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I know that it's bad
That it's the kind that they can't operate on
And I know it's real slow, honey
Painful and real slow
Styrofoam coffee cups
And bagged drugs that never work enough
And I know its real slow, honey
Painful and real slow
When we were young
And hit like hammers
I'd write the nails in your hands
But when 99% of us is failure
There's no going back
And I know its real slow, honey
Painful and real slow
Blackbird come the break of dawn
The TV's on, I turn it off
Walk outside, get in the car
Stare at the wheel then fall apart
I get it all the time
Bright eyes to bat and hide behind
But I know they're just for show, honey
Painful and just for show
Black rooms to babysit
White halls to pace and wait for it
And I know it's too slow, honey
Painful and real slow
When we were young
And hit like hammers
I'd write the nails in your hands
When 99% of us is failure
There's no coming back
And I know its real slow, honey
Painful and real slow
Blackbird come the break of day
You swallow the shit that people say
Walk outside look at the sky
Ask it to fall or tell you why
That it's the kind that they can't operate on
And I know it's real slow, honey
Painful and real slow
Styrofoam coffee cups
And bagged drugs that never work enough
And I know its real slow, honey
Painful and real slow
When we were young
And hit like hammers
I'd write the nails in your hands
But when 99% of us is failure
There's no going back
And I know its real slow, honey
Painful and real slow
Blackbird come the break of dawn
The TV's on, I turn it off
Walk outside, get in the car
Stare at the wheel then fall apart
I get it all the time
Bright eyes to bat and hide behind
But I know they're just for show, honey
Painful and just for show
Black rooms to babysit
White halls to pace and wait for it
And I know it's too slow, honey
Painful and real slow
When we were young
And hit like hammers
I'd write the nails in your hands
When 99% of us is failure
There's no coming back
And I know its real slow, honey
Painful and real slow
Blackbird come the break of day
You swallow the shit that people say
Walk outside look at the sky
Ask it to fall or tell you why
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The song title really appeals to me. "99% of Us Is Failure" is likely a reference to the estimate that 99% of all species that have ever lived are now extinct.
Stare at the wheel and fall apart"
Gets me every time. Easily the best lyric in the song.
Walk outside, get in the car
Stare at the wheel and fall apart
I take this line literally. And I have been there, I can really feel it when he sings it.
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well. my stupid part/interprtn:
think i heard MG said that Hospital Music was the only record solely >only?< about his experiences
"Styrofoam coffee cups and bagged drugs that never work" could also be a mental institution thing or even a HOMELESS scenario. don't forget that weed, coke, speed, etc all come - generally speaking: in bags. or i thought it was more about ... the drugs that actually do work and help i.e. X and Y and not pharma$$greeddrugz that u need to take every+single+
this song i think is about taking forever to heal and the patience it requires from the ppl who truly love you unconditionally. having gone through some (badword) days... this is the interpretation i bring. read his wikipedia page to find out a bit more about the breakdown etc. i wonder if the book "At Last There Is Nothing Left To Say" (journals?) came before Hospital Music or not ? as i think he either quotes HM or an earlier record, too lazy to search, but the phrase "those pink pills are for your sanity" also appears in the book... as well as similar pokes i.e. "the future is x-rated, what did u think it would be"
respect, i love this record, In A Coma Audio II + Underdogs the most.... really also love Avalanche and Audio of Being ... just not as much as the other 3 :)
WHO HAS LIVE SHOWS? haha i am getting those, lossless, next... soon... whatever. see db.etree.org/cbx if bored. respect.
MY OPINION MAY NOT BE VALID - in fact to some it "never was"
I'd write the nails in your hands
When 99% of us is failure
There's no going back"
I agree with chrisbourgeois about the hammer line, and I think he's also saying that he was the creative force while his friend was the one who would put the idea into action. But now, it seems they can do nothing to improve their situation and they're emotionally falling apart.
think i heard MG said that Hospital Music was the only record solely >only?< about his experiences
"Styrofoam coffee cups and bagged drugs that never work" could also be a mental institution thing or even a HOMELESS scenario. don't forget that weed, coke, speed, etc all come - generally speaking: in bags. or i thought it was more about ... the drugs that actually do work and help i.e. X and Y and not pharma$$greeddrugz that u need to take every+single+
this song i think is about taking forever to heal and the patience it requires from the ppl who truly love you unconditionally. having gone through some (badword) days... this is the interpretation i bring. read his wikipedia page to find out a bit more about the breakdown etc. i wonder if the book "At Last There Is Nothing Left To Say" (journals?) came before Hospital Music or not ? as i think he either quotes HM or an earlier record, too lazy to search, but the phrase "those pink pills are for your sanity" also appears in the book... as well as similar pokes i.e. "the future is x-rated, what did u think it would be"
respect, i love this record, In A Coma Audio II + Underdogs the most.... really also love Avalanche and Audio of Being ... just not as much as the other 3 :)
WHO HAS LIVE SHOWS? haha i am getting those, lossless, next... soon... whatever. see db.etree.org/cbx if bored. respect.
Usually that refers to some sort of brain tumor, but I also relate it to mental illness; if he's talking about himself, he's saying that he knows that it is bad that there isn't a tangible "fix" to the problem.
But almost all of the lines make it sound like the experience you have when a loved one is in the hospital.