Everybody's comments and interpretations are very interesting and i agree with parts of them. But this is my interpretation of the song.
'Judging by the look on the organ-grinder' - As the other comments explained, by the 'organ grinder' he is meaning societies face in general.
'He'll judge me by the fact that my face don't fit' - James is basically saying that in this world everyone's judgments are based on vanity, you have to look like societies idea of perfection to 'fit in', and he doesn't think he does.
'It's touching that the monkey sits on my shoulder' - he still has a friend left that's got his back and hasn't turned against him like everybody else.
'He's waiting for the day when he gets me' - Everybody is waiting for the day that his only trusted friend, 'the monkey' turns against him too.
'But I don't need no alibi - I'm a puppet on a string' - He doesn't want to make any excuses for himself, he admits he is playing along with what society wants and he is being the 'puppet', but he is aware of that.
'I just need this stage to be seen' - He is playing societies puppet because he knows he needs their help to get what he wants, to be noticed.
'We all need a pantomime to remind us what is real' - Meaning that there has to be something fake to remind us what is really reality, something that we can compare.
'Hold my eye and know what it means' - Try to look at life as if you were him and you will understand.
'I'm out of my mind' - This could mean anything really, he either feels insane, or he could be referring to how he doesn't feel like himself anymore due to pretending to be a puppet for society for such a long time.
'But I won't be your concubine - I'm a puppet not a whore' He may be pretending to be a puppet but he is not going to be payed into doing something for other peoples entertainment or enjoyment, he has more dignity than that. He is being somewhat rebellious.
'Will you be a friend of mine to remind me what is real?' - He has been engrossed in societies falseness for so long that he is struggling to see what is actually fake and what is actually real anymore, he needs someone real to save him.
'Hold my heart and see that it bleeds' - He's crying out for help, he needs someone to see that he is actually hurting inside.
Ok so this is just my opinion on the lyrics, i hope you understand where i'm coming from :-)
Everybody's comments and interpretations are very interesting and i agree with parts of them. But this is my interpretation of the song.
'Judging by the look on the organ-grinder' - As the other comments explained, by the 'organ grinder' he is meaning societies face in general.
'He'll judge me by the fact that my face don't fit' - James is basically saying that in this world everyone's judgments are based on vanity, you have to look like societies idea of perfection to 'fit in', and he doesn't think he does.
'It's touching that the monkey sits on my shoulder' - he still has a friend left that's got his back and hasn't turned against him like everybody else.
'He's waiting for the day when he gets me' - Everybody is waiting for the day that his only trusted friend, 'the monkey' turns against him too.
'But I don't need no alibi - I'm a puppet on a string' - He doesn't want to make any excuses for himself, he admits he is playing along with what society wants and he is being the 'puppet', but he is aware of that.
'I just need this stage to be seen' - He is playing societies puppet because he knows he needs their help to get what he wants, to be noticed.
'We all need a pantomime to remind us what is real' - Meaning that there has to be something fake to remind us what is really reality, something that we can compare.
'Hold my eye and know what it means' - Try to look at life as if you were him and you will understand.
'I'm out of my mind' - This could mean anything really, he either feels insane, or he could be referring to how he doesn't feel like himself anymore due to pretending to be a puppet for society for such a long time.
'But I won't be your concubine - I'm a puppet not a whore' He may be pretending to be a puppet but he is not going to be payed into doing something for other peoples entertainment or enjoyment, he has more dignity than that. He is being somewhat rebellious.
'Will you be a friend of mine to remind me what is real?' - He has been engrossed in societies falseness for so long that he is struggling to see what is actually fake and what is actually real anymore, he needs someone real to save him.
'Hold my heart and see that it bleeds' - He's crying out for help, he needs someone to see that he is actually hurting inside.
Ok so this is just my opinion on the lyrics, i hope you understand where i'm coming from :-)