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Dead in the water
It's not a paid vacation
The sons and daughters of city officials
Attend demonstrations
It's hardly a sink or swim
When all is well if the ticket sells
Out with a wimper
It's not a blaze of glory
You look down from your temple
As people endeavor to make it a story
And chisel a marble word
But all is lost if it's never heard
But I've got someone to make reports
That tell me how my money's spent
To book my stays and draw my blinds
So I can't see what's really there
And all I need's a great big congratulations
I'll keep your dreams
You pay attention for me
As strange as it seems
I'd rather dissolve than have you ignore me
The ground may be moving fast
But I tied my boots to a broken mast
The difference is clear
You throw it in your cauldron
Rust and veneer, dusk and dawn
Steinways and Baldwins
You start with a simple stock of all the waste
And salt to taste
But damn my luck and damn these friends
That keep on combing back their smiles
I save my grace with half-assed guilt
And lay down the quilt upon the lawn
Spread my arms and soak up congratulations
It's not a paid vacation
The sons and daughters of city officials
Attend demonstrations
It's hardly a sink or swim
When all is well if the ticket sells
Out with a wimper
It's not a blaze of glory
You look down from your temple
As people endeavor to make it a story
And chisel a marble word
But all is lost if it's never heard
But I've got someone to make reports
That tell me how my money's spent
To book my stays and draw my blinds
So I can't see what's really there
And all I need's a great big congratulations
I'll keep your dreams
You pay attention for me
As strange as it seems
I'd rather dissolve than have you ignore me
The ground may be moving fast
But I tied my boots to a broken mast
The difference is clear
You throw it in your cauldron
Rust and veneer, dusk and dawn
Steinways and Baldwins
You start with a simple stock of all the waste
And salt to taste
But damn my luck and damn these friends
That keep on combing back their smiles
I save my grace with half-assed guilt
And lay down the quilt upon the lawn
Spread my arms and soak up congratulations
Lyrics submitted by owenp277
Track duration: 03:55
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"all is well if the ticket sells" - everythings ok as long as people with pay to see you perform
"as people endeavor to make it a story" - people are always trying to twist the truth to make an interesting and compelling story
"all is lost if its never heard" - if you dont write down your ideas you'll probably forget them and lose a lot of songs
"i've got someone to make reports/to tell me how my money's spent/ to cook my steaks and draw my plans/ so i cant see whats really there" - his managers and agents always take care of the finances and sales and everything else; they also keep him from staying in touch with his fans
"all i need's a great big congratulations" - he just wants to be admired for his work
"id rather dissolve than have you ignore me" - he needs attention
"You look down from your temple
As people endeavor to make it a story."
Love this line! It's about how the media try and take advantage of situations in which celebrities put themselves into, as they "Look down from temples", e.g their high levels of confidence and even ignorance.
Also noticed that the bass in this song is just going down notes, whereas the first song on the album (immediately after this) is only going up. As if an ascension with the drugs and new-found happiness in "It's working" but almost a realisation and comedown in Congratulations with the softer sound. Love it!
Verses:
Dead in the water (On Earth, death is inevitable)
It's not a paid vacation (It's depressing)
The sons and daughters of city officials (the educated lucky ones)
attend demonstrations (are trying to make it more like heaven)
It's hardly a sink or swim (No one knows if our efforts (science, money, religion) will work)
when all is well if the ticket sells (But it working right now, So Earth ain't that bad)
Out with a whimper (Here in the Universe, our peaceful death is inevitable)
It's not a blaze of glory (Let's make it beautiful while we're here)
You look down from your temple as people endeavour to make it a story (And if there is a God, we hope you enjoy our efforts)
And chisel a marble word, but all is lost if it's never heard (There's plenty of ways to leave your mark in the World. And I choose Music)
I'll keep your dreams (I promise to comfort you with my Music)
You pay attention for me (Just live a good life and I'll be happy)
As strange as it seems (Even though some think I'm weird)
I'd rather dissolve than have you ignore me (I still want to leave a mark)
The ground may be moving fast, (You may never get to hear my music)
but I tied my boots to a broken mast (But as long as I live in this place I'll keep playing)
The difference is clear (IF you don't like my music)
You throw it in your cauldron (Just throw it out)
(There's two sides to everything so I know that although some may love my music, some will hate it)
Rust and veneer, dusk and dawn, steinways and baldwins
(If you don't like my music, try making your own music, the equipment is available)
You start with a simple stock of all the waste
(And make it good)
and salt to taste
Chorues:
(People have made life easier to live)
I've got someone to make reports, that tell me how my money's spent
(Many protect me from harm and comfort me)
To book my stays and draw my blinds, so i can't tell what's really there
(As long as they truly believe in me, I'll be fine)
And all I need's a great big Congratulations
(And I'll live a good life)
(For the people who don't like me:)
Damn my luck and damn these friends, that keep on combing back their smiles
(Don't worry I'll find a way to be happy)
I'll Save my grace with half ass guilt,
(Because I have family and friends that will forever love me dearly)
and lay down the quilt upon the lawn And spread my arms and soak up Congratulations
*Cheers* (The proof that he does)
Political side:
Out with a wimper
It's not a blaze of glory
You look down from your temple
As people endeavor to make it a story
And chisel a marble word
But all is lost if it's never heard
This sounds as if it's referring to an important speech of some kind, maybe a political speech, where the speaker doesn't really have a strong, confident plan thus the "whimper" and "not a blaze of glory". There are several people listening, waiting to make some importance out of what the speaker is saying ("as people endeavor to make it a story and chisel a marble word"), but the speaker is whimpering and therefore his/her plan cannot be heard. The whimpering shows that the Speaker has no clue what he/she is talking about, or simply is not confident because lack of planning, therefore is not really reliable.
This same Speaker thinks:
But I've got someone to make reports
That tell me how my money's spent
To book my stays and draw my blinds
So I can't see what's really there
And all I need's a great big congratulations
This person probably knows that they are unreliable. Regardless of their unreliability, and dependability on this big task force, they are still put in a glimmering light and they still receive congratulations. The fact that the last line is phrased "And ALL I NEED's a great big congratulations" shows that the Speaker thrives off of praise and he/she is concerned with little else. This could be MGMT looking down on the leaders of this country who are supposed to be leading us, and helping us with our problems, yet they are completely unaware of what's going on with us, and instead absored in the worship and the power that comes with their position.
The following lines add to the whole political scene:
I'll keep your dreams
You pay attention for me
As strange as it seems
I'd rather dissolve than have you ignore me
The ground may be moving fast
But I tied my boots to a broken mast
Political figures have their positions to essentially make people's dreams come true, so that aligns with the first line. This figure apparently loves attention and praise, so he's pulling a "if you vote for me and follow me, I'll make your dreams come true". Without his followers, he is basically just another guy out of billions, so he needs his followers. Note: The definition of dissolve in political terms is the termination of a legislative body. So this figure could be saying, I'd rather lose my important position than have no followers.
As far as the last 2 lines are concerned...I have no idea. All I can think of is that a broken mast is not the sturdiest object to be tied to. Eventually it'll tear off and fall into the water, and the person will drown. With that being said, maybe the very first line of the song "dead in the water" is tied to this person tying his boots to a broken mast and drowning. Maybe this person believes he set himself up for success, but in reality has set himself up for failure.
And my fingers are tired now, so I'll leave it at that.
"You look down from your temple, As people endeavor to make it a story And chisel a marble word But all is lost if it's never heard" would just mean that if you create something (like music), but nobody hears it, then does it matter?
"The difference is clear. You throw it in your cauldron" makes it seem even more that he's singing to some creator.
"I'd rather dissolve than have you ignore me" Life, death, leaving your mark on the world, etc...
Good song.
However, after having recently watched the documentary "Inside Job" (which plays the song at the end before and during the credits) based on the causes and irresponsibility leading to our current economic crisis, I feel the direction is moving towards money management and our economy.
It makes as much sense being about the heads of goldman sachs and aig when reading the lyrics as does the discussion about their desire to retain more obscurity in their music etc. lol
I suppose the only way to truly know would be to ask ben and andrew themselves....
"And chisel a marble word
But all is lost if it's never heard"
"I'll keep your dreams
You pay attention for me
As strange as it seems
I'd rather dissolve than have you ignore me"
People pay attention to music for the wrong reasons, or they don't pay attention to the music/lyrics to a song at all and they completely ignore it. I think the whole point the song is trying to make is that they just want to be "praised", i.e "congratulated" for their hard work. I think that's why the applause fits so well at the end of the song - sometimes it's just a matter of being praised, even if it's small.
"out with a whimper
its not a blaze of glory"
is an allusion to the poem "the Hollow Men" by T.S. Eliot The most famous lines from the poem are the final four:
"This is the way the world ends.
This is the way the world ends.
This is the way the world ends.
Not with a bang but a whimper."
If you read the poem, much of it fits with some of the key ideas in Congratulations, and I think it was meant to not only to work with the song but to give it a deeper connection as well for those fans who have read the poem. Yet another thing that makes MGMT amazing!