The Celestials

Special K is a street name for the drug ketamine which according to wiki "produces a dissociative state, characterised by a sense of detachment from one's physical body and the external world which is known as depersonalization and derealization". Billy is saying he's going to be this girl's escape from reality.

I think the whole song has to do with freedom. The idea is there is a person born into an empire, a place where you're close to authority. Its almost as if this person is isolated into this life. But throughout the rest of the song, the narrator, who also plays a role in the poem, shares advice on how to get to freedom. "Never let your thoughts run free" is an important line for expressing freedom. I think Billy Corgan tries to make the point that people so close to authority end up being oppressed, but would rather want freedom. "You can't escape" shows how oppressed this character is into their life in this empire. In some interviews Billy has even expressed that ideology of gaining freedom, so I wouldn't be surprised if that's what it were about.

Definitely a change in tempo.

The Celestials are comic book characters from the 70s. They are from another world and are basically ridiculously powerful and imposing.

As far as this song, I agree somewhat with the notion of freedom.

Part of me feels that this could be a song from someone who resents The Celestials for stepping in and saving them, because they want the freedom to save themselves. The narrator is always special K (detached, numb) to their efforts and instead focused on living their own life... rather than worshipping the all-powerful

Another part of me feels this is one of those songs that Billy just threw together words that sounded cool together (he's admitted he will do this from time to time).

The most important line to me would be:

Even when their numbers draw you out Everything I want is free

Essentailly, even when evil calls for The Celestials to come in and save the day... the narrator just wants everyone to go away and be free.

anybody have any clue about what "Special K" means? lol

a huge change in tempo, from the first two pounding, fast songs, to The Celestials. the beginning reminds me of Disarm, in a way. "Special K" really confused me, because it kinda sounded silly, in this really serious song. Special K (Special Ketamine) is a drug, [usually used at dance parties ;) ]that kinda lifts you from your physical body, and gives you this, out-of-body experience, and numbs you. Billy is saying he wants to be her (or your) escape from life, "your free with me". when the song changes into a thick, metal song, all my dreams came true. XD when i was listening to this cool acoustic song, i was like, "wow, this is sweet, but it would be sweeter if it had power chords," then BAM, Billy doesn't disapoint.. usually. i love the mind-numbing feedback at the end, drives other people crazy though, i think its cool.

I see the song as being written by a guy who is in love with somebody who is still trapped by their parents' expectations. Perhaps that person is grown now, and they don't even consider their parents expectations to be holding them back, since they've adopted those expectations as their own.

The word "parents" is never mentioned, of course, but parents are obliquely referred to several times... most directly in the first line. "On the day that you were born, they built an empire off a scream." This is referring to the parents dreaming, even with the baby's first emergent breaths, of the amazing things their baby will grow up and do. So many parents do this... living vicariously through their children, and hoping their children will grow up to accomplish great things.

"Endlessly they'll set you free. Give you reason to believe." This is something that parents do... but oftentimes with an unspoken undercurrent of "as long as you do it to the best of your ability and are successful!" Again, these lines are about the parents and their expectations. The net effect is to make the child feel partly obliged, partly empowered... to go to do whatever great things they are destined for. But looking at it another way, these statements of freedom and belief are actually part of the walls of parental expectations... and self expectations... that are hemming in the person who is the subject of the song-writer's love.

The last half of each verse, and the chorus, is the song-writer's attempt to bring out the individual in his love interest, and to teach them how to shed those parental/self expectations which he perceives as entrapping. He's telling her he will be her special k (a street drug that makes you feel like you're flying and free). He is trying to teach her how to let go of her inhibitions, how to truly love without reservation (this is the thing that is referenced when he says that "Everything I want is free"... true, unreserved love, and freedom itself.

God I love this song. I could keep writing... there's so much content here, packed into a few words. But I'll shut up now.

I can't explain Endlessly they'll set you free Give you reason to believe

it isnt endlessly they'll set you free it is LSD they'll set you free

Billy Corgan, in the interview "From Mellon Collie to Oceania" with Matt Pinfield, said regarding this song, altough he said "this is very conceptual" said that this song is "almost as if the same guy that was singing on Mellon Collie, is singing to" (I forgot exactly what he says from here on out so I'm not gonna quote him) a kid from today with the expirience he has, almost sort of warning him of what to do.

I don't really see that in this song, but this, to me, is one of those songs where you don't see a set meaning, I mean it obviously has to do with a relationship be it with a family member, a friend, or a lover, but the song kicks so much ass, it doesn't matter. This song as well reminds me so much of summer, and not just because it says summer in the chorus. Mostly because it came out in the summertime. Anyway thank you.