Both as a standalone and as part of the DSOTS album, you can take this lyric as read. As a matter of public record, Jourgensen's drug intake was legendary even in the 1980s. By the late 90s, in his own words, he was grappling with massive addiction issues and had lost almost everything: friends, spouse, money and had nearly died more than once. "Dark Side of the Spoon" is a both funny & sad title for an album made by a musical genius who was losing the plot; and this song is a message to his fans & friends saying he knows it. It's painful to listen to so I'm glad the "Keith Richards of industrial metals" wised up and cleaned up. Well done sir.
Supporting Caste
When the credits finally roll for this, the worst story ever told,
don’t bother sifting through the names for yours or anyone you know.
Unless they were by chance a shepherd king, a virgin birth,
a resurrection, a messianic prince or some such childish thing.
You can storm the edit suite or move to block its theatrical release,
but I think we can safely guarantee
that there will be no revisions
to the script made on behalf of a supporting cast(e).
Because history exalts only the pornography of force–that of murderers
and psychopaths (the rest of us, of course,
stricken from the narrative wholesale: a back drop to the tale)
as we, the two-bits, are ushered on and swiftly off
this stage with the jawbones of asses.
No stirring curtain call for the masses.
No floral bouquet.
No breaking of legs.
No recurring role.
No artistic control.
And so in these days, in this terminal phase,
it’s all left to chance.
A piece of advice: if you’re cast on thin ice,
you may as well dance.
Do what you feel you must,
but as for me I was not put upon this earth to subjugate or serve.
When the credits finally roll for this, the worst story ever told,
don’t bother sifting through the names for yours or anyone you know.
Unless they were by chance a shepherd king, a virgin birth,
a resurrection, a messianic prince or some such childish thing.
You can storm the edit suite or move to block its theatrical release,
but I think we can safely guarantee
that there will be no revisions
to the script made on behalf of a supporting cast(e).
Because history exalts only the pornography of force–that of murderers
and psychopaths (the rest of us, of course,
stricken from the narrative wholesale: a back drop to the tale)
as we, the two-bits, are ushered on and swiftly off
this stage with the jawbones of asses.
No stirring curtain call for the masses.
No floral bouquet.
No breaking of legs.
No recurring role.
No artistic control.
And so in these days, in this terminal phase,
it’s all left to chance.
A piece of advice: if you’re cast on thin ice,
you may as well dance.
Do what you feel you must,
but as for me I was not put upon this earth to subjugate or serve.
Lyrics submitted by Xremo
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Gentle Hour
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
No Surprises
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Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Head > Heels
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“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Not sure I agree sandihume re: these lyrics not being to the point
this song is basically suggesting that as the human 'story' draws to a close, and stating that for the most part ordinary people will never receive recognition for their contibutions unless they are "a shepherd king, a virgin birth, etc" (i.e. someone like Jesus) - which is a another way of pointing out that there was nothing more (or less) remarkable about Jesus compared to anyone else who has ever lived and yet billions worldwide follow his life. This point is later emphasised with the line "as we, the two-bits, are ushered on and swiftly off the stage"
the line "Because history exalts only the pornography of force..." is referring to the fact that history is written by the victors (aka "murderers and psychopaths"), with the people who are effected by their actions ignored and forgotten. this is why there is no point in "[storming] the edit suite" as we are merely the "supporting cast(e)", and therefore there is nothing we can do to change how history has been recorded and passed on
I love the closing lines of the song "A piece of advice: if you're cast on thin ice, you may as well dance" - if the 'powers that be' decide that you're of no significance, you might as well just enjoy yourself - "Do what you feel you must, but as for me I was not put on this earth to subjugate or serve" - basically, do what you feel necessary to make yourself/your life comfortable but don't do 'Them' any favours, because they aren't going to do you any favours anytime soon
Fantastic song
this is what i was thinking. good explanation.