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Desperate Graves Lyrics

The swarms that I speak
are the wrists I have cut
by flooding the tubs
where the warmth held her up

The lockets believe
that the secret of love
has caught its own tail
and it just won't give up

When I breathe
the heavens can't hold me
and I can't believe anymore

The light brings
the highest execution
show me the wings I must cut

In your landfill days
these are desperate graves

Give me the alter
red will shine
this pendulum won't wait

If I slay your spirits
with twin current volts
that weaken your knees
in the pit of my palms

Dressed in the slurs
of bovine engines
to feast upon the carcass
of your mother

When I breathe
the heavens can't hold me
and I can't believe anymore

The light brings
the highest execution
show me the wings I must cut

In your landfill days
these are desperate graves

Give me the alter
red will shine
this pendulum won't wait

When I turn the dial
and leave the gas on
I'm the matchstick
that you'll never lose

These are the splinters
made from a single blade
I'm the matchstick
that you'll never lose

I light the key
that locks you in
I'm the matchstick
that you'll never lose

And you'll wear the burden
of all my burns
I'm the matchstick
that you'll never lose

In your landfill days
these are desperate graves

Give me the alter
red will shine
this pendulum won't wait
13 Meanings

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Cover art for Desperate Graves lyrics by Mars Volta, The

are these official?

if not i think i hear a couple different things:

"the secret of love has caught its own tail and just won't give up" instead of cut..as in a dog chasing it's tail that finally catches it, but still chases it....

also "these are the splinters made from a single blade - just seems to make more sense in context.

i dunno i could be wrong. as far as meaning, i have NO clue. maybe someone who is charged with an impossible task such as clipping an angel's wings.

Yes, "caught it's own tail". Yes, "made from a single blade." Those are the correct lyrics..... they are the the CD booklet

Cover art for Desperate Graves lyrics by Mars Volta, The

this is my favorite song off the album, it's beautiful

Cover art for Desperate Graves lyrics by Mars Volta, The

Seems relatively simple.

It's a personification of misery. The entity sung about is an object or quintessence of misery. It's the entity that is the "matchstick to the gas-filled room, the light to the key that locks you in", etc. It's the sole entity that "cuts the wings", or breaks down a person. What exactly the personification is, I'm not sure. Twin-volts slaying a spirit, some kind of Zeus or otherworld god reference?

I like your idea, but have to politely disagree. I don't think this song is meant to be a simple personification. Plus, its not just misery that is being shown. "When I breathe, the heaven's can't hold me and I can't believe anymore." That line alone critiques religion, offers doubt, and also offers power. Plus, the notion of being the matchstick that you'll never lose isn't meant to be misery to me as much as it a lingering threat; a symbol of permanant danger/control over someone/thing. I can't offer my own FULL interpretation yet cause I'm trying to figure out...

Cover art for Desperate Graves lyrics by Mars Volta, The

Mars Volta stayted that this album speaks about kidnapping. And reading to this lyrics y get to the conclution that this is sung by the parent of someone kidnapped... by the bridge part of the song (from "When I turn the dial..." till the end) he speaks with anger to the kidnapper, describing how he'll take revenge on him.

love this song. specially the bridge part. i'm from Argentina and here we live with kidnappings too, as described on this album...

Actually, this song is the point of view of the kidnapper, who is torturing the victim.

Cover art for Desperate Graves lyrics by Mars Volta, The

its so sad...

Cover art for Desperate Graves lyrics by Mars Volta, The

its so sad...

Cover art for Desperate Graves lyrics by Mars Volta, The

the bridge is like one of my favorite parts of the new album..... sick.

Cover art for Desperate Graves lyrics by Mars Volta, The

hey.... so, the bridge of this song.... and the first line of metronome arthritis "Strike this match and let loose the oven's breath" ..... any connection at all. Overall it definately seems like this song could be about kidnapping. If so, definately the most beautiful song about kidnapping I've ever heard.

Cover art for Desperate Graves lyrics by Mars Volta, The

I light the key that locks you in I'm like the king that locks you in ??????????

Cover art for Desperate Graves lyrics by Mars Volta, The

Well, and what for 'give me the alter'?

Don't blame me, maybe my understanding is plain but firstly I thought the song is about a kind of relations lovers and one of them has committed (or is going to commit) a suicide. And 'matchstick that can not be lost' image is like an expression of extreme devotion.

 
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