Know something about this song or lyrics?
Add it to our wiki.
I'm looking at another day to find that I've got nothing to say
Or I'm looking for another way to process what happened on that birthday
And either way, if you're gonna call it art
Then there's a cup in front of you and right away
If you're gonna play your part, you must drink it down
But mind eyes have seen the glory
Of the fields of flowers and factory floors
And my mind's content to lie at rest for hours
Behind my loved ones' doors and if there's a war
Another shitty war to fight for babylon
Then it's the perfect storm in a tea cup
But you must drink it down
And what do you make of the nights
When you thought you'd make much more
Than being too tired to turn the lights out
And too drunk to drink more?
And what does it take to not hear the cynics at your door saying
"It's time the turn the lights out, and you'll want to keep it down!"
So I'm lifting up that poison cup to drink a draught of propoganda
Or I'm giving up that other stuff in hopes that it will make me madder
But either way, if you're gonna call it art
Then there's a cup in front of you and right away
If you're gonna play your part
You must drink it down
And what do you make of nights
When you thought you'd make much more
Than being too tired to turn the lights out
And too drunk to drink more?
And what does it take to not hear the cynics at your door saying
"It's time the turn the lights out, and you'll want to keep it down!"
And what does it say of all the things you've said before
When you're too drunk to turn the lights out
And too tired to drink more?
And what do you save, and what does it feel like to be saved?
And can you "pull - 2 - 3 - 4! pull - 2 - 3 - 4!"
Can you drink it down?
Or I'm looking for another way to process what happened on that birthday
And either way, if you're gonna call it art
Then there's a cup in front of you and right away
If you're gonna play your part, you must drink it down
But mind eyes have seen the glory
Of the fields of flowers and factory floors
And my mind's content to lie at rest for hours
Behind my loved ones' doors and if there's a war
Another shitty war to fight for babylon
Then it's the perfect storm in a tea cup
But you must drink it down
And what do you make of the nights
When you thought you'd make much more
Than being too tired to turn the lights out
And too drunk to drink more?
And what does it take to not hear the cynics at your door saying
"It's time the turn the lights out, and you'll want to keep it down!"
So I'm lifting up that poison cup to drink a draught of propoganda
Or I'm giving up that other stuff in hopes that it will make me madder
But either way, if you're gonna call it art
Then there's a cup in front of you and right away
If you're gonna play your part
You must drink it down
And what do you make of nights
When you thought you'd make much more
Than being too tired to turn the lights out
And too drunk to drink more?
And what does it take to not hear the cynics at your door saying
"It's time the turn the lights out, and you'll want to keep it down!"
And what does it say of all the things you've said before
When you're too drunk to turn the lights out
And too tired to drink more?
And what do you save, and what does it feel like to be saved?
And can you "pull - 2 - 3 - 4! pull - 2 - 3 - 4!"
Can you drink it down?
Lyrics submitted by knifefight
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
It's an allusion to the Battle Hymn of the Republic.
i was wondering about the birthday line. good to know
Or I'm giving up that other stuff in hopes that it will make me madder
But either way, if you're gonna call it art
Then there's a cup in front of you and right away
If you're gonna play your part
You must drink it down"
I think he is talking about how if you want to be an artist and make statements about politics and society then you have to get yourself all wrapped up in it when you would rather not even think about it even when it makes you mad. The anger reveals itself to be absolutely necessary if one wants to continue finding the inspiration to be an artist. It is probably exhausting and exasperating to keep it up.
Also the part, "And my mind's content to lie at rest for hours
Behind my loved ones' doors and if there's a war
Another shitty war to fight for Babylon
Then it's the perfect storm in a tea cup
But you must drink it down"
He would be happy on one level to let himself become oblivious and live a normal life like most people but he feels naturally obligated as an artist to have something to say and make a statement about things like the war. Also the fact that he refers to the "shitty war" as the "perfect storm in a teacup" is significant also giving consideration to the first line "I'm looking at another day to find that I've got nothing to say". A "storm in a teacup" is an expression that means some event that has been exaggerated and blown up to seem way more significant than it actually is. So maybe he didn't have much to say about 9/11 specifically as people expected him to because he regarded most of the talk that was going around basically as pointless gossip that gives people to get excited about and place there judgment on, hence "The High Party". Sorry that wasn't more articulate but I got a lot of thoughts at one time and I didn't take a lot of time to organize or revise any of them.
Then it's the perfect storm in a tea cup
But you must drink it down
And what do you make of the nights
When you thought you'd make much more
Than being too tired to turn the lights out
And too drunk to drink more?
i think the drink is referring to the war, and turning the lights out would be ending it, and drinking more would be keeping it going,
and then when he says:
And what does it take to not hear the cynics at your door saying
"It's time the turn the lights out, and you'll want to keep it down!"
i think he is saying that the president isn't listening to the protestors, democrats, critics, etc. when they tell him to pull out of iraq.
And what do you save, and what does it feel like to be saved?
And can you "pull - 2 - 3 - 4! pull - 2 - 3 - 4!"
Can you drink it down?
and here he is basically saying that we aren't helping anyone in iraq, can you handle it?
that's just my take, but amazing song.
Laters,
JMx
Wow! Amazing lyrics. Just drink those words in. This song gives me chills.