A Perfect Circle – Magdalena

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Overcome by your
Moving temple
Overcome by this
Holiest of altars

So pure
So rare
To witness such an earthly goddess
That I've lost my self control
Beyond compelled to throw this dollar down before your
Holiest of altars

I'd sell
My soul
My self-esteem a dollar at a time

One chance
One kiss
One taste of you my Magdalena

I bear witness
To this place, this prayer, so long forgotten
So pure
So rare
To witness such an earthly goddess

That I'd sell
My soul
My self-esteem a dollar at a time
For one chance
One kiss
One taste of you my black Madonna

I'd sell
My soul
My self-esteem a dollar at a time

One taste
One taste
One taste of you my Magdalena

Send "Magdalena" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by Jack

Track duration: 04:06

"Magdalena" as written by Maynard James/howerdel Keenan

Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Magdalena song meanings
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  • 0
    General Comment:I agree most with what nephilim101 said, except that I think the "holiest of altars" and the "moving temple" refer to the biblical verse stating that "your body is a temple...." And I also do not think that it is a mockery of those types of men, I think Maynard is, or was, one of those men, to a certain extent. He seems to have a very high libido and I recall him saying in some documentary he appeared in that for him it was impossible to be faithful in a relationship and be in a band on the road.
    Flag TwoVirgoson May 02, 2013   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:I love how Maynards lyrics have multiple meanings, but this one is as straight to the point as you can get. It is a legend of the San Juan Capistrano Church in California. The tragedy of "The Great Stone Church" gave rise to its best-loved legend, that of a young native girl named Magdalena who was killed in the collapse. Magdalena lived on the Mission grounds and had fallen in love with an artist named Teófilo. However, the pair was deemed too young to marry by their elders and were forced to carry on their relationship in secret. On that fateful December morning, the repentant Magdalena walked ahead of the procession of worshipers carrying a penitent's candle just as the earthquake struck. Teófilo rushed into the church as the walls and roof tumbled to the ground in a vain attempt to save his lover. When the rubble was cleared the pair was found among the dead, locked in a final embrace. It is said that on moonlit nights one can sometimes make out the face of a young girl, seemingly illuminated by candlelight, high up in the ruins.
    Flag johanvan79on January 27, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Magdelena was a photographer friend of Paz Lenchantin and Maynard had a crush on her.
    Flag tilly808on December 08, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:It's a bout sex

    "Overcome by your
    Moving temple
    Overcome by this
    Holiest of altars"

    What's the name of his vineyard? Merkin. What's a merkin? Look it up...

    and desire and the power of the "Moving temple" "Holiest of Altars" think anatomy folks.

    It's the power of the Puscifer...

    Sometimes if you look too deep you miss the obvious.
    Flag FLWBon January 15, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:although the surface imagery in the lyrics and music bring to mind strippers and the like
    i don't think the bible or gnostic references should be ignored
    someone mentioned addiction, its many forms are often present in mjk songs
    i think everyone has his or her own holiest of altars
    Flag Juggalecteron July 12, 2011   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:okay, i understand that Maynard's lyrics often can mean multiple things. but this is a song that seems very clear to me. he is talking about a man who is obsessed with strippers, or a particular stripper. and every time he goes to see her dance in the strip club he loses control of himself, looses any self esteem he may have had, and feels the compulsive urge to throw his "dollars" at her fantasizing in his head that he would ever have the chance to have one kiss, or one taste of her. the name of the song being "magdalena" is obviously being used because mary magdalene was considered a prostitute. and in some ways strippers are prostitutes. they take off their clothes and dance in a sexual way to turn men on in order to make money. so basically they are selling their sexuality which basically is a form of prostitution. when he is saying that he is willing to 'sell his soul' or his 'self esteem' 'one dollar at a time' is obviously referring to the way men in those places use their dollars to show their appreciation of the stripper. as i said he is either obsessed with strippers in general, or one in particular. it does tend to suggest that it is one in particular because he is saying that it is rare to see such an 'earthly goddess' that he feels compelled to 'throw this dollar' he is also looking at her body as if it were a 'moving temple' or 'holy altar' again referring to his exaggeration of feelings for her to the point where he has placed her in the realm of the divine. to me it is obviously just a mockery of the kind of men that go to these strip clubs regularly and end up cheapening themselves, over this stripper whom he just so desperately wants one kiss or one taste of to the point that he loses control and throws down his money at her feet almost as an offering one would bestow upon a goddess. of all of their songs, i think this one is pretty much an easy one to understand.
    Flagged nephilim101on June 05, 2011   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:Maynard has a drug history of heroin. You can see it all over the place in weak and powerless, the drug references like dragons and snakes. he even talks about china white which is a form of heroin. i'm guessing that magdalena is a metaphor for heroin and black madonna for china white. China white is the pureist form of heroin you can get by the way. Trust me I'd sell my soul for that drug. The album is called the 13th step by the way. Have you guys heard of the 12 step program to get off drugs?
    Flag cloud505on December 08, 2010   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:Originally I thought this was about an infatuation become obsession: a person you desire so much they become perfect and unapproachable in your eyes.

    But the references to money and holy altars or temples made me realise it's about a strip-club.
    of course it's possible to become so obsessed with a stripper. it's their job to make you want them.
    this feels similar to a few Puscifer songs in that case.
    Flag Gummyon November 11, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:
    If you study what really goes on in the seedy underworld of strip clubs you will witness
    people selling themselves 1 dollar at a time. You will see compulsive men who are drawn by this addiction for gratification and attention from these holiest of altars. She will also sell her soul, her self esteem one dollar at a time. Don't read into the Christian references too much, they are just symbols.If you occasionally drop into one of these places like myself this is one of the reasons you may or may not feel a sense of shame or awkwardness when you visit these places and observe.If you make a habit of going or of working in one then you may be of the type that is drawn to pay one dollar at a time,
    thus selling your soul, your self esteem.
    Flag bipolarstudioson May 15, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I can't help but listen to this song over and over again. And though it has different meanings to different people, I love to think that this song fits my favorite couple. I'm weird like that ^^
    Flag Windgoddesson April 23, 2010   Link
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