The More It Changes
The Legendary Pink Dots Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
and the sun is just a brat that spits then goes away.
The TV chatters, there's a pile of letters lying on the mat.
Reminders and bills, they smell of cats.
Three starving cats who chase each others shadows.
Curl up on him overnight they're scratching him they're biting him.
But he lost the will to fight, and he lost the will to move, simply lost the will to move.
It's been a month, will be another, 'til they're busting down the door.
And carry him away, and strip him clean and lock him in a padded box some fifteen stories high
where the sun is just a brat that spits then goes away.
The more it changes the more it stays the same
The more it changes the more it stays the same
The more it changes the more it stays the same
The Legendary Pink Dots' "The More It Changes" paints a vivid picture of a man who has given up on life. The first verse describes a bleak living space, with black curtains drawn and a television chattering in the background. The pile of letters on the mat serves as a reminder of the outside world, but they only serve to highlight the man's isolation. The smell of cats, reminiscent of their urine and feces, suggests not only the man's loneliness but also his deteriorating mental and physical state.
The second verse introduces the man's only companions- three starving cats. They provide no comfort and only serve to scratch and bite him, yet he does not fight back. He has lost his will to live and to move. As the song progresses, it becomes clear that he will not be found until it is too late- beaten down by his own thoughts and the world around him.
The chorus, "The more it changes the more it stays the same," emphasizes the hopelessness of the situation. Despite the passage of time, nothing will ever improve for this person. The repetition of this line reinforces the inevitability of his fate, as if it's a cycle without end.
Overall, "The More It Changes" is a stark portrayal of depression and its effects. It captures the feeling of being trapped and alone, with no way out.
Line by Line Meaning
Fifteen stories high, the black curtains drawn,
The singer is situated in a tall building with the curtains drawn.
and the sun is just a brat that spits then goes away.
Despite the singer's height, they can only see the sun for a brief moment before it disappears.
The TV chatters, there's a pile of letters lying on the mat.
The singer's surroundings are noisy with the TV blaring and unopened mail piling up.
Reminders and bills, they smell of cats.
The letters have an unpleasant pet-like smell and contain reminders and bills.
Three starving cats who chase each others shadows.
Three malnourished cats occupy the same space as the artist, chasing their shadows.
Curl up on him overnight they're scratching him they're biting him.
The cats climb onto the singer and keep them up all night by scratching and biting them.
But he lost the will to fight, and he lost the will to move, simply lost the will to move.
The constant discomfort and lack of stimulation has caused the singer to lose their motivation to fight or move.
It's been a month, will be another, 'til they're busting down the door.
The artist has been in this state of decline for a month already and it's likely to continue until someone forces their way in.
And carry him away, and strip him clean and lock him in a padded box some fifteen stories high
Upon discovery, the artist will be taken away and locked in a high-security room, stripped of their belongings.
where the sun is just a brat that spits then goes away.
The same sun that offered a brief moment of light outside will still be visible but just as fleeting.
The more it changes the more it stays the same
Despite time passing, nothing has changed and everything remains constant.
The more it changes the more it stays the same
Even with external changes, the artist's personal circumstances remain the same.
The more it changes the more it stays the same
The repetition of this line emphasizes the sense of stagnation and unchanging situation.
Contributed by Jasmine K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.