As the congregation grows
The lung of solitude deflates
To my ears the greatest sin
Feel a bit like Beethoven

Simultaneous they speak unbeknownst
Exiled to the inner voice, difference is
He had no choice

We can't seem to find the air
To get our message through your heads
Poor respiration is sure
To keep clear communication obscure
As if I should care
As if (as if) you are listening (listening) out there (out here)

The louder you speak the more I can hear
The less I can understand
Pound on it, pound it in
To my ears the greatest sin
Feel a bit like Beethoven

Paint my lungs so silently
The darkest color of your noise
A crowd will contradict its own audibility
Can't hear the dialogue for the voice

No one is listening
Yet ears are ringing
Ears are ringing, ears are ringing
Ears are ringing, ears are ringing
Ears are ringing, ears are ringing
Ears are ringing, ears are ringing

In the morning I will see
What you were trying to say to me
As I respond into the sink
Need not again hear myself think

Ears are ringing, ears are ringing
Ears are ringing, ears are ringing
Ears are ringing, ears are ringing
Ears are ringing, ears are ringing

Wax within my ears has grown
Just like the snot inside my nose
My interpretation of distorted conversation

I will kill for isolation
Sacrifice the energy
To enjoy the breath of silence
When the blood comes naturally

I have chosen to plug my nose
Before the threshold of pain has grown
Mole out from society
Survive off my soliloquy

Removed I can speak as he, he, he has
Bleeding from nose, throat and ears

"I'm gonna get a cup of coffee"

"Most, most folks, most, most folks, uh"
"Most, mo-most fol-, most folks"
"Alright once again"
"Uh most, most folks have heard about"
"Alright that's good, good very nice"
"That's why folks call it fi-, that's why folks call it finger lickin'"
"Sounds good"
"That's why folks call it, call it, that's, oh wait, that's, that's why"
"That's why folks call it fi-, that's why folks call it"
"That's it"
"That's why folks call it"
"I'm not gettin' anywhere with this damn thing"
"Okay, fine"


Lyrics submitted by Fear_Of_Mole_Rats, edited by JulesGatz

Slowly Growing Deaf Lyrics as written by Daniel Heifetz Clinton Mckinnon

Lyrics © Exploration Group LLC

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Slowly Growing Deaf song meanings
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10 Comments

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  • +1
    Song Meaning

    This song seems to me to have a bit more depth to it than most people have granted it. It's obviously not about an actual hearing disorder, and bungle4ever's comments about the frustrations of a great band playing live were unfortunately a bit short of the mark. Frustration with the general public is on the right track, but think more along the lines of a growing insanity to catch the full impact of this song's message. Imagine someone just babbling back to you what they THINK what you said is all about. Now imagine every person you have ever interacted with chiming in with their thoughts on what you said, what you've done, whatever. Most people are so quick to interpret what they hear that they never actually LISTEN to it. As the cacophony steadily grows, it's easy to imagine someone getting overwhelmed by everyone putting their two cents in on something that they never really paid attention to in the first place. For reference, check out Merriam-Webster's take on the word "soliloquy":

    1: the act of talking to oneself 2: a dramatic monologue that represents a series of unspoken reflections

    Basically, this songs speaks of someone who, after hearing everyone "get it wrong", would rather just listen to their own thoughts. If you really pay attention to what the lyrics are trying to say, you can almost see the speaker in a padded room, wearing a straight jacket, and constantly talking to himself.

    Personally, I believe this song is a true work of art in more ways than one. Prose, social commentary, musicianship, you name it. Right on, goodtymze1, definitely Mr. Bungle's finest hour.

    Diamondshadeon January 04, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    ok whoever's in charge of the lyrics has posted them in a fucked up order... they are all there.. the words.. just some in the wrong order..

    cyclotuson February 29, 2012   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    Slowly growing dead.

    Incxon February 07, 2014   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    damn this song is random i love the tempo changes throughout the song ... im not to sure about the meaning but i guess as the song sugests its about becoming deaf, maybe a self exclution from the world ..

    Brookilishon August 02, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    has the most disturbing interlude ever.....

    slevletteon April 24, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    They sing faster than I can think! I try to read the lyrics while listening to it and I try to think about the lines at the same time. This is a great song though.

    drew29on November 14, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    mr bungle's greatest moment.

    goodtymze1on July 03, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    well, anyone who has a hearing disorder (like me!) can feel the same way, one moment without ringing is priceless.

    revengeofthekatzeon February 11, 2010   Link
  • 0
    Song Fact

    For those who don't know, this song is also known as "Sleep (Part I)" and was written by Trevor Dunn. "Slowly Growing Deaf" is part 1 in a 3 part trilogy by Dunn. The other 2 songs are found on "Disco Volante" and named "Sleep (Part II): Carry Stress in the Jaw" and "Sleep (Part III): Phlegmatics"

    mark114104on January 21, 2015   Link
  • -1
    General Comment

    It could be about hearing what you think you hear or maybe what you want to hear?... when you listen to things (music or people trying to make a point about something). I think it's important to formulate your own opinion about things rather than reading the lyrics of what's actually being said and looking up the actual meaning, it's a skill you have to practice. Ironically enough I am here writing this. Although I do love to hear other peoples perspective and opinion on things, depending on the person...

    Anyway... SOAD tends to do this to me. Especially in Chic'N'Stu. "Advertisement causes need! Therapy! Therapy!" But I hear..."Advertising causes me...to repeat...to repeat."

    Or Black Sabbath - Paranoid. "I tell you to enjoy life I wish I could but it's too late" I hear "I tell you to end your life I wish I could but I debate"

    Misheard lyrics are the best sometimes, but your ears need some air (wiggle room) to get the message through (maybe Beethoven was really good in this aspect), because the louder Patton speaks, the more "your" understanding of it disappears... Probably not what the song is actually about but it's just what I thought about it...

    Incxon January 21, 2014   Link

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