This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Dear God, do you want to tear your knuckles down
And hold yourself?
Dear God, can you climb off that tree
Meat in the shape of a 'T'?
Dear God, the paper says
You were the King in the black limousine
Dear John and all the King's men
Can't put your head together again
Before the bullets
Before the flies
Before authorities
Take out my eyes
The only smiling are you dolls that I made
But you are plastic
So are your brains
Dear God, the sky is as blue
As a gunshot wound
Dear God, if you were alive
You know we'd kill you
Before the bullets
Before the flies
Before authorities
Take out my eyes
The only smiling are you dolls that I made
But you are plastic
So are your brains
And hold yourself?
Dear God, can you climb off that tree
Meat in the shape of a 'T'?
Dear God, the paper says
You were the King in the black limousine
Dear John and all the King's men
Can't put your head together again
Before the bullets
Before the flies
Before authorities
Take out my eyes
The only smiling are you dolls that I made
But you are plastic
So are your brains
Dear God, the sky is as blue
As a gunshot wound
Dear God, if you were alive
You know we'd kill you
Before the bullets
Before the flies
Before authorities
Take out my eyes
The only smiling are you dolls that I made
But you are plastic
So are your brains
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Bryant the Great, Manson doesn't hate god, he hates the way it's used to manipulate people
whenever i hear the verse "before authorities take out my eyes" i visualize government-directed snipers focusing their crosshairs at JFK's eyes, preparing to silence him.
to me it sounds like that last prayer of a condemed man in some 19th century prison cell particuly the lines "Before the bullets before the flies before authorities take out my eyes"
Obviously, this is about A: the life, legacy and death of JFK, and B: Adam's commentary on Death Valley.
The "if you were alive we'd kill you" line is pointing out that if Jesus showed up today we'd do the same thing we did to him two thousand years ago.
This is a very good song, and ties in with JFK.
He is saying that JFK was one of those people that when they got killed, they will be a timeless figure in history, just like Jesus.
"Dear God, the paper says you were the king in the black limosine." This means JFK will be remembered as "the king in the black limosine" when ever he is portrayed in literature.
"Dear John and all the kings men couldn't put your head together again." This means we can recreate his image in books, movies, etc., but no one will ever be able to bring back who he really was.
"Dear God, if you were alive, we know we'd kill you" This means if God was alive, he would technically be able to die. And people would not remember God as well if he lived a full life and died of old age. His image would be immobilized in history if he was killed, so someone would come around to do it, just like how Oswald did it to Kennedy.
On to the chorus....
"Before the bullets" Would stand for before the shots were fired
"Before the flies" Just as flies go to a rotting animal, the media did the same thing with JFK.
"Before authorities take out my eyes" Before his autopsy
"The only smiling are you dolls that I made, but you are plastic, and so are your brains." Manufacturers could make dolls of JFK, but he was the one that made his image, and how ever hard people try to duplicate him, they will never succeed, as the doll are just plastic, not flesh.
im amazed that so few people know about one of the greatest presidents we ever had, John/jack Fitzgerald Kennedy most of the Holy wood album is about Kennedy
i agree with the most above but the part about the kings men well i would see John as JFK and he is the king the kings men his cabinetcoudln't restore, well thats the hard part of what they couldn't restore freedom peace, the world?
i would like to add that if you have the lyric booklet/fold out you can see some people in Kennedy's life
Death: it looks like Oswald High priestess: Jackie Kennedy Justice: Robert Kennedy Fool: hard to see possibly CIA chief Angleton Hermit: cant guess Emporer: also hard could be Joeseph Kennedy Devil: i think its Nixon due to his left hands gesture Magician: ??? Hierophant: i can only judge by the name, Rose Kennedy his mother
"Dear God do you want to tear knuckles down and hold yourself"
He's asking if God has basically given up and can do nothing but hold himself and watch everything fall apart
"Dear god the paper says you were the King in the black limousine Dear John and all the King's men can't put you head together again"
I believe he is saying JFK was viewed as 'Holy' during the times and yet he was killed, people will not allow anything religiously good come into power.
"Before the bullets, before the flies, before Authorities take out my eyes."
He's basically saying that this is his last chance to send the message before authorities kill him or take away what he knows/sees
"the only smiling are you dolls that I made but you are plastic and so are your brains"
hes saying the only ones that can be happy are the ignorant people who do not think for themselves
"Dear god the sky is as blue, as a gunshot wound Dear god if you were alive, you know we'd kill you"
The sky is blood red, if God was alive we would kill him like with Jesus, its sadly true which shows how hopeless this world is if even God cannot save it from falling apart.
That's my take on it. I beleive in God and it's really hard to say whether Manson beleives or not. The point is this song is not anti-christ. It's basically saying how fucked up the world is that if Jesus couldn't change it, then who can? A common reoccuring theme in mansons work. It's brillant. I agree with whoever said mansons work is a gift to us all, not many people offer any real light on relgious views other than love god blindly, speak no wrong, etc which is not what its all about. Mansons viewpoint is very similar to my own. i love it.
Spot on. Cheers
just a good fucking song
what does this mean.............is this against religion?