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Circus Envy Lyrics
Here comes that awful feeling again
Welcome the ugly animal.
I hold my breath to what you sing,
My pyro acrobat ball and chain,
I’m not afraid, I messed it, messed it, messed it, messed it up
I’ve got my telescope head in the haystack
I’m getting tired of your dodgeball circus act
Put pepper in my coffee, I forgot to bark on command
Here comes that awful feeling again
Make way for monster jealousy
The strong man kicked sand into my breakfast cereal bowl
I’d spelled your name with Oatios,
He messed it, messed it, messed it, messed it up
I’ve got my telescope head in the haystack
I am tired of your dodgeball circus act
Put pepper in my coffee, I forgot to bark on command
(you’re mean, mean, mean)
(you tease, tease, tease me)
If I were you I’d really run from me
I’d really really wish that I were you
When I get loose I’ll climb a tree
And drop a load on your head
This monster in me makes me retch, you messed it, messed it up
I’ve got my telescope head in the haystack
I am jealous of your dodgeball circus act
Put pepper in my coffee, I forgot to bark
Put pepper in my coffee, I forgot to bark on command
(you’re mean, mean, mean)
(you tease, tease, tease me)
Do you smell jealousy?
Do you smell jealousy, jealousy, jealousy?
Welcome the ugly animal.
I hold my breath to what you sing,
My pyro acrobat ball and chain,
I’m not afraid, I messed it, messed it, messed it, messed it up
I’m getting tired of your dodgeball circus act
Put pepper in my coffee, I forgot to bark on command
Make way for monster jealousy
The strong man kicked sand into my breakfast cereal bowl
I’d spelled your name with Oatios,
He messed it, messed it, messed it, messed it up
I am tired of your dodgeball circus act
Put pepper in my coffee, I forgot to bark on command
(you tease, tease, tease me)
I’d really really wish that I were you
When I get loose I’ll climb a tree
And drop a load on your head
This monster in me makes me retch, you messed it, messed it up
I am jealous of your dodgeball circus act
Put pepper in my coffee, I forgot to bark
Put pepper in my coffee, I forgot to bark on command
(you tease, tease, tease me)
Do you smell jealousy, jealousy, jealousy?
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I can't believe nobody has ever left a comment for this song! It is undoubtedly one of the angriest, meanest songs about unrequited love in the entire REM catalogue. If "The One I Love" is easily recognized as the REM song most associated with that theme, than this song takes the emotion behind it and demonstrates the kicking and screaming anger often associated with love not returned. Where "TOIL" seethes, this one boils.
This monster in me - the green-eyed monster of jealousy - gets lose I am going to retch, I am going to act compulsively. And you are not going to want to be around me when I explode.
This song is brilliant. This IS what it feels like to be in unrequited love. This is the anger. And Peter's guitar slams it home.
@peacefrogx I agree...
@peacefrogx I agree...
I think the song is about the weaker partner in a relationship who has, almost, finally had it with his partner who is emotionally enslaving him, but he's not quite ready to make that leap. He is envious of his partner's ability to manipulate and control and despises his own weakness in the face of it.
its an excellent song about jealousy. it really captures the anger. but it is also self mocking. he call it the ugly animal, the game of love is compared to a circus act; he spelt her name with oatios etc.. lots of self deprecating humor as well including head in the haystack and the line about climbing a tree and like a monkey dumping on her... It was perfect for my recent mood of jealousy because my jealousy was so ridiculously misplaced...
this song is hugely under-rated! its sung with amazing anger in an album almost as good as automatic for the ppl...
I agree. Whenever I hear it I think of my girlfriends who get to lie in the arms of someone who kisses them gently; holds their hands; tells them he loves them; laughs with them; keeps their feet warm on cold nights; reads poetry to them; and then (for lack of a better phrase) makes love to them. I get to envision it. (Then the cad brags about it and says it doesn't matter:) He's just shy alright.
I agree. Whenever I hear it I think of my girlfriends who get to lie in the arms of someone who kisses them gently; holds their hands; tells them he loves them; laughs with them; keeps their feet warm on cold nights; reads poetry to them; and then (for lack of a better phrase) makes love to them. I get to envision it. (Then the cad brags about it and says it doesn't matter:) He's just shy alright.
Yep this is about jealousy in particular and insecurity in general. There was a time in my life when I TOTALLY related to this song. "Here comes that awful feeling again" - indeed. Jelousy is bad kids, don't do it. ;o)
This definitely triggers some bad memories for me. Anyway it's a very good song, catchy and weird at the same time.
Lol I thought he said I forgot to boil on command not bark!
This is something that's been bothering me for years...decades even (when are we gonna get the 25th anniversary remastered-with-bonus-tracks-etc. version of Monster, anyhow?): I don't get the line, "I'd spelled your name with Oatios." Call me clueless (been called worse)...but does anybody know, or have some idea, what this means, or at least what it refers to?
@GwiberWyrdd Oatios is a brand of breakfast cereal. Similar to Cheerios. Those three lines go together.
@GwiberWyrdd Oatios is a brand of breakfast cereal. Similar to Cheerios. Those three lines go together.
The strong man kicked sand into my breakfast cereal bowl I'd spelled your name with Oatios He messed it, messed it, messed it, messed it up
The strong man kicked sand into my breakfast cereal bowl I'd spelled your name with Oatios He messed it, messed it, messed it, messed it up
He spelled her name using Os in the cereal bowl. Now, why using only the letter O would work and the implication of that is another matter I'm not entirely sure I get.
He spelled her name using Os in the cereal bowl. Now, why using only the letter O would work and the implication of that is another matter I'm not entirely sure I get.