited by skybleach

Slapped Actress Lyrics as written by J Kubler C Finn

Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC

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Slapped Actress song meanings
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11 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    wait i think i figured it out. Ben Gazzara and Gena Rowlands were in Opening Night also starring and directed by John Cassavettes. The film is about an girl who dies trying to meet her favorite actress (played by Gena Rowlands) and the actress' downward spiral when she thinks it is her fault. John Cassavettes is most well known for starting the independent film revolution i.e. we make our own movies.

    allofmylove68on June 12, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    also, i looked up the whole 'opening night' thing (thanks allofmylove68) and it explains the main idea of the song as well as the title.

    "Myrtle (Gena Rowlands) goes on to tell Manny (Ben Gazzara) she is very worried about the slap that is to be delivered by Maurice (John Cassavetes) during the play. Manny raises his voice and tells her succinctly, "It's a tradition. Actresses get slapped. It's mandatory you get hit." His use of the term "slap" in this context means that actresses must make themselves vulnerable in their profession, and be "hit" by the reality of love, aging, mortality, beauty, etc., on a level apart from their stage roles. That one sentence "it's mandatory you get hit" sums up the crux of Myrtle's dilemma, and serves as the catalyst for her fight to avoid being "hit" by reality. -johncassavetes.net/

    westside05on June 24, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this is my favorite song off the new cd. the lyrics are

    I'll Be Ben Gazzara You'll Be Gena Rowlands

    Gena Rowlands is John Cassavettes wife as well as an actor, Ben Gazzara is also an actor but im not sure how he fits in.

    allofmylove68on June 12, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    yeah this song is sweet. probably second favorite for me after constructive summer

    westside05on June 24, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Just a small correction:

    I'm 99% sure it's "We're dust in the spotlights" as opposed to "dusting".

    My favorite song on the album. Very "meta".

    krugforprezon June 30, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Small correction also: Some nights it's just entertainment/and some other nights it's work.

    Definitely one of the album's top three. Almost as good of an album ender as Separation Sunday's.

    kviiion July 16, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Something I thought was funny, he pronounces her name like "Gina" when i'm PRETTY sure it's pronounced like "Jenna."

    tjwellson August 03, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think "skins" in the second stanza should be capitalized, as it's probably a (sneaky) reference to the Cityscape Skins, Gideon's gang.

    Keterianon November 06, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I need to know what this amazing song is about!

    allie212on July 16, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Absolute brilliance. The swan song band of Generation X..... I dost love thee, Craig Finn....

    hottoddyon December 17, 2009   Link

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