Siberian Breaks

This is a brilliant song and is the 'Tour de force' of Congratulations. Because MGMT worked very hard to make this a "concept album" it echoes many themes found in other tracks. It is ultimately about the ebb and flow of the creative process and the cold side of commercial success. Hence, surfing in Siberia is a very apt metaphor.

The mood of the music and the shifting tempo are as telling as the words.

The opening of the song is a gesture of dreamy withdrawal. It speaks of defense mechanisms kicking in and a backing away from sudden fame. On an optimistic note, even in this state the creative voice "streams" along "in the direction of truth."

sleep as the goer the bridge that watches the light speed thru and cries while the spirit stumbles the inside missile for the protection of you

maybe it's silent the voice can't bear anymore strain but speaks without even knowing and streams outside in the direction of truth

The next section starts with a revelation of sorts. Ultimately material success is meaningless and does not lead to true fulfillment. There is no larger reason. Andrew and Ben are not messiah's. Therefore the open arms of adoring fans, the recording industry, congratulatory friends, etc... feel strangely cold.

there's no reason there's no secret to decode if you can't save it, leave it dying on the road wide open arms can feel so cold so cold feel so cold

Tempo shift. The steady pulse of life pounds along. The shallow realities of American culture. Reality shows [vote to decide who'll advance]. Terrifying sensationalism [the terrible desire to see a plane crash]. The dark side of drug use [but really there's no trip at all, that doesn't result in a fall]. The trappings of success [nobly wasting the night, but it isn't right]. The desire to run (or "float") away and the inability to do so.

balance the books, the ledges, the loons the disappointed look on the faces that squint at the moon let's see it with shadows enhanced and then vote to decide who'll advance silver jet plane, making a turn exciting the brain that expects it to crash and then burn it's not the life lesson Id've guessed if you're conscious you must be depressed or at least cynical but someone might still eat the steaks even if they're tough spending the day chewing the fat floating away isn't rough but it's not enough oh Marianne, pass me the joint the sandpaper's tan go-getters are surfing the point and London's a scratch on the lens it's over before it begins silk round her neck falls down to her shoulders the older I get, the more I suspect there's a trick but really there's no trip at all that doesn't result in a fall or a faltering but something could spit out the bait even if it's real rolling away missing a spoke close to the ground like a wheel but it's not a joke holding the line clutching the phone nobly wasting the night, but it isn't right it's not right smelling for blood praying for rain running away isn't rough , but it's not enough

Tempo shift. The tides (which are always changing) swing back to the state of dreamy withdrawal we found at the beginning of the song. "I hope I die before I get sold" is both the expression of a very real desire to escape being packaged by the music industry and a very clever play the The Who lyric "I hope I die before I get old"

the low tide is telling me, when it's over, to breathe in everything exposed and comes back to cover me in a blanket being here's always changing tunes

the empty sky surrounds me but I can't see at all wide open arms can feel so cold and you can sit beside me and tell me what it's worth but I hope I die before I get sold I hope I die before I get sold I'd rather die before I get sold

Tempo shift. Fighting out of the withdrawn dream state and willing life back into the soul. Realizing that there is something inside that cannot be created or destroyed.

if you find the soul that you lost frozen in a starry void take it within and hope the sight of blood can will signs of life to return back to the way that it was long before it made a noise to keep on quietly reminding you what's never created or destroyed

Awake again. Creating again. But aware that the creative force (while it can't be destroyed) "can always go into hiding."

wake as the swell peaks the close-outs drowning the birds with roars and howls scare the new unkindness that picks and laughs at the carrion scene

forces you see breath can always go into hiding and wait til it passes over or stay far gone for all eternity

This is an abridged interpretation. The song is long enough that each line could be mulled over in lengthy fashion. It is really great to find a band and a lyricist that is engaged enough to strive for such a high level in this day of bubble gum pop and cheesy love ballads.

One last note. MGMT does not mean to look down their nose at drug use. After all its good fun. But as a dance band that earned their reputation on people taking ecstasy and getting down to tunes like "Electric Feel" they are striving for something larger. This is very evident to me in the opening track "It's Working" where they speak of a drug "working in your blood, but thats not the same as love -- love is only in your mind.