This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Mama, you're on my mind
A stitch upon my coda
Play on the world's grand design
I think you know
I think you're sure that you know that
Butterflies don't get old
And I don't get so young anymore
What a shame
The big ideas
And lost ideals, it's a show
I must appear in control
Mama
Mama
The show at all
They're burning books outside of
What was it that you said?
And to the walls
Let the spirit gather up and
Set us a flame for
Year to year, there's no one here but us
What I'm ask
The ears to the ground and the fingers on the pulse of the pain
Oh it's worse than change
Oh what do they want with us
Oh mama
Mama
What is it that they want with us and all of our abuse
Oh what's the use to protect
Mama, is only you
You're a dancer from the mirrors of
Lie and with restraint
This quiet warmth
I've got my faith restored by the sway of the trees
That sway in time to one more rhyme of my curse
But what it's worth
I count you out and still you count me in
To answer your final bell
Mama
Mama
But why do they care about us
Mama
Mama
They knock and knock
But I don't answer the door
Mama
Mama
Cuz I'm bored and we're not alone
A stitch upon my coda
Play on the world's grand design
I think you know
I think you're sure that you know that
Butterflies don't get old
And I don't get so young anymore
What a shame
The big ideas
And lost ideals, it's a show
I must appear in control
Mama
Mama
The show at all
They're burning books outside of
What was it that you said?
And to the walls
Let the spirit gather up and
Set us a flame for
Year to year, there's no one here but us
What I'm ask
The ears to the ground and the fingers on the pulse of the pain
Oh it's worse than change
Oh what do they want with us
Oh mama
Mama
What is it that they want with us and all of our abuse
Oh what's the use to protect
Mama, is only you
You're a dancer from the mirrors of
Lie and with restraint
This quiet warmth
I've got my faith restored by the sway of the trees
That sway in time to one more rhyme of my curse
But what it's worth
I count you out and still you count me in
To answer your final bell
Mama
Mama
But why do they care about us
Mama
Mama
They knock and knock
But I don't answer the door
Mama
Mama
Cuz I'm bored and we're not alone
Lyrics submitted by chinosoma
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!
More Featured Meanings
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
This is such an amazing song, it's a total shame no one has commented on it yet.
For me, this tune is super catchy for some reason, and it gets stuck in my head. Sadly, it's a depressing song for me. It's how innocent the lyrics Billy came up with are. I really hope if American Gothic gets a reissue, the Residency songs are released, in studio quality, on the second disc.
Now, since I first heard this song in eighth grade, it reminds me of two girls who went to my middle school. The first one is just randomly symbolic of this girl who was new to my school in eighth grade. The second girl was someone who I had feelings for in seventh grade, but them dropped them out of total embarrassment. I still had classes with her, however. So, this just lead to me imagining her and my friend in Texas sitting in some rural home. However, my Texan friend is older than her, so it doesn't make total sense.
Since I have time, I'll give an elaboration into this second girl and the Texan friend idea. Since they both look like, my brain decides, "BOOM! mother and son," despite him being younger. However, my brain irons this out as, "she's just grown old, and that's why he's taller". Anyway, I can just imagine my Texan friend is visiting this girl (the girl who I had a crush on in 7th btw) who lives out in some rural region. The tone is innocent because the two had a fight or something, and he's visiting her just to visit her. Childhood memories flood back to him, and that's also why the song has an innocent tone. While he's discontent with her (lyrics), she was also still his mother for all those years (the upbeat tone of the song).
This is such an amazing song, it's a total shame no one has commented on it yet.
For me, this tune is super catchy for some reason, and it gets stuck in my head. Sadly, it's a depressing song for me. It's how innocent the lyrics Billy came up with are. I really hope if American Gothic gets a reissue, the Residency songs are released, in studio quality, on the second disc.
Now, since I first heard this song in eighth grade, it reminds me of two girls who went to my middle school. The first one is just randomly symbolic of this girl who was new to my school in eighth grade. The second girl was someone who I had feelings for in seventh grade, but them dropped them out of total embarrassment. I still had classes with her, however. So, this just lead to me imagining her and my friend in Texas sitting in some rural home. However, my Texan friend is older than her, so it doesn't make total sense.
Since I have time, I'll give an elaboration into this second girl and the Texan friend idea. Since they both look like, my brain decides, "BOOM! mother and son," despite him being younger. However, my brain irons this out as, "she's just grown old, and that's why he's taller". Anyway, I can just imagine my Texan friend is visiting this girl (the girl who I had a crush on in 7th btw) who lives out in some rural region. The tone is innocent because the two had a fight or something, and he's visiting her just to visit her. Childhood memories flood back to him, and that's also why the song has an innocent tone. While he's discontent with her (lyrics), she was also still his mother for all those years (the upbeat tone of the song).