Manchester Orchestra – My Friend Marcus

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  General Comment:I'm atheist so I don't really see this from a religious view although I see that religion is quite prevalent in MO's lyrics.
  
  My friend Marcus, he sleeps in my basement
  And his father touched more than spirit
  Now he can hardly sleep, sleep
  --the obvious, Marcus' father molested him
  
  I don't give a good shit if your lonesome
  I think that you should go home son
  Find your father and meaning
  --I see this as him being at a very young age and not wanting to share his family with Marcus because he does not understand the circumstances
  
  Now I can see
  You mean everything to nothing
  Now I believe
  You mean everything
  --At first he doesn't think Marcus is an important person but realizes that he has become his best friend.
  
  Now I can see
  You mean everything to nothing
  Now I believe
  You mean everything
  
  My friend Marcus, he works on a train set
  And I still can't move on my broke track
  He's helping me find my meaning
  Eventually and hopefully we'll see
  --Marcus teaches him that even though he's been through that he can still love where he had been through nothing and disliked Marcus. I think he regrets that and is starting over.
  
  And now I can see
  I mean everything to nothing
  Now I believe
  I mean everything
  
  Its funny how many don't know
  How many dont have a home
  It's funny how many don't know
  How many dont have homes
  oooooh
  --I took this as how many people are molested because the numbers are outrageous and they don't have a place they can call home and feel safe.

  Flag bethikaon June 23, 2011   Link

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  General Comment:this song is about harrison hudson. andy has mentioned it at a show.

  Flag mindsawakeon March 27, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:"Now I can see
  You mean everything to nothing
  Now I believe
  You mean everything"
  
  He says that someone (God? With the spiritual application... anyways...) means everything to nothing, and that he believes he means everything. So along with that he's saying that he is nothing, which fits the spiritual application.

  Flag AidanDieson January 07, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:Great song one of the best from 2009

  Flag Marcus1on January 02, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:intheever is totally correct. I saw Manchester Orchestra here in St. Louis on October 6th. Andy said the same thing here. One of the best concerts I have seen in years.
  
  I agree with ellie117 about the meaning of this song...

  Flag wiredonritalinon November 06, 2009   Link

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  General Comment:I just saw Manchester Orchestra in Minneapolis yesterday when they played with Brand New!
  
  When they were going to play this song, Andy told us that it's about an imaginary friend that he used to have...He said all of his friends ask him if they are Marcus - but it's not about a real person.

  Flag intheeveron October 05, 2009   Link

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  General Comment:I think it has to do with Andy's friend's spritual walk. He is having trouble accepting it at the beginning of the song and it's bothering him. Later in the song, Marcus is helping Andy with his spiritual walk.
  
  "My friend Marcus, he works on a train set
  And I still can't move on my broke track
  He's helping me find my meaning
  Eventually and hopefully we'll see"
  
  The train set could be Marcus' walk. Andy is stuck in life, and Marcus is helping Andy out.
  
  
  "Its funny how many don't know
  How many dont have a home"
  
  People that don't know Christ.

  Flag zia7on July 27, 2009   Link

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    My take on the spirits part is that i think it references alcohol and that he touched more than alcohol so like other drugs and whatnot. Could be way off but that is how i interpret that part.

    Flag littledudemanon August 18, 2009  
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  General Comment:I love what andy says in AP about the concept of the album
  Mean everything to no-thing.. because if you mean everything to someone, you're going to let them down.
  I don't really know what the idea would mean in context? maybe he doesn't want to let God or a spiritual figure mean everything to him because he will only be let down. and Hull maybe has trouble finding meaning in his life/purpose because of this?
  
  "My friend Marcus, he works on a train set
  And I still can't move on my broke track
  He's helping me find my meaning
  Eventually and hopefully we'll see"
  
  and maybe at the end he is talking about how many don't have a home spiritually or are lost just as he is.. I don't know I'm just throwing ideas out there haha.

  Flag maozedongon June 10, 2009   Link

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  General Comment:"My friend Marcus, he sleeps in my basement
  And his father touched more than spirit
  Now he can hardly sleep, sleep"
  
  i think the father he talks about in this verse is literally his father, and his friend was molested as a child.
  
  
  "I don't give a good shit if your lonesome
  I think that you should go home son
  Find your father and meaning"
  
  here, i think the father he mentions is god. andy can't understand why it's so hard for him to let god into his life because he hasn't had the same experiences. he thinks if his friend just accepts god, he will be able to find a purpose in life.
  
  
  "Now I can see
  You mean everything to nothing"
  
  "Its funny how many don't know
  How many dont have a home"
  
  he finally realizes that not everyone is as lucky as he has been to have grown up in a good home. he understands now why it's difficult for people like his friend to believe in god.

  Flag boxingwithstarson May 13, 2009   Link

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  General Comment:Find a Father and your meaning*

  Flag namyrameon May 10, 2009   Link

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