Along Comes Mary Lyrics
Someone calls on me
And every now and then I spend my time at rhyme and verse
And curse those faults in me
And does she want to give me kicks, and be my steady chick
And give me pick of memories
Or maybe rather gather tales from all the fails and tribulations
No one ever sees
Now my empty cup tastes as sweet as the punch
Whose sickness is the games they play
And when the masquerade is played and neighbor folks make jokes
As who is most to blame today
And does she want to set them free, and let them see reality
From where she got her name
And will they struggle much, when told that such a tender touch of hers
Will make them not the same
Now my empty cup tastes as sweet as the punch
Are flung across the stars
The psychodramas and traumas gone
The songs are left unsung upon the scars
And does she want to see the stains, the dead remains of all the pains
She left the night before
Or will their waking eyes, reflect the lies, and make them realize
Their urgent cry for sight no more
Now my empty cup tastes as sweet as the punch
There's no need to argue the point whether the lyrics are about Mary as the virgin mother or Mary as marijuana...it is, of course, both. Any writer of any decent talent doesn't even bother writing poems, stories or lyrics without giving the lines two, three or fours levels of meaning. Here, considering the 'establishment', Mary is simply a girl-friend (this is all that parental types and squares would be aware of); for the 'counter-culture', their realm of knowledge would also include soft-drugs and so they would 'get' the second level of meaning; then, for the well-educated or those with a religious background, the third-level meaning of Mary and The Warning becomes available.
The lyricist becomes an artist, and the lyrics become art, to the extent that these different 'meanings' can be supported with other lines laces with two and three-way meanings. In addition to those meanings identified here, the author--more than likely--also has a personal meaning...plus the progression of the stanzas will have a macro-meaning pointing toward an overall meaning--perhaps a stance on the counter-culture, establishment, religion or the idea of salvation via escape from isolation whether in the form of a girl-friend, mind-altering trip or appearance of the divine.
Whatever that salvation is, it is fulfilling...it transforms the empty into refreshing sweetness; which, of course, is something we're seeking (until we have children--ha!), i.e., something in our lives which rids us of our singular isolation and fills us with a zest for life...now my empty cup tastes as sweet as the punch...
@WoodmanBrown Id love to hear some of your opinions on tool lyrics. Well said man.
@WoodmanBrown Id love to hear some of your opinions on tool lyrics. Well said man.
I believe shankr is smoking something. I have read many comments on songfacts.com and believe it probably is a reference to marijuana. The lyrics are unbelievably vague and yet very colorful and full of life. The Association deserves credit for the classic version with great harmonies. The lead singer is perfect. I cannot blame him that I could never understand the lyrics until I printed them off recently. It would be almost impossible for anyone to spit these words out clearly. Thanks Tandyn Almer, wherever you are.
of course it's about getting high; of course it's about Blessed Virgin Mary; of course it's about some foxy chick who can take your mind off anything - the genius of the art is that all the interps are up to you, the observer - Tandyn Almer, like John Lennon, James Taylor, Springsteen, or any good writer, can get his idea or concept across as well as giving you something to think about
@rockboy52 You forgot Maynard James Keenan.
@rockboy52 You forgot Maynard James Keenan.
If you go on youtube to the reunion concert, they say it is about pot. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uU2c4yKGtJc
42 steps posted an insightful point a few years ago, suggesting that the Garabandal apparitions of Mary during the time period just prior to this song being written may have influenced the lyrics. Like other apparitions these were held up to ridicule by many people. Consider:
“And when the masquerade is played and neighbor folks make jokes As who is most to blame today”
I know it's unbelievably square to be a college student and listen to this music, but Jesus Christ those lyrics.
If you go to youtube reunion concert, they say clearly it is about pot. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uU2c4yKGtJc
It strikes me as odd how many people are absolutely sure their interpretation is correct, yet contradict each other, and in this case, contradict the original artist. I've had people with similar conviction interpret my own poetry in ways I never intended or imagined.
It strikes me as odd how many people are absolutely sure their interpretation is correct, yet contradict each other, and in this case, contradict the original artist. I've had people with similar conviction interpret my own poetry in ways I never intended or imagined.
"Mary" is a reference to marijuana. Like "Cracklin' Rosie" of Neil diamond fame, which is rose wine, mary is a mind changing friend. "And does she want to give me kicks, and be my steady chick", "And does she want to set them free, and let them see reality From where she got her name"
Oldriff got it right!All of us knew Mary was a metaphor for weed. The funny thing was that The Association was one of the STRAIGHTEST groups around back then.They pulled a "Nixon goes to China"trick on the world.
they weren't straight, man. They were stoners. This song was banned from the radio in the u.s. when it came out 'cos they knew what it was about back then. Just cos they wore suits doesn't make them straights.