The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
I know, I know the sun is hot
Mosquitoes come suck your blood
And leave you there all alone
Just skin and bone
When you walk among the trees
Listening to the leaves
The further I go, the less I know
The less I know
Where will you run?
Where will you hide?
Lullabies to paralyze
Fat and soft, pink and weak
Foot and thigh, tongue and cheek
You know I'm told they swallow you whole, skin and bone
Cutting boards and hanging hooks
Bloody knives, cooking books
Promising you won't feel a thing at all
Swallow and chew
Eat you alive
All of us food that hasn't died
And the knife says
Simmering, pick and pluck
Tenderize bone to dust
The sweetest grease, finest meat you'll ever taste
So you scream, whine, and yell
Supple sounds of dinner bells
We all will feed the worms and trees
So don't be shy
Swallow and chew
Eat you alive
All of us food that hasn't died
Mosquitoes come suck your blood
And leave you there all alone
Just skin and bone
When you walk among the trees
Listening to the leaves
The further I go, the less I know
The less I know
Where will you run?
Where will you hide?
Lullabies to paralyze
Fat and soft, pink and weak
Foot and thigh, tongue and cheek
You know I'm told they swallow you whole, skin and bone
Cutting boards and hanging hooks
Bloody knives, cooking books
Promising you won't feel a thing at all
Swallow and chew
Eat you alive
All of us food that hasn't died
And the knife says
Simmering, pick and pluck
Tenderize bone to dust
The sweetest grease, finest meat you'll ever taste
So you scream, whine, and yell
Supple sounds of dinner bells
We all will feed the worms and trees
So don't be shy
Swallow and chew
Eat you alive
All of us food that hasn't died
Lyrics submitted by ikari, edited by HalfLife3, whydoineedacc
Mosquito Song Lyrics as written by Michael Melchiondo Joshua Michael Homme
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I couldn't disagree more with Johnpaulmcrae's interpretation. I think this song is about, like ukcuf stated, about the frigidity of life. Of course, all songs (especially in this genre of music) are subject to interpretation, that's what makes it poetic.
That having been said, I'm not sure which sounds more rediculous to me: the song being about God or the song being about sex, oral or otherwise. To me, there exists ZERO reference to any god of any kind within the contexts of the lyrics here. Instead, there is quite the opposite, all of the words tend to point to the "meaninglessness" of our lives (how we will all just feed the worms and trees just as we have fed off of animals and just as mosquitos feed on us, as well).
Perhaps it is about the cycle of life, and not stating that it is meaningless, but just that the wheel keeps on turning, regardless of your hopes, dreams, pains, or pleasures. To use another analogy, I see the universe as the god of indifference. If you kept swept under an undertow, you get swept under and drown. That's all there is to it.
My interpretations and beliefs aside, I really don't think your interpretation was the desired message when Homme wrote this song.
Also, I do agree with you when you say that the universe is much more complex than just the big bang or evolution, however, that doesn't make them any less true (if, indeed, they are)
@VylePhinder The big bang theory is such a cop-out. I'm sorry, but the complexity of reality and why we are here and having no idea what would even exist BEFORE a big bang or anything before THAT kind of makes it a silly theory. God has to be involved. Our lives are not insignificant. Your life is what you make it. If you really try, you can have the most beautiful life anyone has ever had. <br /> <br /> This song has always depressed me, but I continue to listen to it. I detect cannibalism, that's about it. Which isn't bad, just interesting (reminds me of Cake Bake Betty's cannibalistic tribute). Right?
The Spinal Song by Cake Bake Betty...check it out
@VylePhinder Wrong song, it's actually called "One by One". Enjoy
@Wumpscut God is such a cop-out. I'm sorry, but the complexity of reality and why we are here and having no idea what would even exist BEFORE God or anything before THAT kind of makes it a silly theory.
@VylePhinder @Wumpscut Both of your beliefs are not mutually exclusive. Energy is the common denominator between all theories. Could get deeeper but my point is that opinions are not mutually exlusive.
i think it's about the fragility of live... and how humans are not so different from other animals...in that respect...
I think its about an animal that is caught and after that eaten by humans ("Cutting boards and hanging hooks, bloddy knives, cooking books") I think it's the way of the animal form the pray in the woods to the meal on the table. I also would say that this animal is still allive ("So you scream, whine and yell") But i doesn't know about animals that are hunted and eaten alive.....
girth has it right, I think-- at least that's my interpretation of it.
After being broken up with from the same guy for the last damn time last winter-- and I was always the one to break up with all the one's previous so I never felt the pain of being dumped until he came along-- this song is pretty much how I felt after. It was all I could listen to, and it emulated exactly how it felt for my heart to bleed. The violins were the bleeding, and the beautiful lonely lute that strums away was the hopelessness I felt.
It's amazing how music, even if it reflects our sadness, can help us come to terms with it.
This song is about cannibalism, and like many songs, sex. Oral in fact, the fixation of madly eating the female organ (can I say that). The loss of control, the desire. QOTSA is not as Godless as some might expect. This song is explaining the connection between the desire for the sweetest flesh, though the flesh will pass away, return to the earth, and the burning lust and passion that make an empty life (A Godless life) nothing more than sad hypocrisy. It is a song to make you think. If we are only animals, why do we have choice, reason, ideals, and control? Queens of The Stone Age talk about this very thing in many of their songs. I think in hope that people will realize this universe and world is much more complex than a big bang theory and slime evolution. This song, like era vulgarus, is a wake up call, are you dumb enough to continue believing what the world programs you to believe? Can any of you get out of the herd mentality your in? Or are you all cows in the pasture? That's what Elitists, Masons, Shriners, Rosicrucian, Satanists,etc. think. Wake up religion is dead, there is only one true God, but most of you are to afraid to except it and take responsibility for yourselves. A slave mentality. Politicians love it, it makes humans that much more predictable.
I thumbed you up before I saw your crazy-ass final few lines.
I am pretty sure this song is about a cannibal/serial killer, trying to justify what they're doing. They know it's wrong, but they're trying to convince themselves that we're all going to die anyways.
I feel this song could be about cannibalism idk just a theory
I think this song is about the circle of life, that all living animals or plants end up as food when they die, but talks about the mosquito that don't eat dead animals, eat living animals (sucking their blood), because of these they say "eat you alive" !!!
"Swallow and chew Eat you alive All of us food that hasn't died"
This is one of the best chorus' I've heard in a long time.
about mosquitos i guess
excellent as with all QOTSA and kyuss songs