Warren wanted a Beach Boys thing for this one, and Carl Wilson and Billy Hinsche came in, with Carl arranging the vocal parts. The other harmony vocalists (credited as the "Gentlemen Boys") were Jackson Browne, J.D. Souther, Zevon's longtime backers Waddy Wachtel and Jorge Calderon, and Linda Rondstadt/Stone Poneys guitarist Kenny Edwards.
Turning on the TV and what do I see?
A pageantry of empty gestures all lined up for me, wow!
I'd have thought by now we would be ready to proceed
But a tearful hymn to tug the heart
And a man-sized wreath, ow!
[Chorus]
Throw it on the fire
Throw it in the air
Kick it out on the dance-floor like you just don't care, oh
Give me the sound
Wave the palms, steal the alms, fists in the air
A motorcade up benign shows the people that you care, ow!
Nature abhors a vacuum but what's between your ears?
Your judgment clouded with fearful thoughts
A headlights and a deer, ow!
[Chorus]
Look at what I've found
Everybody look around
Everybody looking like they just don't care, oh
Give me the sound
Well I'm not deceived by pomp and odious conceit
But a tearful hymn to tug the heart
And a man-sized wreath-ow!
[Chorus]
Look at what I've found
Everybody look around
Everybody looking like they just don't care
[Chorus]
Give me the sound
Give me the sound
Give me the sound
A pageantry of empty gestures all lined up for me, wow!
I'd have thought by now we would be ready to proceed
But a tearful hymn to tug the heart
And a man-sized wreath, ow!
[Chorus]
Throw it on the fire
Throw it in the air
Kick it out on the dance-floor like you just don't care, oh
Give me the sound
Wave the palms, steal the alms, fists in the air
A motorcade up benign shows the people that you care, ow!
Nature abhors a vacuum but what's between your ears?
Your judgment clouded with fearful thoughts
A headlights and a deer, ow!
[Chorus]
Look at what I've found
Everybody look around
Everybody looking like they just don't care, oh
Give me the sound
Well I'm not deceived by pomp and odious conceit
But a tearful hymn to tug the heart
And a man-sized wreath-ow!
[Chorus]
Look at what I've found
Everybody look around
Everybody looking like they just don't care
[Chorus]
Give me the sound
Give me the sound
Give me the sound
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He reuses the verse melody from the previous album's "Dirty Little Religion", the topics of the verses are all over the place, and he packs too many words into one line (goes to show...) and too few in another (it's pretty hard to find), and rhymes "Henley Regatta" with "Persona non grata", but gets away with it all as only he could.
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Both as a standalone and as part of the DSOTS album, you can take this lyric as read. As a matter of public record, Jourgensen's drug intake was legendary even in the 1980s. By the late 90s, in his own words, he was grappling with massive addiction issues and had lost almost everything: friends, spouse, money and had nearly died more than once. "Dark Side of the Spoon" is a both funny & sad title for an album made by a musical genius who was losing the plot; and this song is a message to his fans & friends saying he knows it. It's painful to listen to so I'm glad the "Keith Richards of industrial metals" wised up and cleaned up. Well done sir.
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
cool. 1st.
This song just mocks the sh*t out of George Bush. I think the reference of a "man-sized wreath" is akin to the floral arrangements found at a funeral. And ol' GW is surely has the personna of a dead-man walking threough the dying days of his final term.
Also, to this point, I thinkStipe's refrain of "owww" or "wowww" after each stanza is like someone putting down or making a joke at some one else's expense and then self-mockingly saying "OW" after each of his jokes/putdowns. It's friggin' awesome.
I really really think that Stipe has a ton of contempt for the hypocritical bastard and this entire song, along with several others off of accelerate, continuously hammer home this theme (including Living Well is the best revenge's line "you're nothing but a footnote."
You go Michael. We are indeed the children of the choir.
Well according to Q magazine its about the government blocking protests whilst MLKs widows was addressing a crowd. i take the first verse to mean that the state of things should have improved since the Reagan years and yet America still has a right wing regime. 'the empty gestures' are probably referring to Bush's appearance wth civil rights activists for example; he wants to be seen with them but otherwise has done nothing to try and improve the problems with poverty or racial inequality
You watch the new video for this song (look on Youtube), and you get a sense it has to do with everything wrong with this country today.
-The limos in the video: The government in general -Limos hitting people: The gov't doesn't care about you -Limos stopping in front of the guy: China, specifially the Tieneman Square Fiasco (And we still do everything with them) -Limos crashing through and destroying the forest, then the smokestacks: Destroy/pollute the environment, the feds (republicans mainly) support it, w/ the oil industry -"Kick it out on the dancefloor like you just don't care": We don't care/are too ignorant to notice any of this -Camera w/ "You're being watched" sign in the video: The federal wiretapping and spying in general -The limos crashing into the guy and getting blown up: We gotta stop all of this crap
That's what I get from the video anyhow, and how it relates to the song. I could be wrong w/ any of this though
I forgot one thing:
The three block-figures w/ suits and ties in the video on the screens: Top Corporate/Government people "getting rid" of the issues at hand, mainly the oil industry again, since it shows the block-guys dancing in front of oil wells at the end
I agree with Peace Frog, but I think the Man-Sized Wreath represents all of the brave soldiers who have died for this country and how they attempt to distract attention.