somberly, somberly
linger lie longerly
grateful our cold memories cry
for the plentiful times that
her eagerly death hath had
counter intuitive underride

clean thy sparkling teeth
brush down thy sparkling sides
that thy nervous blood
would become undone from
impedious pounding ideas

some shattering fawn
for this candented dawn
pluck up their worm holes and give them
to feeders that spirits be freer and

broil and toil and foil thy
scalloped breastbone
roll and toll and fold
the long winters in it

think not what the season'll become
reap fruitfully of the gardendom
that grew masterfully over your
withering son

beat out them bed bugs
stand when you do it

some shattering fawn
for this candented dawn
pluck up their worm holes and give them
to feeders that spirits be freer and


Lyrics submitted by urukhigh, edited by smam, ghostyyy, Saraiva

Amenamy song meanings
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6 Comments

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  • +10
    Lyric Correction

    VERBATIM FROM THE VINYL RECORD SLEEVE:

    somberly, somberly linger lie longerly grateful our cold memories cry for the plentiful times that her eagerly death hath had counter intuitive underride

    clean thy sparkling teeth brush down thy sparkling sides that thy nervous blood would become undone from impedious pounding ideas

    some shattering fawn for this candented dawn pluck up their worm holes and give them to feeders that spirits be freer and

    broil and toil and foil thy scalloped breastbone roll and toll and fold the long winters in it

    think not what the season'll become reap fruitfully of the gardendom that grew masterfully over your withering son

    beat out them bead bugs stand when you do it

    wildebaton August 03, 2012   Link
  • +3
    Lyric Correction

    She has a tendency to alter words ever so slightly so that they're not words you might find in a dictionary but still mean what you'd think them to mean so I try not to be so strict when interpreting the lyrics

    As for the first line, I thought she was just playing with the words so they had a more playful sound: "Somberly, somberly linger, lie longer-ly" Although that's not to say your lyrics are wrong

    The last line of the second verse sounds like: "From impedious, pounding ideas"

    I think the verse after the chorus should be: "Scallop the breastbone, roll and toll and fold the long winter in it Think not what the season will become Breathe fruitfully at the garden glen, that grew masterfully over your withering son"

    donyonon July 07, 2012   Link
  • +3
    Song Meaning

    along the lines of what urukhigh said, I think there is something about the tention with religion in this. James is very clear about wanting the listeners to take their own meaning out of the words, but I do think the title of this one is pushing us in a specific direction.

    Most of the songs on the album are titled by combining words that appear together in the song. This one isn't. The word smash title comes from two or more unknown words, but it forms the word "amen" which forces me to think there is some connection to religion in the song. My first thought is that the second part of the word looks almost like enemy.

    ThisCharadeon June 22, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I was unsure about "linger lie long early"

    Anyone else understand that part?

    urukhighon July 06, 2012   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation

    I think this song is about departing from the religious view.

    Somberly, somberly linger lie long early [Somberly, somberly you linger in church and lie and it is so long and you want to leave early or arrive early.] Grateful our cold memories bide
    For the plentiful times that, That her eagerly death had had Counter intuitive thunder ride [Thinking about all the times death made us question whether there is a god. That death should strike as it does is counter intuitive to having a loving god. Yet we tell god that we are grateful.]

    Clean my sparkling teeth Brush down my sparkling sides Thy nervous blood will become undone From impiety as pounding ideas [Getting ready for church as a little girl, the blood of Christ will be left behind as we disregard the faith for new more intriguing mindset.]

    Some shattering find for this candor to die [mimicking people who are shocked, like it should come as a surprise when we drop out act of believing.] Plug up your wormholes and give them, to feeders and spirits be freer
    [give our sense our mind to the faith — feeders = the people receiving the Eucharist, and the church says this makes you free, shackling yourself.]

    Plug up your wormholes and give them, to feeders and spirits be freer and freer and broil and toil and foil dies Scallop the breastbone, roll in toll and grow old the long winter in it Think not what the season will become Breathe truthfully at the garden glen, that grew masterfully over your withering son [This one is harder for me to put into words. I get the sense of this same theme but I can’t really explain it coherently. It sounds like it is toting the fact leaving brings one into a better world.

    Beat open bed bugs, Stand when you do it [Commanding you on who to attack and what to do Commanding people on their postion — sit, kneel, stand as in church. This is mimicking the church]

    urukhighon July 07, 2012   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation

    What I immediately think of is from the pilot of Six Feet Under.

    Nate recounts the time he saw a group of Sicilian woman on a beach sobbing uncontrollably, screaming, and collapsing on a casket. He then proceeds to point out the contrast of this to western practices during mourning. He says that is is crazy the way we try to appear so completely in control and put together when all we really want to do is feel grief.

    To me this is a song about the feeling of being trapped in restraint and keeping up appearances during burial ceremonies. Trying to stay in control when you feel completely out of control.

    DrCatSavageon July 16, 2014   Link

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