The Smashing Pumpkins – The Celestials

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  General Comment:I see the song as being written by a guy who is in love with somebody who is still trapped by their parents' expectations. Perhaps that person is grown now, and they don't even consider their parents expectations to be holding them back, since they've adopted those expectations as their own.
  
  The word "parents" is never mentioned, of course, but parents are obliquely referred to several times... most directly in the first line. "On the day that you were born, they built an empire off a scream." This is referring to the parents dreaming, even with the baby's first emergent breaths, of the amazing things their baby will grow up and do. So many parents do this... living vicariously through their children, and hoping their children will grow up to accomplish great things.
  
  "Endlessly they'll set you free. Give you reason to believe." This is something that parents do... but oftentimes with an unspoken undercurrent of "as long as you do it to the best of your ability and are successful!" Again, these lines are about the parents and their expectations. The net effect is to make the child feel partly obliged, partly empowered... to go to do whatever great things they are destined for. But looking at it another way, these statements of freedom and belief are actually part of the walls of parental expectations... and self expectations... that are hemming in the person who is the subject of the song-writer's love.
  
  The last half of each verse, and the chorus, is the song-writer's attempt to bring out the individual in his love interest, and to teach them how to shed those parental/self expectations which he perceives as entrapping. He's telling her he will be her special k (a street drug that makes you feel like you're flying and free). He is trying to teach her how to let go of her inhibitions, how to truly love without reservation (this is the thing that is referenced when he says that "Everything I want is free"... true, unreserved love, and freedom itself.
  
  God I love this song. I could keep writing... there's so much content here, packed into a few words. But I'll shut up now.

  Flag sheltojbon April 04, 2013   Link

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  General Comment:Definitely a change in tempo.
  
  
  The Celestials are comic book characters from the 70s. They are from another world and are basically ridiculously powerful and imposing.
  
  As far as this song, I agree somewhat with the notion of freedom.
  
  Part of me feels that this could be a song from someone who resents The Celestials for stepping in and saving them, because they want the freedom to save themselves. The narrator is always special K (detached, numb) to their efforts and instead focused on living their own life... rather than worshipping the all-powerful
  
  Another part of me feels this is one of those songs that Billy just threw together words that sounded cool together (he's admitted he will do this from time to time).
  
  
  The most important line to me would be:
  
  
  Even when their numbers draw you out
  Everything I want is free
  
  
  
  Essentailly, even when evil calls for The Celestials to come in and save the day... the narrator just wants everyone to go away and be free.

  Flag osubuckeye420on December 12, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:I think the whole song has to do with freedom. The idea is there is a person born into an empire, a place where you're close to authority. Its almost as if this person is isolated into this life. But throughout the rest of the song, the narrator, who also plays a role in the poem, shares advice on how to get to freedom. "Never let your thoughts run free" is an important line for expressing freedom. I think Billy Corgan tries to make the point that people so close to authority end up being oppressed, but would rather want freedom. "You can't escape" shows how oppressed this character is into their life in this empire. In some interviews Billy has even expressed that ideology of gaining freedom, so I wouldn't be surprised if that's what it were about.

  Flag Mufansicon October 17, 2012   Link

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  Song Meaning:a huge change in tempo, from the first two pounding, fast songs, to The Celestials. the beginning reminds me of Disarm, in a way. "Special K" really confused me, because it kinda sounded silly, in this really serious song. Special K (Special Ketamine) is a drug, [usually used at dance parties ;) ]that kinda lifts you from your physical body, and gives you this, out-of-body experience, and numbs you. Billy is saying he wants to be her (or your) escape from life, "your free with me". when the song changes into a thick, metal song, all my dreams came true. XD when i was listening to this cool acoustic song, i was like, "wow, this is sweet, but it would be sweeter if it had power chords," then BAM, Billy doesn't disapoint.. usually.
  i love the mind-numbing feedback at the end, drives other people crazy though, i think its cool.

  Flag sevinteenon September 21, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:Special K is a street name for the drug ketamine which according to wiki "produces a dissociative state, characterised by a sense of detachment from one's physical body and the external world which is known as depersonalization and derealization". Billy is saying he's going to be this girl's escape from reality.

  Flag hippy_dentiston July 02, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:anybody have any clue about what "Special K" means? lol

  Flag sevinteenon June 30, 2012   Link

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    My mama made me eat it for breakfast almost daily 'cause it was healthy and had 100% of the nutrients my body needed. (And when she didn't serve that, she tried to pass off beet juice as grape juice and yellow frosting as butter. You should meet my mama. You'll appreciate takeout even more afterwards;)

    Flag Jeffreystumpon July 02, 2012  

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    It's Ketamine, which is a tranqualiser used by vets on small animals when they are operating on them.
    
    It's also a recreational/party drug that will put people in a very relaxed/deatched state.

    Flag osubuckeye420on December 12, 2012  

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