I think "inanity" got it pretty much right. Panda reefer's 'acid tab' idea was pretty ridiculous, but c'mon don't make vicious and melodramatic statements. Here's my take:
The lyrics of Imitosis contain several metaphors and, in a way, explanations for "the reason why" humanity exists.
First, the Creation is referred to with Doctor Pynchon (“God”) running this experiment with cells (separate egos), suggesting that the human experience is just a failed experiment. Thus, man (the bacteria) or perhaps Bird himself asks for “the reason why” the Doctor created him, why this experiment had to take place.
“With his machinations and his palindromes
It was anything but hear the voice
Anything but hear the voice
It was anything but hear the voice
That says that we're all basically alone”
This depicts man’s constant scurrying around, busying himself with games (from the narrow meaning of games, like palindromes, to the the big contraptions, machinations that are ultimately mere “games”) as a desperate attempt to flee that voice that tells him what he knows at some level is the truth, the fact that no matter what what connections he tries to make he ultimately cannot enter another consciousness, and is therefore “basically alone”.
"And turning to a playground in a Petri dish
Where single cells would swing their fists
At anything that looks like easy prey
In this nature show that rages every day
How can kids be so mean
Our famous doctor tried to glean"
The scientist, a personification of God, and therefore not God himself but a mere owner of an ego, looks for answers in the petri dish, and the "bacteria" look up to the scientist for answers. There is an endless cycle of looking truth where it never existed. Ultimately, not much truth cannot penetrate an ego, the ego must disintegrate to experience truth.
The swinging of the fists illustrates man’s ego, which is ultimately childlike (hence, playground). This weak, pathetic little ego aggressively fights to try to save itself from its inevitable destruction. Bird apparently views all of nature as this immature, raging group of separate egos who, although claiming to desire connection, really are out for only their own ego. Bird compares nature to a show, which is blown out of proportion and not truly “reality”.
"And why do some show no mercy
While others are painfully shy
Tell me doctor can you quantify
He just wants to know the reason why
The reason why"
Why do they congregate in groups of four
Scatter like a billion spores
And let the wind just carry them away
Man is asking God (the Doctor) why individual egos (bacteria) can vary so much, yet still depend so much on one another’s approval; why people only latch onto something once they know it’s been approved by “billions” of people.
In the song, “intuition” is the force beyond the ego that exists inside of every individual (although many egos muffle that voice) that reminds him of the absolute truth.
"Despite what all his studies had shown
That what's mistaken for closeness
Is just a case of mitosis"
A rather cynical view, stating that although mates think they are truly close, they are really just together to reproduce (hence, mitosis).
Obviously “God” has an ego in perhaps as thick as man, since he is playing the role of a doctor. This illustrates that our personified God is not God in absolute, pure state, but just, though maybe greater, ego.
"Sure fatal doses of malcontent through osmosis
And why do some show no mercy
While others are painfully shy
Tell me doctor, can you quantify
The reason why?"
“Sure fatal doses of malcontent through osmosis” depicts the view that life is in essence a fatal disease, where a being gains an ego, grows attached to it in futility even as it brings it constant malcontent, and eventually the being is forced to shed that nasty ego.
People want God to reveal them the truth, but ultimately, this being has an ego too, as they are communicating with Him in the language of those with egos, and the absolute God’s truth can only be absorbed through the shedding of the ego.
Ultimate message Imitosis: People always ask “why?” and think God really knows the answers, when in actuality, God is just a "scientist" who is confounded by his failed experiment, who set humanity in place but lost control, letting the experiment run its course (Perhaps an allusion to Nietzsche, "God is dead"?). Also, people compared to bacteria, both which are fundamentally beings that are out for their own survival and to multiply and colonize different places, all to physically survive and to therefore protect the ego from its death.
That's it for my imperfect analysis of the brilliant Andrew Bird's brilliant song Imitosis. Sorry it wasn't as eloquent as I could've made it but I figure that the poetry's up to Bird, and I just wanted to help get his message across.
There are definitely some gnostic qualities to your interpretation particulary concerning the imperfect god or "demiurge." I do dont know if Bird consciously wove this into the song but it is there regardless.
There are definitely some gnostic qualities to your interpretation particulary concerning the imperfect god or "demiurge." I do dont know if Bird consciously wove this into the song but it is there regardless.
I think "inanity" got it pretty much right. Panda reefer's 'acid tab' idea was pretty ridiculous, but c'mon don't make vicious and melodramatic statements. Here's my take:
The lyrics of Imitosis contain several metaphors and, in a way, explanations for "the reason why" humanity exists.
First, the Creation is referred to with Doctor Pynchon (“God”) running this experiment with cells (separate egos), suggesting that the human experience is just a failed experiment. Thus, man (the bacteria) or perhaps Bird himself asks for “the reason why” the Doctor created him, why this experiment had to take place.
“With his machinations and his palindromes It was anything but hear the voice Anything but hear the voice It was anything but hear the voice That says that we're all basically alone”
This depicts man’s constant scurrying around, busying himself with games (from the narrow meaning of games, like palindromes, to the the big contraptions, machinations that are ultimately mere “games”) as a desperate attempt to flee that voice that tells him what he knows at some level is the truth, the fact that no matter what what connections he tries to make he ultimately cannot enter another consciousness, and is therefore “basically alone”.
"And turning to a playground in a Petri dish Where single cells would swing their fists At anything that looks like easy prey In this nature show that rages every day How can kids be so mean Our famous doctor tried to glean"
The scientist, a personification of God, and therefore not God himself but a mere owner of an ego, looks for answers in the petri dish, and the "bacteria" look up to the scientist for answers. There is an endless cycle of looking truth where it never existed. Ultimately, not much truth cannot penetrate an ego, the ego must disintegrate to experience truth. The swinging of the fists illustrates man’s ego, which is ultimately childlike (hence, playground). This weak, pathetic little ego aggressively fights to try to save itself from its inevitable destruction. Bird apparently views all of nature as this immature, raging group of separate egos who, although claiming to desire connection, really are out for only their own ego. Bird compares nature to a show, which is blown out of proportion and not truly “reality”.
"And why do some show no mercy While others are painfully shy Tell me doctor can you quantify He just wants to know the reason why The reason why" Why do they congregate in groups of four Scatter like a billion spores And let the wind just carry them away
Man is asking God (the Doctor) why individual egos (bacteria) can vary so much, yet still depend so much on one another’s approval; why people only latch onto something once they know it’s been approved by “billions” of people.
In the song, “intuition” is the force beyond the ego that exists inside of every individual (although many egos muffle that voice) that reminds him of the absolute truth.
"Despite what all his studies had shown That what's mistaken for closeness Is just a case of mitosis"
A rather cynical view, stating that although mates think they are truly close, they are really just together to reproduce (hence, mitosis).
Obviously “God” has an ego in perhaps as thick as man, since he is playing the role of a doctor. This illustrates that our personified God is not God in absolute, pure state, but just, though maybe greater, ego.
"Sure fatal doses of malcontent through osmosis And why do some show no mercy While others are painfully shy Tell me doctor, can you quantify The reason why?"
“Sure fatal doses of malcontent through osmosis” depicts the view that life is in essence a fatal disease, where a being gains an ego, grows attached to it in futility even as it brings it constant malcontent, and eventually the being is forced to shed that nasty ego. People want God to reveal them the truth, but ultimately, this being has an ego too, as they are communicating with Him in the language of those with egos, and the absolute God’s truth can only be absorbed through the shedding of the ego.
Ultimate message Imitosis: People always ask “why?” and think God really knows the answers, when in actuality, God is just a "scientist" who is confounded by his failed experiment, who set humanity in place but lost control, letting the experiment run its course (Perhaps an allusion to Nietzsche, "God is dead"?). Also, people compared to bacteria, both which are fundamentally beings that are out for their own survival and to multiply and colonize different places, all to physically survive and to therefore protect the ego from its death.
That's it for my imperfect analysis of the brilliant Andrew Bird's brilliant song Imitosis. Sorry it wasn't as eloquent as I could've made it but I figure that the poetry's up to Bird, and I just wanted to help get his message across.
You took the words right out of my mouth. amazing song.
You took the words right out of my mouth. amazing song.
There are definitely some gnostic qualities to your interpretation particulary concerning the imperfect god or "demiurge." I do dont know if Bird consciously wove this into the song but it is there regardless.
There are definitely some gnostic qualities to your interpretation particulary concerning the imperfect god or "demiurge." I do dont know if Bird consciously wove this into the song but it is there regardless.