So this has been.my favorite song of OTEP's since it came out in 2004, and I always thought it was a song about a child's narrative of suffering in an abusive Christian home. But now that I am revisiting the lyrics, I am seeing something totally new.
This song could be gospel of John but from the perspective of Jesus.
Jesus was NOT having a good time up to and during the crucifixion. Everyone in the known world at the time looked to him with fear, admiration or disgust and he was constantly being asked questions. He spoke in "verses, prophesies and curses". He had made an enemy of the state, and believed the world was increasingly wicked and fallen from grace, or that he was in the "mouth of madness".
The spine of atlas is the structure that allows the titan to hold the world up. Jesus challenged the state and in doing so became a celebrated resistance figure. It also made him public enemy #1.
All of this happened simply because he was doing his thing, not because of any agenda he had or strategy.
And then he gets scourged (storm of thorns)
There are some plot holes here but I think it's an interesting interpretation.
I never lie
To myself
Tonight.
Rose, tinted eyes
Color my sorrow
A shade of 'why?
Bye bye black balloon
See you real soon
Wave bye bye
Bye bye
Why were you so sad
What have they done?
Forget those mindless baboons
They're off playing God
Copy cats in cheap suits
All playing it safe
While cannibals with their noose
Consume a parade
Is it wonderful?
Kalopsia, kalopsia, kalopsia
Kalopsia, kalopsia
Far, far from shore
The land of nightmares
Gone forever more
And I love you more
Than I can control
I don't even try
Why would I?
Oh why the long face?
You've got it all wrong
Forget the rat in the race
We'll choke chain them all
Fates favor the ones
Who help themselves
The rest feel the sting of the lash
As they run, as they run
To hell
To myself
Tonight.
Rose, tinted eyes
Color my sorrow
A shade of 'why?
Bye bye black balloon
See you real soon
Wave bye bye
Bye bye
Why were you so sad
What have they done?
Forget those mindless baboons
They're off playing God
Copy cats in cheap suits
All playing it safe
While cannibals with their noose
Consume a parade
Is it wonderful?
Kalopsia, kalopsia, kalopsia
Kalopsia, kalopsia
Far, far from shore
The land of nightmares
Gone forever more
And I love you more
Than I can control
I don't even try
Why would I?
Oh why the long face?
You've got it all wrong
Forget the rat in the race
We'll choke chain them all
Fates favor the ones
Who help themselves
The rest feel the sting of the lash
As they run, as they run
To hell
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings, edited by FlowJ, familiarsight, sparna, wampaking, strykerchick, Cassabian, Disen, TheBronze, MilkManMike, Irockman1, hukayers, skaffen
Kalopsia Lyrics as written by Josh Homme Dean Anthony Fertita
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Like a lot of the other comments are saying, I think this mainly about voyeurism. If the song was about his girlfriend, then why would he use the word spy. If you are a spy it means you shouldn't be caught, that is kind of the whole point, and if you are a voyeur, the whole point of the pleasure you get from it, is the fact that the other people don't know you are watching them. See a bit of a connection there?
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Correct lyrics from the ...Like Clockwork Double LP:
I never lie To myself Tonight
Rose tinted eyes Colour my sorrow a shade of wine Bye bye black balloon I'll see ya real soon Wave bye bye Bye bye...
Oh why you so sad? What have they done? Forget those mindless baboons, they're off playing God Copy cats in cheap suits are playing it safe While cannibals of bad news consume the parade
Is it wonderful?
Far, far from shore-sure The land of nightmares, gone... Forever more
I love you more than I can control I don't even try. Why would I?
Oh why the long face? You've got it all wrong Forget the rat in the race, we'll choke chain them all Fates favor the ones who help themselves The rest feel the sting of the lash as they row...
…The boat to hell
Row.
The song is a conversation between Homme and his consciousness. Josh is officially saying goodbye to his dark life-style. For some apparent reason it makes him sad. His consciousness telling him to be happy about turning a new leaf and to forget those who are a bad influence to him. It's a really deep song. Artistically ...Like Clockwork is QOTSA's magnum opus.
i really dig this interpretation - and considering that "kalopsia" is a word meaning to imagine something as being way more beautiful than it really is, it fits your description; he's convincing himself that the "dark life-style" isn't that great after all.
I never lied To myself Tonight
Rose-tainted eyes Colour my sorrow A shade of wine
Bye bye black balloon I'll see you real soon Wave bye bye Bye bye
Oh. why are you so sad? What have they done? Forget those mindless baboons They're off playing God
Copy cats in cheap suits All playing it safe While cannibals with their noose Consume a parade
Is it wonderful?
Far, far... from ashore Land of nightmares Gone forevermore
And I love you more Than I can't control I don't even try Why would I...?
Oh, why the long face? You've got it all wrong Forget the lead and the rings We'll choke chain them all
Fate favours the ones Who help themselves The rest feel the sting of the words As they row (as they row) A boat... to hell!
Perfect!
Is there a second verse if so I would love to hear it if someone could link it to me.
I think this song is about taking off your mask and embracing who you are. Being as the character in this video is a ugly monster. He takes off his mask and sees happiness then is killed by a man who does not accept him.
youtube.com/watch
especially consider that the word Kalopsia literally means "The delusion of things being more beautiful than they are"
It's hard to tell if the line is "they're all playing god" or "they're off playing god". But at least both possibilities make sense!
On topic...the song's appropriately "off" sounding and that's awesome. The voice of the song sounds like they're split between seeing the world as a wonderful place and hating everybody (the stupid baboon people playing god with stuff and probably being all loud about it to each other). Aren't we all? In and out of denial, I mean. I feel like "Is it wonderful?" really ties up that package neatly.
The line mentioning wine may be quietly teasing at the idea of someone drowning their troubles by drinking, which makes them feel happy and less inhibited. If you flip those around - though one causes the other - it's the right order in terms of the lyrics. The rose-coloredness might also be why they claim they don't lie to themselves, if that's the right idea of the first lines.
The black balloon I wasn't sure about at first, but I bet most people are familiar with this whole song and dance, therapy or not: "Now imagine all your bad emotions are a balloon...let go of it...it's floating up, up and away..." I think that's what's being alluded to. The blackness could be anything, I dunno. Hate? Anger? The aforementioned sorrow? All of them? See you real soon? If they're caught between clashing feelings, as stated, that bad black balloon will be back. They try to let go, but it doesn't stay that way.
Arthur Rimbaud poetic vignette of opium induced hallucination.
Check out live performances of this song on Youtube you'll see that Josh dedicates this song to his daughter almost every time. I totally get it, life is sometimes shitty, friends turn away, but you have this darling little thing who sees you more perfectly then you see yourself... bye by black balloon... see you real soon ... she's the one with kalopsia. The one who love you no matter what, and reminds you that they can all f* themselves sideways... you got each other's backs.
It's funny that none of the top answers analyze this song starting with its title.
Google Web-Definitions defines kalopsia as "The delusion of things being more beautiful than they are."
That having been said, this is where, what I think of as some of the best, most insightful, and most artistic lyrics in the song come in.
If you were only able to make out the eyes of something, like, say, in the dark or something, red eyes would be considered by most to be a bad thing (scary or hateful, etc.). However, using the word "rose" in the line "rose-tinted eyes" gives the delusion of these red eyes being more beautiful than they are.
Also, the line "I love you more than I can control" tends to suggest the same type of phenomenon.
Clearly, there is more to the meaning of this song than just "kalopsia" but it is, indeed, the title, so I tend to think that it has more to do with it than the suggested meanings have included so far, although, I'm not sure of the connection or just how much meaning "kalopsia" has to the overall song meaning.
Just thought I'd add my two cents here.
I've just updated what I could decipher, but I'm pretty sure the last two verses I put are completely wrong. (My edit isn't showing for some reason though?!)
Arthur Rimbaud poetic vignette of opium induced hallucination.