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You Happy Puppet Lyrics

How did they teach you to be just a happy puppet dancing on a string?
How did you learn everything that comes along with slavish funnery?
Tell me something, if the world is so insane,
is it making you sane again to let another man tug at the thread that pulls up your nodding head?

How did they teach you to be just a happy puppet dancing on a string?
How do you manage to live inside this tiny stage you can't leave?
Tell me something, if the world is so insane,
is it making you sane again to let another man tug at the thread that pulls up your nodding head?

A dullard strung on the wire.
When the master's gone you hang there with your eyes and your limbs so lifeless.

How did they teach you to be just a happy puppet dancing on a string?
How do you manage to speak, your mouth a frozen grin?

A dullard strung on the wire.
When the master's gone you hang there with your eyes and your limbs so lifeless.

Tell me something, if the world is so insane,
is it making you sane again to let another man tug at the thread that pulls up your empty wooden head?

Your hollow head, your marble eyes, your wooden hands and your metal jaw pins
all wait in limbo for the man who knows how to move you this way.
6 Meanings

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Cover art for You Happy Puppet lyrics by 10,000 Maniacs

This is about someone who is so dumb and devoid of thought, he lets others determine his life and actions, and does so willingly. The observer is wondering, "how did you allow yourself to be so brainwashed that you can't function without the direction of others...?"

I think this is a bit extreme. Perfectly intelligent people fall into the trap of becoming a puppet. People often approach this kind of theme thinking, “This is about sheeple. I’m so not one of them.” But, the person who is able to never be a puppet is very rare.

Cover art for You Happy Puppet lyrics by 10,000 Maniacs

I don't thonk it's about a nman, I thinkk it's abourt a woman who keeps getting hersekf into manipulative relationships. She allpws man after man to xontrol her life as if she has no mind of her own. She's been this way so long she can't think for herself anymore.

Cover art for You Happy Puppet lyrics by 10,000 Maniacs

It's about someone who is brainwashed by what others tell him/her... A tool, essentially. I think in this case, the media/government (considering it was written during the Reagan era).

Cover art for You Happy Puppet lyrics by 10,000 Maniacs

Yes, the song is saying "Don't be a tool". Great song from a great band. For some strange reason I think NIN should cover this song.

Cover art for You Happy Puppet lyrics by 10,000 Maniacs

This reminds me of the Beatles, "While My Guitar Gentely Weeps" I don't know how someone controlled you They bought and sold you...

Cover art for You Happy Puppet lyrics by 10,000 Maniacs

This song is about everyone in the world, and how they just obey, obey, obey away.

 
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