"Sometimes the windows combine with the seams in a way
That twitches on a peak at the place where the spirit was slain
One foot leads to another
Night's for sleep, blue curtains, covers
Sequins in the eyes
That's a fine time to dine
Divine who's circling, feeding the cards to the midwives
Who love those alien days
The nonstop alien days
Ooh the alien days"
I feel like this could possibly be describing a psychedelic trip, laying in bed, seeing various visual phenomena, things blending together, riding it out.. "The spirit was slain" could refer to ego death. Sequins in the eyes, the sensation that things are sparkly.. The alien days could be days where they quite literally feel alien to the world, because of altered awareness.
"Must've skipped the ship and joined the team
For a ride
A couple hours to learn the controls
And commandeer both my eyes
Hey!
Be quick dear, times are uncertain
One month crawling, next year blurring
Decades in the drain
Monograms on the brain
Decide what's working and what's moved on
To the last phase
The floodgate alien days
I love those alien days
Mmm... the alien days"
This sounds like they could be talking about trying to grow out of their tripping Oracular Spectacular days on purpose, and reminiscing about them, almost longing for the simpler times. They feel distracted, "commandeer both my eyes", I think maybe it could refer to missing days gone by, feeling decades in the drain, what's been burned into their brain (reminiscent of The Handshake) and moving forward with what they like about things, and don't quite enjoy.
"When the peels are down, it feels like traveling in style
You don't need wings to hover forty ton stones for a mile
And in the summer, virgin visions
Mindless humming
Numbers can't decide if the day's supposed to smile"
The not needing wings to hover forty ton stones for a mile to me comes off like they're saying anything is possible if you put your mind to it, almost a mind over matter thing, and visions in the summer are superior in a way to trying to overcalculate everything, and that breaking everything down into pieces or being overcritical/analytical (numbers can't decide) doesn't make everything better all the time.. (can't decide if the day's supposed to smile)
"Today find infinite ways it could be
Plenty worse
It's a blessing but it's also a curse"
They might be reflecting on their fame, and how far it's taken them, and how even though they don't like everything and might have some regrets, it could be a lot worse.
"Those days taught me everything I know
How to catch a feeling
And when to let it go
How all the scheming, soulless creatures
Can't find dreamer's honey in the hive
If it's right beneath the nose"
The carefree days of their youth taught them the most, how to catch a feeling to me refers to tripping, and when to let it go refers to learning self-control and setting boundaries with yourself.. and how it made them aware that so many people couldn't find happiness if it bit them in the ass (dreamer's honey right beneath the nose)
"And when the light is new
The sky shows trembling cartoons
You don't need smoke to cover
Most of the world in a gloom
But here comes racer number 7
Watch my fingers ripping out the lines
If it looks like we could lose
If it looks like we could lose
If it looks like we could lose
If it looks like we could lose"
This end part is the part I'm least sure on what meaning I'd personally apply to it. This has all been my personal interpretation, and that's what is so great about MGMT. They purposely make their lyrics in a way that they say will empower the listener to apply their own meanings.
The light is new, sky covered in cartoons could mean when they're back at the tripping feel-good times, realizing that people tend to make themselves miserable and create their own problems (don't need smoke to cover in a gloom) , and then maybe the singer refocuses on the trip.
I feel like this album and song are very introspective, and I'm diggin it a lot. I'm gonna try to write up more interpretations while the album is pretty new.
"Sometimes the windows combine with the seams in a way That twitches on a peak at the place where the spirit was slain One foot leads to another Night's for sleep, blue curtains, covers Sequins in the eyes That's a fine time to dine Divine who's circling, feeding the cards to the midwives Who love those alien days The nonstop alien days Ooh the alien days"
I feel like this could possibly be describing a psychedelic trip, laying in bed, seeing various visual phenomena, things blending together, riding it out.. "The spirit was slain" could refer to ego death. Sequins in the eyes, the sensation that things are sparkly.. The alien days could be days where they quite literally feel alien to the world, because of altered awareness.
"Must've skipped the ship and joined the team For a ride A couple hours to learn the controls And commandeer both my eyes Hey! Be quick dear, times are uncertain One month crawling, next year blurring Decades in the drain Monograms on the brain Decide what's working and what's moved on To the last phase The floodgate alien days I love those alien days Mmm... the alien days"
This sounds like they could be talking about trying to grow out of their tripping Oracular Spectacular days on purpose, and reminiscing about them, almost longing for the simpler times. They feel distracted, "commandeer both my eyes", I think maybe it could refer to missing days gone by, feeling decades in the drain, what's been burned into their brain (reminiscent of The Handshake) and moving forward with what they like about things, and don't quite enjoy.
"When the peels are down, it feels like traveling in style You don't need wings to hover forty ton stones for a mile And in the summer, virgin visions Mindless humming Numbers can't decide if the day's supposed to smile"
The not needing wings to hover forty ton stones for a mile to me comes off like they're saying anything is possible if you put your mind to it, almost a mind over matter thing, and visions in the summer are superior in a way to trying to overcalculate everything, and that breaking everything down into pieces or being overcritical/analytical (numbers can't decide) doesn't make everything better all the time.. (can't decide if the day's supposed to smile)
"Today find infinite ways it could be Plenty worse It's a blessing but it's also a curse"
They might be reflecting on their fame, and how far it's taken them, and how even though they don't like everything and might have some regrets, it could be a lot worse.
"Those days taught me everything I know How to catch a feeling And when to let it go How all the scheming, soulless creatures Can't find dreamer's honey in the hive If it's right beneath the nose"
The carefree days of their youth taught them the most, how to catch a feeling to me refers to tripping, and when to let it go refers to learning self-control and setting boundaries with yourself.. and how it made them aware that so many people couldn't find happiness if it bit them in the ass (dreamer's honey right beneath the nose)
"And when the light is new The sky shows trembling cartoons You don't need smoke to cover Most of the world in a gloom But here comes racer number 7 Watch my fingers ripping out the lines
If it looks like we could lose If it looks like we could lose If it looks like we could lose If it looks like we could lose"
This end part is the part I'm least sure on what meaning I'd personally apply to it. This has all been my personal interpretation, and that's what is so great about MGMT. They purposely make their lyrics in a way that they say will empower the listener to apply their own meanings.
The light is new, sky covered in cartoons could mean when they're back at the tripping feel-good times, realizing that people tend to make themselves miserable and create their own problems (don't need smoke to cover in a gloom) , and then maybe the singer refocuses on the trip.
I feel like this album and song are very introspective, and I'm diggin it a lot. I'm gonna try to write up more interpretations while the album is pretty new.