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.
Open your eyes
And turn off your mind
Step right up folks
And you will find
A growing trend
An epidemic
Spread with zen
And hypodermics yeah
Yeah
Just close your mind
You can find all you need with your eyes
The big machines take care of you
Until you kill yourself and then
The sales go through the roof
Calculated, formulated
Feed my head with simple thoughts
And let me breathe instead of being taught
All bottled up and tearing at the seams
I'm bored, just let me breathe
A daily dose of eMpTyV
Will flush your mind right down the drain
Shannon Hoon and Kurt Cobain
Make yourself a household name yeah
Yeah
Just close your mind
You can find all you need with your eyes
The big machines take care of you
Until you kill yourself
And then the sales go through the roof
Calculated, formulated
Feed my head with simple thoughts
And let me breathe instead of being taught
All bottled up and tearing at the seams
I'm bored, just let me breathe
Strike up your best angst ridden posture, whoa
Manufactured anger
Let's not forget my legacy
All my heroes have failed me
Now they're dead and buried yeah
Just close your mind
You can find all you need with your eyes
The big machines
Will take care of you
Until the fashion fades
And the checks go through
My bankroll's red
And my face is blue
And still they'll turn their backs on you
For someone new
Feed my head
With some real thoughts
And let me think instead
Of being taught
I'll say things
You won't believe
Just stand back
Just let me breathe
And turn off your mind
Step right up folks
And you will find
A growing trend
An epidemic
Spread with zen
And hypodermics yeah
Yeah
Just close your mind
You can find all you need with your eyes
The big machines take care of you
Until you kill yourself and then
The sales go through the roof
Calculated, formulated
Feed my head with simple thoughts
And let me breathe instead of being taught
All bottled up and tearing at the seams
I'm bored, just let me breathe
A daily dose of eMpTyV
Will flush your mind right down the drain
Shannon Hoon and Kurt Cobain
Make yourself a household name yeah
Yeah
Just close your mind
You can find all you need with your eyes
The big machines take care of you
Until you kill yourself
And then the sales go through the roof
Calculated, formulated
Feed my head with simple thoughts
And let me breathe instead of being taught
All bottled up and tearing at the seams
I'm bored, just let me breathe
Strike up your best angst ridden posture, whoa
Manufactured anger
Let's not forget my legacy
All my heroes have failed me
Now they're dead and buried yeah
Just close your mind
You can find all you need with your eyes
The big machines
Will take care of you
Until the fashion fades
And the checks go through
My bankroll's red
And my face is blue
And still they'll turn their backs on you
For someone new
Feed my head
With some real thoughts
And let me think instead
Of being taught
I'll say things
You won't believe
Just stand back
Just let me breathe
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im thinking this song is about how the "music industry" works..but its just me ..
This song is an all out attack against the forcefed pop music that exists in the mainstream. Basically, they're saying that don't bother thinking about what you like...people will do it for you. Note the references to Cobain (who was exploited by the music industry) and "eMpTyV" (obviously meaning MTV...but I think it was like that so to avoid legal issues). Great song!
Portnoy has said he wrote out of anger of the pressure of the label in the creativity process in their early career...e.g. 'Just let me breathe...'
Listen to Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen and then this. A few sections sound suspiciously similar.
This song sounds similar to a TON of THEIR OWN songs...<br /> Like I hear The Root of All Evil (written years later), Take the Time, and others in here...
well to me it sounds like he is referring to alot of singers that are gone now. especially kurt cobain. Kurt complained alot about the pressure he was under. and the whole "kill yourself" brings to mind cobain, hendrix, and others. i dunno. thats just me
I think that this song actually takes a shot a Cobain. The lines,
"Shannon Hoon and Kurt Cobain, Make yourself a household name, yeah-yeah"
"Until you kill yourself And then the sales go through the roof Calculated, formulated"
say that Cobain got more popular and more recognized after his death, and this song makes it sound like a publicity stunt.
I always found this song kind of ironic, considering that this album, Falling Into Infinity (where this song was on), was basically the album where their record company was trying to push them into mainstream.
I mean, for god's sake, You Not Me was originally You Or Me. Kind of odd, hm?
You Or Me is freaking awesome as a song. The bridge part is great. You Not Me is just... pathetic.
This song's "Just close your eyes..." part does sound like Bohemian Rhapsody.
"A daily dose of eMpTyV Will flush your mind right down the drain"
Couldn't be more true.
The big machines... the media, the record label, etc. they they take care of you until you're gone and they can exploit someone else.