opiated

Sorry to open this old can of worms again, but as I sit here and listen to "Bottom," I have a new thought to post.

Well, to make this short, here's what I think Maynard is saying six minutes and twenty-four seconds into "Bottom:"

"Hatred keeps alive,
Cowardice keeps me alive,
Weakness keeps me alive,
Guilt keeps me alive at the bottom."

To me, it makes more sense than current guesses ("ugliness..." and "happiness..." -- regardless of what you think, "happiness..." works against the mood of the lyrics and it's context in the worst way possible and, at 6:24 into the song, why would you want to throw the listener for such a short loop like that, use such odd juxtaposition by using just one positive word in the song just to go back to negativity again the next line down). Hatred, lack of courage, vulnerability, and guilt and shame are all something you feel when you are depressed, at your lowest point, lacking of your personal best -- being at The Bottom. For me, this song speaks to me about going through personal hell because of different reasons -- loss, heartbreak, abuse -- and the want to deliver yourself from it by yourself because you feel as if it is taboo to speak of it, to overcome your negative mood, outlook, and your depression, to eradicate it and everything that sent you there.

Just my two cents.

__________________
Veiled and shadowy, you attack me too;
Now at your whim I bare my back
Under your assault.

amenorakumo

hungriness keeps me alive
says my ear by memory

__________________
Balderdash~

opiated

I thought there was still debate on what Maynard is saying in that part of the song.

"Hungriness" works, too, I suppose.

__________________
Veiled and shadowy, you attack me too;
Now at your whim I bare my back
Under your assault.

tomisatool

I've always heard happiness, but your right, it basically makes no sense.

I guess cowardice and hungriness...

__________________
No one is innocent

Clutch_The_Cornerstone

It could be any of those words but I hear Powerless? but thats just me. It keeps him alive at the bottom because he knows he is capable/and willing of acheiving power so he is kept alive....? i dont know its late. ha

__________________
Christina.

Hodge

i always thought he said cunnilingus

Clutch_The_Cornerstone

to be honest with you im not even aware of that words meaning. What does it mean? ive heard it before but im not sure. Scientific name of a humans private part or something? lol

__________________
Christina.

opiated

... Anyone gonna speak up?

Oh! We are so close! Failed to put that one in the form of a question!

According to the friendly Word dictionary:
"...Oral stimulation of woman’s genitals: sexual stimulation of a woman’s genitals using the tongue and lips."

Now I've got a new way to be sneaky. :D

"Powerless keeps me alive ..." Syntax, much? ;)

__________________
Veiled and shadowy, you attack me too;
Now at your whim I bare my back
Under your assault.

Clutch_The_Cornerstone

After further review...its cowardice. 100% sorry for the syntax haha. Cheers.

__________________
Christina.

PShepherd11

I always thought he was saying, "Emptiness keeps me alive."

opiated

Another good possibility.

Still, I'm hearing a badly slurred "cowardice." :P

__________________
Veiled and shadowy, you attack me too;
Now at your whim I bare my back
Under your assault.

PShepherd11

On second thought...I listened to it last night and I distinctly heard, "Loneliness keeps me alive." I think I thought "emptiness" because it sounded better to me and I hadn't listened to it in some time.