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.
Something about the way you smiled at me just drove me wild
Wish I could know if you're alone, don't wanna cramp your style
But I cannot deny the feel that I feel when I look straight into your eyes
Feel my heart beating fast for a challenge may rise
I wanna know if you feel the way I do (I do)
I wanna know if there's a chance for me and you (and you)
If there's no way, meet at the bar and say you can't (you can't)
'Cause I don't wanna be, I don't wanna be, I don't wanna be
Unfair to Mr. Man, unfair to Mr. Man, unfair to Mr. Man
Unfair to Mr. Man, unfair
Like the way you've given me attention through the night
Maybe I've had too much Rémy, my man's right by my side
Every time I catch you watching me, feel something down my spine
I'll play the game, it's just for fun and only for tonight, all night
I wanna know what makes you feel the way you do (you do)
I think you're hoping there's a chance for me and you (and you)
Should I meet you at the bar and say we can't (we can't?)
'Cause I don't wanna be, I don't wanna be, I don't wanna be
Unfair to Mr. Man, unfair to Mr. Man, unfair to Mr. Man
Unfair to Mr. Man, unfair to Mr. Man
I know all you wanna know is answers
(I know all you wanna know is answers)
'Cause you can give me what I need
(You can give me everything I need)
We both know that we're attracted
Should we let our desires lead?
Should we let our desires lead? (Yeah)
I wanna know if you feel the way I do (I do)
(I know, I know, you know, you know)
I wanna know if there's a chance for me and you (and you)
(You can tell me, tell me)
If there's no way, meet at the bar and say you can't (you can't)
(You can meet me at the bar, yeah) (I can't)
'Cause I don't wanna be, I don't wanna be, I don't wanna be
Unfair to Mr. Man
I wanna know if you feel the way I do (I do)
(Do you wanna know? I know you do)
I wanna know if there's a chance for me and you (and you)
(Is there's a chance for me and you?)
If there's no way, meet at the bar and say you can't (you can't)
(I can't, we can't)
'Cause I don't wanna be, I don't wanna be, I don't wanna be
Unfair (I don't wanna be unfair)
I wanna know if you feel the way I do (I do)
(Do you feel me, baby?)
I wanna know if there's a chance for me and you (and you)
(Can you tell me? Yeah)
If there's no way, meet at the bar and say you can't, you can't
'Cause I don't wanna be, I don't wanna be, I don't wanna be
Unfair to Mr. Man
Wish I could know if you're alone, don't wanna cramp your style
But I cannot deny the feel that I feel when I look straight into your eyes
Feel my heart beating fast for a challenge may rise
I wanna know if you feel the way I do (I do)
I wanna know if there's a chance for me and you (and you)
If there's no way, meet at the bar and say you can't (you can't)
'Cause I don't wanna be, I don't wanna be, I don't wanna be
Unfair to Mr. Man, unfair to Mr. Man, unfair to Mr. Man
Unfair to Mr. Man, unfair
Like the way you've given me attention through the night
Maybe I've had too much Rémy, my man's right by my side
Every time I catch you watching me, feel something down my spine
I'll play the game, it's just for fun and only for tonight, all night
I wanna know what makes you feel the way you do (you do)
I think you're hoping there's a chance for me and you (and you)
Should I meet you at the bar and say we can't (we can't?)
'Cause I don't wanna be, I don't wanna be, I don't wanna be
Unfair to Mr. Man, unfair to Mr. Man, unfair to Mr. Man
Unfair to Mr. Man, unfair to Mr. Man
I know all you wanna know is answers
(I know all you wanna know is answers)
'Cause you can give me what I need
(You can give me everything I need)
We both know that we're attracted
Should we let our desires lead?
Should we let our desires lead? (Yeah)
I wanna know if you feel the way I do (I do)
(I know, I know, you know, you know)
I wanna know if there's a chance for me and you (and you)
(You can tell me, tell me)
If there's no way, meet at the bar and say you can't (you can't)
(You can meet me at the bar, yeah) (I can't)
'Cause I don't wanna be, I don't wanna be, I don't wanna be
Unfair to Mr. Man
I wanna know if you feel the way I do (I do)
(Do you wanna know? I know you do)
I wanna know if there's a chance for me and you (and you)
(Is there's a chance for me and you?)
If there's no way, meet at the bar and say you can't (you can't)
(I can't, we can't)
'Cause I don't wanna be, I don't wanna be, I don't wanna be
Unfair (I don't wanna be unfair)
I wanna know if you feel the way I do (I do)
(Do you feel me, baby?)
I wanna know if there's a chance for me and you (and you)
(Can you tell me? Yeah)
If there's no way, meet at the bar and say you can't, you can't
'Cause I don't wanna be, I don't wanna be, I don't wanna be
Unfair to Mr. Man
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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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There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Yeah, once in awhile you run into a "Mr. Man" lol.
Alicia keys for life
It's that magnetic attraction, that feeling you get when you see someone across the room. She's saying that even though she's with her man, she's feeling him and can;t fight her desire for him. This is one of my fav. Alicia Keys songs, just because she pours her soul into her music and is so real. Ima marry Alicia Keys, mark my word
I think Mr Man in this song is referring to her boyfriend by her side, not the delicious man across the room. Neither of them want to be unfair to Mr Man