1
Well
Guy in a skeleton costume
Comes up to the guy in the Superman suit
Runs through him with a broadsword
I flipped the television off
Bring all the bright lights up
Turn the radio up loud
I don't know why I'm so persuaded
That if I think things through
Long enough and hard enough
I'll somehow get to you
But then you came in and we locked eyes
You kicked the ashtray over as we came toward each other
Stubbed my cigarette out against the west wall
Quickly lit another
Look at that
Would you look at that?
We're throwing off sparks
What will I do when I don't have you
To hold onto in the dark?
Yes
Everybody's going to need a witness
Everybody's going to need a little backup
In case the scene gets nasty
You throw the attic window open
And I throw myself all around you
And night comes to Tallahassee
I don't know why it's gotten harder to keep myself away
Thought I'd finally beat the feeling back
It all came back today
And then we fell down
And we locked arms
We knocked the dresser over as we rolled across the floor
I don't mean it when I tell you
That I don't love you any more
Look at that
Would you look at that?
The way the ceiling starts to swerve
What will I do when I don't have you
When I finally get what I deserve?
Guy in a skeleton costume
Comes up to the guy in the Superman suit
Runs through him with a broadsword
I flipped the television off
Bring all the bright lights up
Turn the radio up loud
I don't know why I'm so persuaded
That if I think things through
Long enough and hard enough
I'll somehow get to you
But then you came in and we locked eyes
You kicked the ashtray over as we came toward each other
Stubbed my cigarette out against the west wall
Quickly lit another
Look at that
Would you look at that?
We're throwing off sparks
What will I do when I don't have you
To hold onto in the dark?
Yes
Everybody's going to need a witness
Everybody's going to need a little backup
In case the scene gets nasty
You throw the attic window open
And I throw myself all around you
And night comes to Tallahassee
I don't know why it's gotten harder to keep myself away
Thought I'd finally beat the feeling back
It all came back today
And then we fell down
And we locked arms
We knocked the dresser over as we rolled across the floor
I don't mean it when I tell you
That I don't love you any more
Look at that
Would you look at that?
The way the ceiling starts to swerve
What will I do when I don't have you
When I finally get what I deserve?
Lyrics submitted by sendthestars
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Although I think a lot of people interpret the physicality of what's going on as rough sex, I think it's actually straight up spousal abuse that culminates in the Alpha male drowning his wife. In fact, it's predicted (or premeditated) in "No Children":
"I am drowning, there is no sign of land You are coming down with me, hand in unlovable hand And I hope you die I hope we both die"
The "Oceanographer's Choice" refers to the fact that he chooses to kill them both by drowning. Examining the final words of the song:
"Look at that, would you look at that? The way the ceiling starts to swerve What will I do when I don't have you? When I finally get what I deserve"
Why is the ceiling swerving? Because his wife is looking up from underneath the water in the bathtub.
This leads into the next song on the album "Alpha Rats Nest" that refers to the Alpha male burning the house to the ground with him and his wife's lifeless body in it.
But then you have to take into account "Alpha Omega", where she finally leaves him. It's long been the last song in the Alpha saga.
Maybe it's the though of drowning her and burning the house down. like he is so unhappy that he begins to fantasize about killing both of them..<br /> <br /> Great song tho.
I agree there is the theme of water but I don't think he does it. Just the fantasy. I really like Flatworms idea. Sounds like some allusion John would sneak in there. <br /> <br /> I think the song The House that Dripped Blood is him possibly considering how to clean up the evidence? However he doesnt "cold water grows stagnant, bodies bloat" meaning it'll be found eventually.
I always thought the line about the ceiling swerving was referring to the fact that they started drinking again - it was describing the way that everything seems to spin and swerve around you when you're really drunk. <br /> I do agree about the spousal abuse though. The lyrics and music don't make me think they're having rough sex; it sounds like someone's getting beaten up.