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Smaller And Smaller Lyrics
Drought makes the workers dream
Muscles and fields of green
Shovel the last few crumbs
Of generosity
Open heart, open mind, open mouth, open vein
DRAIN
Someday the rains will come
My blistered hands tell me
Tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow
BITE
BITE
BITE
CRY
I'll keep coming back
Smaller and smaller and smaller
Squash me
Smaller and smaller and smaller
Under the charity
Smaller and smaller and smaller
Under the topsoil
Smaller and Smaller and smaller
Under the fingernail
Smaller and smaller and smaller
Then the small becomes all becomes all...
BITE
BITE
BITE
CRY
(It's not a mirage)
(It's not a mirage)
(Trickling downward, trickling downward)
(It's not a mirage)
DRAIN
DRAIN
BITE
BITE
BITE
CRY
Smaller and smaller and smaller and smaller and smaller....
Muscles and fields of green
Shovel the last few crumbs
Of generosity
Open heart, open mind, open mouth, open vein
DRAIN
Someday the rains will come
My blistered hands tell me
Tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow
BITE
BITE
CRY
Smaller and smaller and smaller
Squash me
Smaller and smaller and smaller
Under the charity
Smaller and smaller and smaller
Under the topsoil
Smaller and Smaller and smaller
Under the fingernail
Smaller and smaller and smaller
BITE
BITE
CRY
(It's not a mirage)
(Trickling downward, trickling downward)
(It's not a mirage)
DRAIN
BITE
BITE
BITE
CRY
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Not entirely sure, but the little native american interlude leads me to believe that this song is about the oppression of the native american's by the European settlers. The song begins with a description of a modern day reservation in the desert and then flashes back and tells how their land kept getting smaller and smaller until all they had left was charity hand-me-downs from the Amercians.
@jimbobjoe not sure if they had the native American's in their thoughts in particular, but an interesting thought and I think the theme of working hard for your "freedom" is integral in the song (what that "freedom" is subjective IMO).
@jimbobjoe not sure if they had the native American's in their thoughts in particular, but an interesting thought and I think the theme of working hard for your "freedom" is integral in the song (what that "freedom" is subjective IMO).
I've always associated this song with the Manifest Destiny - the westward movement of the White man, and specifically the building of the American railway in the 1860's. The riff and keyboards at the beginning of the song sound like a steam locomotive gaining momentum.
The lyrics also correlate to the building of the railway - "drought makes the workers deam, muscles and fields of green" - it's easier to knock soil loose to lay the rail and ties with dry land, but they hope for the rains to come so that they can cool off and take a break. I think the 2nd verse is talking about things from the Native American's point of view, as they were constantly being 'squashed' into smaller and smaller confines as the railroad expanded.
@sukkamc good interpretation ... not sure if I agree the song has any specific relevance to an event, or if it is simply skirting a general theme??
@sukkamc good interpretation ... not sure if I agree the song has any specific relevance to an event, or if it is simply skirting a general theme??
Are we to believe in metaphor in this song by faith no more? (yes i know it rhymes)
Yeah the indians thing makes sense.
I love Mike's voice in this song especially the 'BITE BITE BITE CRY' and the whole 'Smaller and smaller and smaller' bit.
I never thought about it... now when you mention it, this Indian stuff makes sense.
This song is clever. I think it touches on destruction. The indian thing makes sense, but I think that's just an example..
it's about people who lose lots of things as they grow older.... ???..
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Well, I think the Indian version is pretty accurate...
And the rains... isn't ita a metaphor for some kind of rage? Changing the current situation, which is called 'drought'?
travis bickle helped with one line...
I'd guess, figuring in Mike Patton's sense of humor at the time--seems like the first line sums it up. "Drought makes the workers dream." He's writing about people being happy to work, happy to slave. The kind of job in demand when things are bad. When things go well, theyre out of work. The rain comes and it gives them a vacation, but, it leaves them out of a job. just seems to be the kinda idea Mike Patton drooled over...like malpractice.