Song of the Sad Assassin
Why? Lyrics
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from the water like a gown
You took off your bra
to wrap the wound,
though the man was dead
and there was no need.
Then your face turned red
when you said to me:
"I'll suck the marrow out and rape your hollow bones, Yoni."
Alone, putting three coins into a washing machine,
next to a caulked, cracked wall
in the basement on Fairmount Street,
I feel like a loop of the last eight frames of film before a
slow motion Lee Harvey Oswald
gets shot in the gut and killed
"Billy the kid did what he did and he died."
-Marilyn Hacker
The lyrics to "Song of the Sad Assassin" by Why? are quite cryptic and open to interpretation. The song starts with the singer recalling a scene where they lifted a dead body out of the water and the female companion takes off her bra to wrap a wound on the body, even though the man was already dead. This scene is quite disturbing and raises questions about the relationship between the two characters and the underlying darkness they possess. The female character then makes a menacing comment, threatening to "suck the marrow out and rape your hollow bones, Yoni."
The second verse puts the focus on the singer, who is alone in a basement putting coins in a washing machine. The mood shifts to a more somber and introspective tone as the singer reflects on their own mortality. The final line of the verse references Lee Harvey Oswald, the man who assassinated President John F. Kennedy, and creates a sense of impending doom. The song ends with a quote from poet Marilyn Hacker, "Billy the kid did what he did and he died," which adds to the theme of mortality and inevitability.
Overall, the song seems to be exploring themes of death, violence, and mortality. The lyrics are dark and unsettling, and the imagery is vivid enough to leave a lasting impression on the listener. The relationship between the two characters is unclear, but there is a sense that they are both carrying deep secrets and darkness within them.
Line by Line Meaning
We lifted the body
We picked up the lifeless body
from the water like a gown
just like how one would lift a gown from the water, we picked up the body
You took off your bra
You unclasped and removed your bra
to wrap the wound,
to cover the injured area with it
though the man was dead
even though the man was already lifeless
and there was no need.
and it wasn't necessary
Then your face turned red
At this point, your face became flushed
when you said to me:
when you spoke to me this way
"I'll suck the marrow out and rape your hollow bones, Yoni."
"I'll strip you of everything and leave you with nothing, Yoni."
Alone, putting three coins into a washing machine,
In solitude, I'm inserting three coins into a washing machine
next to a caulked, cracked wall
close to a wall that is filled and sealed with caulking but also has cracks in it
in the basement on Fairmount Street,
located in the lowermost part of the building on Fairmount Street
I feel like a loop of the last eight frames of film before a
It's comparable to the constant repetition of the final eight images of a film
slow motion Lee Harvey Oswald
Lee Harvey Oswald moving in slow motion
gets shot in the gut and killed.
until he gets shot in the abdomen and passes away
"Billy the kid did what he did and he died."
"Billy the kid made his choice and paid the ultimate price."
Contributed by Liliana D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
purpletraitor
god I love Yoni.
he just juxtaposes lyrics, instruments and vocals so well in my opinion.
EmmaRos3
Why is an amazing band. They think diffrently than others, and they do have different meanings and perspective for each song. I first heard this song in my sisters car she would listen to Alopecia all the time and when ever i heard this song, the surrounding noises would just cut off, and i would listen to this song. i wouldent try to , but this song is my absolute favorite, it has an attachment to me.
G McV
Im gonna put it out there; Alopecia is the most underrated album of the 21st century
Raedan23
it's alot different from what he usually does but i really dig this song.
CK
Have to appreciate that animation sync between the bones and piano keys.
zerohoax
This song is about Ryu and his struggles against his friend/cofighter Ken/Kenneth. It's a visual and lyrical description of the dragon punch, which you must defeat in order to stand a chance against shen long.
Morgan_Fucking_Freeman
WOW. Very good point about the "metaphor of a metaphor" I completely agree and that is the BEST explanation I have ever heard of the things why says. Bravo.
mortar12
this song makes me think of a dream, like he's describing a dream he had..
phwaizy
i used to feel the same way about him, now his voice is my favorite of anyone i listen to. it definitely grows on you. or at least it did on me. in any case i can understand why someone wouldn't like it. it's a very unique sound and it can be good or bad depending on what you like.
OceanCaster723
This is one of the best songs I've heard so far.