14thDosage
10-28-2006, 09:15 AM
I don't know if anyone has mentioned this yet, but it seems to me like this song is about Maynard's mom, just like the two that come after it. I think if you look at the lyrics in this way it makes a lot of sense, and so does the positioning in this album. My idea is that this song tells the story of his relationship with his mother while she was still alive but nearing the end of her life and tells of the division between the two of them, for which Maynard "makes amends" for in Wings for Marie by mending the division through spirituality and religion. Also when I say Wings for Marie throughout this, I'm talking about both parts.
The song starts off by Maynard talking about his fame and "darker" side, which is directly contrasting with the positive imagery used in Wings for Marie.
"Here from the king's mountain view
Here from the wild dream come true
Feast like a sultan, I do
On treasures and flesh never few"
The first two lines are pretty self-explanatory, in this context they're talking about his fame and celebrity status (while this is really uncharacteristic of Maynard's lyrics, I think it fits in really well with the rest of this interpretation). Anyways, the second two lines are darker than the first: "Feasting like a sultan on flesh" gives off the feeling that whatever is being talked about here is sinful, something that would be conflicting with his Mother's religious views.
"But I would wish it all, away
If I thought I'd lose you just one day"
This line comes up alot so I'll only cover it once - I think that in this context it is talking about how Maynard loves his Mother, and is willing to sacrifice for her despite the division between. But as we see later on in the lyrics, there is almost a barrier that prevents him from doing this while she is alive.
"The devil and his had me down
In love with the dark side I've found
Dabblin' all the way down
Up to my neck soon to drown."
First thing to notice about this part is the change in Maynard's voice in the first line. In the first four lines covered above, his voice is much stronger and higher, whereas here its lower and more droning. It signifies a change and when set against the heavy guitar and drums, I think it gives off the idea that the man singing now is alot more desperate and worn out - like a man up to his neck soon to drown.
Anyways back to the actual lyrics, I think he's talking here about being so negative that his faith was shattered. Almost like he was playing with negativity and darkness so much that he was about to "drown" himself in it and be consumed by it. I think that Undertow and Aenima are examples of this "dabblin'" both very dark albums that even had an ongoing use of drowning as a metaphor. The imagery through diction is very important here more so than the literal meaning - again the image of "sin" is being conjured up, and even the devil is mentioned here (religious imagery).
"But you changed that all for me
Lifted me up, turned me round"
His mother changed his life and helped him turn around to see the light of spirituality and positivity - an attitude reflected in Lateralus.
Also going to take a second to point out that it's not all about the lyrics. I think the heavy drums and guitar set against Maynard's voice is supposed to be very contrasting - to me, it gives the image of a good man fighting with satanic forces and negativity.
Moving on,
"Pray like a martyr dusk to dawn
Beg like a hooker all night long
Shout to the devil with my song
And got what I wanted all along"
Again, the ongoing metaphors and themes are prevalent here. Again the devil is mentioned, and so is a martyr, and so is a hooker; sin and religious imagery that contrasts with the religious imagery used in Wings for Marie. And again we have the contrast between the positive and negative, holy and unholy - dusk and dawn, martyr and hooker. Also, the idea that the Maynard is subtly alluding to Undertow and Aenima (as mentioned above) are reinforced here with "Shout to the devil with my song" - also possibly could be a reference to the song Judith as well. Also once again notice the change in Maynard's voice - it begins to fit alot more again with the instruments.
"So if I could I'd wish it all away
If I thought tomorrow, they'd take you away
You're my piece of mind,
[my home / my Om / my own / my all]
I said I'm just trying to hold on
One more day"
The intensity here is rising, and I think this part is talking about an urgency that Maynard feels to mend the relationship with his mother before she passes away. He is realizing what his mother means to him, and is trying to hold on to her as long as he can. "I'm just trying to hold on one more day" is from the perspective of both Maynard and his mother, I think.
"Damn/Dim my eyes!
Damn/Dim my eyes!
If they should compromise
Our fulcrum
Want and need divide me
Then I might as well be gone..."
This is Maynard crying out to the heavens in desperation. He is facing the reality of the situation and the idea that him and his mother will stay divided until her death. As a result of this, I think the following instrumental interlude is symbolic of Maynard plunging into hell so to speak, finally being swallowed up by negativity and sin.
"Shine on forever
Shine on benevolent sun
Shine down upon the broken
Shine until the two become one
Shine on forever
Shine on benevolent sun
Shine down upon the severed
Shine until the two become one"
I think this part is really really open and could fit into this interpretation context in a number of ways. If "sun" is "son", this could be his mother speaking to Maynard from heaven. Personally though I think that it is Maynard having a religious epiphany and he is speaking to God from hell asking for help. The religious imagery is there regardless of the literal meaning (Sun -> heavens), as is the description of the division between Maynard and his mother (broken, severed)
"Divided, withering away
Shine down upon the many, light our way,
Benevolent sun."
This is the division between Maynard and his mother being expanded from the micro to the macro, basically saying that the entire human race is being slowly divided in two the same way that Maynard and his mother are (also division into two = heaven and hell, at least in this song). This is also a them that runs through the entire album.
"Breathe in union"
A command, from God I would say, for Maynard and his Mother to breath in union and become one. This is a transformation mending the relationship as his mother is dying. (the interpretation for this line is kind of iffy so if anyone wants to expand on it or has an idea please share)
"So, as one, survive
Another day and season"
This is saying that we must mend the divisions in the human race in order to survive as a species.
"Silence, Legions, save your poison
Silence, Legion, stay out of my way"
This is Maynard with a renewed strength talking to the legions of hell. He is basically telling them "I'm a new man, so you can just fuck off this time." Which brings us nicely into Wings for Marie where Maynard attempts to mend the division and embraces his new spirituality.
----
Anyways thanks for reading this whole thing, and feel free to comment/criticize. If there's anything you want to add or expand upon, please do so. Also if you really don't agree with the interpretation, say why but please try to keep content in your posts and give your reasoning.
The song starts off by Maynard talking about his fame and "darker" side, which is directly contrasting with the positive imagery used in Wings for Marie.
"Here from the king's mountain view
Here from the wild dream come true
Feast like a sultan, I do
On treasures and flesh never few"
The first two lines are pretty self-explanatory, in this context they're talking about his fame and celebrity status (while this is really uncharacteristic of Maynard's lyrics, I think it fits in really well with the rest of this interpretation). Anyways, the second two lines are darker than the first: "Feasting like a sultan on flesh" gives off the feeling that whatever is being talked about here is sinful, something that would be conflicting with his Mother's religious views.
"But I would wish it all, away
If I thought I'd lose you just one day"
This line comes up alot so I'll only cover it once - I think that in this context it is talking about how Maynard loves his Mother, and is willing to sacrifice for her despite the division between. But as we see later on in the lyrics, there is almost a barrier that prevents him from doing this while she is alive.
"The devil and his had me down
In love with the dark side I've found
Dabblin' all the way down
Up to my neck soon to drown."
First thing to notice about this part is the change in Maynard's voice in the first line. In the first four lines covered above, his voice is much stronger and higher, whereas here its lower and more droning. It signifies a change and when set against the heavy guitar and drums, I think it gives off the idea that the man singing now is alot more desperate and worn out - like a man up to his neck soon to drown.
Anyways back to the actual lyrics, I think he's talking here about being so negative that his faith was shattered. Almost like he was playing with negativity and darkness so much that he was about to "drown" himself in it and be consumed by it. I think that Undertow and Aenima are examples of this "dabblin'" both very dark albums that even had an ongoing use of drowning as a metaphor. The imagery through diction is very important here more so than the literal meaning - again the image of "sin" is being conjured up, and even the devil is mentioned here (religious imagery).
"But you changed that all for me
Lifted me up, turned me round"
His mother changed his life and helped him turn around to see the light of spirituality and positivity - an attitude reflected in Lateralus.
Also going to take a second to point out that it's not all about the lyrics. I think the heavy drums and guitar set against Maynard's voice is supposed to be very contrasting - to me, it gives the image of a good man fighting with satanic forces and negativity.
Moving on,
"Pray like a martyr dusk to dawn
Beg like a hooker all night long
Shout to the devil with my song
And got what I wanted all along"
Again, the ongoing metaphors and themes are prevalent here. Again the devil is mentioned, and so is a martyr, and so is a hooker; sin and religious imagery that contrasts with the religious imagery used in Wings for Marie. And again we have the contrast between the positive and negative, holy and unholy - dusk and dawn, martyr and hooker. Also, the idea that the Maynard is subtly alluding to Undertow and Aenima (as mentioned above) are reinforced here with "Shout to the devil with my song" - also possibly could be a reference to the song Judith as well. Also once again notice the change in Maynard's voice - it begins to fit alot more again with the instruments.
"So if I could I'd wish it all away
If I thought tomorrow, they'd take you away
You're my piece of mind,
[my home / my Om / my own / my all]
I said I'm just trying to hold on
One more day"
The intensity here is rising, and I think this part is talking about an urgency that Maynard feels to mend the relationship with his mother before she passes away. He is realizing what his mother means to him, and is trying to hold on to her as long as he can. "I'm just trying to hold on one more day" is from the perspective of both Maynard and his mother, I think.
"Damn/Dim my eyes!
Damn/Dim my eyes!
If they should compromise
Our fulcrum
Want and need divide me
Then I might as well be gone..."
This is Maynard crying out to the heavens in desperation. He is facing the reality of the situation and the idea that him and his mother will stay divided until her death. As a result of this, I think the following instrumental interlude is symbolic of Maynard plunging into hell so to speak, finally being swallowed up by negativity and sin.
"Shine on forever
Shine on benevolent sun
Shine down upon the broken
Shine until the two become one
Shine on forever
Shine on benevolent sun
Shine down upon the severed
Shine until the two become one"
I think this part is really really open and could fit into this interpretation context in a number of ways. If "sun" is "son", this could be his mother speaking to Maynard from heaven. Personally though I think that it is Maynard having a religious epiphany and he is speaking to God from hell asking for help. The religious imagery is there regardless of the literal meaning (Sun -> heavens), as is the description of the division between Maynard and his mother (broken, severed)
"Divided, withering away
Shine down upon the many, light our way,
Benevolent sun."
This is the division between Maynard and his mother being expanded from the micro to the macro, basically saying that the entire human race is being slowly divided in two the same way that Maynard and his mother are (also division into two = heaven and hell, at least in this song). This is also a them that runs through the entire album.
"Breathe in union"
A command, from God I would say, for Maynard and his Mother to breath in union and become one. This is a transformation mending the relationship as his mother is dying. (the interpretation for this line is kind of iffy so if anyone wants to expand on it or has an idea please share)
"So, as one, survive
Another day and season"
This is saying that we must mend the divisions in the human race in order to survive as a species.
"Silence, Legions, save your poison
Silence, Legion, stay out of my way"
This is Maynard with a renewed strength talking to the legions of hell. He is basically telling them "I'm a new man, so you can just fuck off this time." Which brings us nicely into Wings for Marie where Maynard attempts to mend the division and embraces his new spirituality.
----
Anyways thanks for reading this whole thing, and feel free to comment/criticize. If there's anything you want to add or expand upon, please do so. Also if you really don't agree with the interpretation, say why but please try to keep content in your posts and give your reasoning.