In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Just A Little Lovin'
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I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
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.