Great song. I've heard that the meaning of the song referred to the band's connection to Roadrunner Records: the band had announced that the album "The End, So Far" would be the last album released under Roadrunner Records. The band had been signed with Roadrunner Records since 1999. Since they were leaving this label after such a LONG time, the band decided to reflect on their career and the reason keep going. I've also heard that the song was meant to be Slipknot's possible farewell, if it came to that point. The song's sad / mournful sound hints at this idea.
Looking at the lyrics - the song discusses the many troubles they've had throughout their career (e.g. "sad things," "punishments," "accidents," "bitter pills," "long depressions," "shorter fuse," "darker thoughts," "tangled knots" etc.). Thus, the chorus aptly says, "I know it's a shame."
Nonetheless, the song says that the "denominator is you," a likely reference to the fans who listen and support the band because the fans have always been there (i.e. they've been a denominator, underlying their whole career). The "denominator" comparison hints that the fans have been some sort of stabilizing part of the band's tumultuous career. In the second verse, the song indeed references "The populace," which is another likely reference to the fans. The song associates the fans (the "populace") with "stronger wills," "innocence," "common sense," which are all positive." The moments with the fans might be "rare occasions," as the negative stuff happen more often. But those "rare occasions ...exist," and they feel damn good. Hence, the band says in the chorus, "but I gotta stay / Cause I like it here" because of the fans.
So basically --- they've gone through a lot of pain and trouble in their career. But they keep going because of the fans, the common denominator. Hence, "I know it's a shame, but I gotta' stay / Cause I like it here"
Great song. I've heard that the meaning of the song referred to the band's connection to Roadrunner Records: the band had announced that the album "The End, So Far" would be the last album released under Roadrunner Records. The band had been signed with Roadrunner Records since 1999. Since they were leaving this label after such a LONG time, the band decided to reflect on their career and the reason keep going. I've also heard that the song was meant to be Slipknot's possible farewell, if it came to that point. The song's sad / mournful sound hints at this idea.
Looking at the lyrics - the song discusses the many troubles they've had throughout their career (e.g. "sad things," "punishments," "accidents," "bitter pills," "long depressions," "shorter fuse," "darker thoughts," "tangled knots" etc.). Thus, the chorus aptly says, "I know it's a shame."
Nonetheless, the song says that the "denominator is you," a likely reference to the fans who listen and support the band because the fans have always been there (i.e. they've been a denominator, underlying their whole career). The "denominator" comparison hints that the fans have been some sort of stabilizing part of the band's tumultuous career. In the second verse, the song indeed references "The populace," which is another likely reference to the fans. The song associates the fans (the "populace") with "stronger wills," "innocence," "common sense," which are all positive." The moments with the fans might be "rare occasions," as the negative stuff happen more often. But those "rare occasions ...exist," and they feel damn good. Hence, the band says in the chorus, "but I gotta stay / Cause I like it here" because of the fans.
So basically --- they've gone through a lot of pain and trouble in their career. But they keep going because of the fans, the common denominator. Hence, "I know it's a shame, but I gotta' stay / Cause I like it here"