Wicked Campaign

This songs about the thoughts that go on in people's heads constantly. Specifically the people that exude fake confidence or those that have to exude it for whatever reason. Whether you realize it or not most everyone has thought something along these lines. Its about how people stand up straight for such ideas whether they are BS in their own head or not. Brock's seeing right through people and admitting his own BS as far as being a person to look to for answers in life. People know they might actually have no substance and their idea is failing but stick with it out of stubbornness because these things are actually what keeps the person going daily. "There's a lot more nothing than we knew exists" says just how empty a lot of thoughts really are because human existence is pretty bleak and mindless and always has been. It benefits you by opening an argument but you don't necessarily have to back it up with anything. You can just lean on a fence and smile and it will be perceived that you are much more intelligent than those asking you questions. You can perform mannerisms that give the facade of confidence to show that you know what you're talking about but there doesn't have to be any backbone to what you are saying. The mannerisms and accompanied self-thought of the individual are a sign that they are not as blindly confident as they appear (appearing relaxed and smiling). "You can say what you want but try to think it my way" shows how fragile these people are as far as their ideas go. They want to be catered to and not challenged. I don't think the "wicked campaign" refers to anything specifically but rather to anyone's campaign about anything that they deem worth opening their mouth for. "This is not my plan" and "Every day is a wicked campaign" is showing how much of these thoughts people really do partake in on a daily basis if you go out into the world and deem yourself "standing for something." I'm not positive but it might actually be really personal to Brock himself saying how he's brought up ideas through his music over the years and has lost sight of or never had sight of what he was aiming for exactly and now people look to him as some sort of prophet of the modern times and hes actually as clueless as the next. However, some profess that they can make sense of this senseless world which is never true.

"The nitty grit is that we're a broken species, that something's gone wrong," Brock says. "I don't like sounding preachy, that's not my gig. I'm every bit as much (a part) of the problem as the next person, and part of this record is sorting that out in my head for myself."

I think this song is about a guy who is bad at relationships.

He sees himself as broken:

"Well counted, calculator, you didn't calculate this That there's a lot more nothing than you knew exists"

I think the "nothing" he is talking about is himself, and he uses being an asshole to conceal this deep emptiness him. He continues a "wicked campaign"against any potential lover.

That said. It's Modest Mouse - you know he be talkin' about at least 5 things at once in this.

This is just my interpretation, and it might be totally off, but here goes: I interpret this song as being the thoughts of someone who has destroyed some aspect of the world for profit- let's say a CEO of a resource company, or something of the like. Pretty much, he is now seen by all of society as a monster (I guess I probably shouldn't wear this big old sign), and is halfheartedly searching for forgiveness. He asks you to look at it from his perspective, and claims that this was never his plan, even though he started this "Wicked Campaign". He finds himself unable to believe in his own lies (I started this debate, but now I'm sure I can't win), and is trying to say sorry, but he even admits that he really isn't (I could apologize, but then a bit more nothing exists). He ends by trying to convince people that "things aren't so bad", (much the same way environmentally irresponsible corporations do today), but he knows that the person he is talking to doesn't believe him.

Anyway, that kind of doesn't make sense, but whatever.

It's about politics and deceitful politicians.

Well I just found the fence where I am going to lean Take my handkerchief out and rub my eyeglasses clean So I just learned my face, but I forgot my name I'm gonna wear this smile like it's some stupid toupee And say, "Oh, oh, oh, oh, that's too bad"

His personality is disrupted; he lies to himself.

Oh, I just learned your face, but it is bound to change You can say what you want but try to think it my way And say, "Oh, oh, oh, this wicked campaign" I said, "Oh, oh, oh, this was not my plan"

He can project himself on to someone else. He suggests they abolish responsibility for their actions.

Well, you know I'm a bastard and we only just met I guess I probably shouldn't wear this big old sign 'round my neck I've still got some opinions that I'm willing to claim I'm gonna carry them around like they're some wicked campaign

He's a bad person without apologizing.

I started the debate, but now I'm sure I can't win I should probably just exit the same way I came in Well counted calculator, you didn't calculate this But there's a lot more nothing than you knew exists

This debate doesn't matter. You think arguing with me has a point, but I am empty on the inside.

Well, I just found the fence where I am going to lean Take my handkerchief out and rub my eyeglasses clean

And just wait And just wait and wait, wait, wait

I'm not dead but I misplaced the will I'm gonna wear this smile like it's a hundred dollar bill And just wait, wait, wait Wait, wait, wait, wait

I think he's painting himself as a predator, one who doesn't even have to pay any real expense. (So, not like a lion or something admirable.)

I'm not a doctor, but I'll sell you an itch I could apologize, but then a bit more nothing exists So the worlds got plenty of good and bad liars But our lies should come with chariots and choirs

Singing, "Oh, oh, oh, things are not so bad" And we sing, "Oh, oh, oh, it's our wicked campaign" And they sing, "Oh, oh, oh, things are not so bad" We sing, "Oh, oh, oh, what a wicked campaign"

He's saying the successful people are not the bad guys. Lies are medication and with totally honest people you would be in more pain.