Mean Spirits

I think it's about hooking up with someone you hate (still waiting for something nice to say // One more tempo, the angel you should be) and someone very manipulative Probably an ex and knowing you shouldn't, but caving in anyway (too late to decide, my lips are open wide)

They manipulated you (mouth is sharpened in a gruesome display), the sharp mouth meaning they have a way with words; "grusome display" because they know this isn't good for you, but they do it anyway, and they're just putting on a show for you, knowing they'll win, because you're completely buying into what they're saying (please go on and on, this beauty and your venom)

But you still go along with it all (I love to play and sing along) which is re-inforced by how many times that line is repeated

But you know the whole time that you shouldn't do this, and you hate them for it, and the tension is palpable (mean spirits are high)

By the end of it, you're totally on board and loving it (Please keep going on, oh my sweet venom)

The song has nothing to do with hooking up. It's simply about a person getting caught up unintentionally in badmouthing someone behind their back. The person "waiting for something nice to say" at the "backyard burning" cannot get in a word edgewise in defense of the person being trashed by others, and eventually gets caught up in the trash-talking him or herself (too late to decide, my lips are open wide).

it is "Mouth is sharpened in a gruesome display" instead of "mouth in sharp pen, little grooves on display

The song is about to people who fight and say mean things to each other the singer realizes the sorta sick game arguing becomes when ur spewing out mean things one another yet he finds himself continuing playing right along hence the line "I love to play and sing along"

I believe this song is mostly about his, or the characters, playfully malicious personality, and how it gets him into trouble, which he doesn't necessarily have a problem with since he knows what he is doing.

When you are hanging out with people, especially when drinking, and you kind of take little verbal "stabs" at your friends, sometimes crossing the line.

"Backyard burnings - outdoor party, with a fire involved I'm easily amused Backs are curling They’re running out of room" - his friends know he's getting into that "mood" maybe
after a couple of drinks

"Mouth is sharpened In a gruesome display But I’m still waiting For something nice to say"

sharpened mouth could also mean sharp tongued which means : a bitter or critical manner of speaking. It's him saying his wit is ready to be used in an evil way, and he's waiting for the perfect moment to say something critical

"My spirits are high Mean spirits high"

his spirits ARE the mean spirits, hence them both being high, for myself personally after a few drinks I get like this, where I'm in the mood to be sort of mischievous

"Please go on and on There's beauty in your venom I love to play and sing along I love to play and sing along"

Here he has just switched it saying "your venom" when he really is talking about himself, just for the sake of the song he's changed his viewpoint. There's beauty in your venom is how, people kind of look up to or respect the quick witted mischievous person, there's something attractive about it. Much like how girls love to date the badboys lol.

"Too late to decide My lips are open wide I love to play and sing along I love to play and sing along"

this means he's thought before he spoke, it's too late to decide whether or not he should say what he has, and he isn't sure if the person he's "ribbing" will be able to take it or not

"You stare over my shoulders Are you surprised to see? One more devil Where angel wings should be"

Pretty simple to understand, he doesn't have a moral compass guiding him at this time, as there is no angel vs devil on his shoulder fighting or good or evil.

Anyways, that is my take on the song, and it works for me. Maybe because it reminds me of how I can get sometimes lol, but having seen interviews of Brian, it wouldn't be so hard to believe he can be a little mischievous, not downright mean, but cheeky with his own friends.