I've just read Jim DeRagotis' book about the Lips, and person10101's comment more or less sums up how Wayne describes the meaning. Apparently this song was a key factor in Ronald Jones, who played guitar with the band at the time, leaving the band, as he perceived the message as a negative one, conflicting with his happy-clappy spiritual views. I think, although he was a wonderful guitarist and probably a lovely guy, that he missed the point. God only knows where the magic bullet and glowing mothership fit into all though...
A "magic bullet" is a specific weapon to destroy a particular (conventionally invulnerable) fairytale beast. The metaphor is often used to describe new medicines. In this case, i believe it refers to a deus ex machina, the "glowing mothership", which i see as a reference to Neil Young's "After the Gold Rush".
Of course, in this case, the "mother zaps you dead". It is a dark song. Flaming Lips are not entirely happy-clappy as some of their fans and (evidently) ex-guitarist would like to believe.
A "magic bullet" is a specific weapon to destroy a particular (conventionally invulnerable) fairytale beast. The metaphor is often used to describe new medicines. In this case, i believe it refers to a deus ex machina, the "glowing mothership", which i see as a reference to Neil Young's "After the Gold Rush".
Of course, in this case, the "mother zaps you dead". It is a dark song. Flaming Lips are not entirely happy-clappy as some of their fans and (evidently) ex-guitarist would like to believe.
I've just read Jim DeRagotis' book about the Lips, and person10101's comment more or less sums up how Wayne describes the meaning. Apparently this song was a key factor in Ronald Jones, who played guitar with the band at the time, leaving the band, as he perceived the message as a negative one, conflicting with his happy-clappy spiritual views. I think, although he was a wonderful guitarist and probably a lovely guy, that he missed the point. God only knows where the magic bullet and glowing mothership fit into all though...
A "magic bullet" is a specific weapon to destroy a particular (conventionally invulnerable) fairytale beast. The metaphor is often used to describe new medicines. In this case, i believe it refers to a deus ex machina, the "glowing mothership", which i see as a reference to Neil Young's "After the Gold Rush". Of course, in this case, the "mother zaps you dead". It is a dark song. Flaming Lips are not entirely happy-clappy as some of their fans and (evidently) ex-guitarist would like to believe.
A "magic bullet" is a specific weapon to destroy a particular (conventionally invulnerable) fairytale beast. The metaphor is often used to describe new medicines. In this case, i believe it refers to a deus ex machina, the "glowing mothership", which i see as a reference to Neil Young's "After the Gold Rush". Of course, in this case, the "mother zaps you dead". It is a dark song. Flaming Lips are not entirely happy-clappy as some of their fans and (evidently) ex-guitarist would like to believe.