"Wow!" said the broken Californian down
On the beach that used to be by the beach
Town hasn't moved but it's getting closer, losing ground
Making better views and close relaxing sounds
Ground sure don't like the way it's treated so now
It's moving back to the sea
Plan to hitch a ride with the river
'cause deep down plumbing life is too cramped for me
I got wood legs and bow legs and no legs at all
Damn! Would you take a collect call?
Oh no, I don't understand
I got poor eyes and sore eyes and no eyes at all
Damn! Would you take the fall?
Oh no, I don't like this plan
It was a staple of brass tacks and waxed backs
A message left on the forehead of God
Sent sealed and signed by the saints who sang this song, this song
...This song:
"We're going union like they say
We'll buy the congregation
Then one day, you'll find us sitting
In your chair with big ideas of stocks and shares"



Lyrics submitted by PLANES, edited by Ryuhza

Track duration: 06:59


Beach Side Property song meanings
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46 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment:this is probably the lyrical peak of modest mouse, in this song alone... its about the eroding of the earth. or how the earth is, in a sense, killing itself because its sick of being used so excessivley and being mistreated.

    then it eventually leads to erosion of all things "poor eyes, sore eyes, no eyes".
    this erosion, has no limits; the desrtuction of morals through religion("a message left on the forehead of god"- a message so decieving to the original purpose, that these "saints" had to hide it from god himself), and destruction of the unions under capitalism "we're going union...big ideas of stocks and shares."

    the song kind of has the same theme as THE FRUIT THAT ATE ITSELF.. how things go too far, and get to the point where they defeat their own purpose. ("like teaching the fruit to eat itself" or "teaching the mirror to admire itself")

    its a beautiful and amazing song, really.
    Flag aaronabudon September 08, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:i fucking love this song, especially towards the end..all MM songs are waaaaaay deeper than they appear. it's amazing.
    Flag sounds_familiar06on June 04, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:it makes me laugh every time he screams. lol! i feel ya! RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
    Flag fisheatsteelon June 03, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:i remember the first time i ever heard this and it still makes me feel exactly the same a decade later. if you didn't get the chills the first time you heard this, you have no soul.
    Flag lagwagon182on April 15, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:It's scary to think this song came out in 1996 and all the shit and problems they're talking about are so fitting right now in 08. Stocks and shares....global warming...it's all so relative. The government should have a listen to MM.
    Flag Glassmouseon September 26, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:shutupurdoinitwrong: i think that grains of sand between your toes and stars in the sky ARE COMPLETELY different concepts!! grains of sand, represents time (hourglasses) while projectors represent movies, aka stars. but i agree that the ark of creation can be tied to a house / beach house dilemma, as this is something we all deal with, and jesus wants us to have nice things.

    can't wait for jesus to return!
    Flagged biggestfaneveron August 30, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:biggestfanever: i think you just hit on something really deep!! the grains of sand between your toes are like the stars in the sky, and the stars are like projectors, yeah? it's proof that the ark of creation runs through all of the albums! and just like the dichotomy between hitching a ride after the N broke down, versus owning a house over ocean beach, isaac is drawing an ouroboros for us, signaling his imminent return!! of either jesus or a new album, i'll take either one.
    Flag shutupurdoinitwrongon August 30, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:OMG!!! i love this song and mm!!! sooo good.

    this song, in my very humble opinion, is about how we are constantly struggling to not get wet sand between our toes (metaphorically, sometimes), but we do anyway and that is okay, because jesus loves all of his children and takes care of them no matter what happens. that's why he's jesus, duh.

    can't wait for the new album!!
    Flag biggestfaneveron August 30, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this song is about ocean beach and trying to get there after the N broke down.
    Flag shutupurdoinitwrongon August 30, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This is my #1 MM Song, I can listen to this song over and over. I feel delightful when I hear the end of this song. I know i can do this
    Flag petewad21on March 27, 2008   Link

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