Medication
Modest Mouse Lyrics
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This is the part of me that believes in heaven
This is the part of me that thinks outer space is all dead
This is the part of me that wishes it was with it
This is the part of me that's trying to be funny
This is the part of me that loves my parents
This is the part of me that thinks that ants are cavemen
This is the part of me that thinks all humans are ants
This is the part of me that learns from sitcoms
This is the part of me that means nothing
And I don't know
Well, I could go away and you could wish that I had stayed or just stayed gone
And I don't know
And I don't know at all
So, out of the context and into what you meant
And you know your reasons
You don't know who you are, but you know who you wanna be
I don't know
So you go to the library to get yourself a book
And you look and you look
But you didn't find anything to read
And I don't know at all
Left all my kinder parts rusting and peeling
That guy was complaining as he looked at the ceiling
My nose isn't that big, it looks nothing like me
We're all doctors trading sadness for numbness
Grass looks much greener, but it's green-painted cement
The mayor's machines are there cleaning the pavement
You can't make dirt clean so we'll just lemon-scent it
The song "Medication" by Modest Mouse explores the inner turmoil and confusion of the singer's mind. The lyrics are a stream of consciousness, with each line expressing a different thought or feeling. The first stanza shows a stark contrast between the singer's desire for medication to help their mental state and their belief in heaven and the afterlife, suggesting a conflict between faith and science. The second stanza continues with the theme of confusion and a lack of identity, as the singer is torn between different parts of themselves that love their parents, find humor in sitcoms, and view humans as ants.
With the line "And I don't know," the singer acknowledges their uncertainty and lack of clarity about their own thoughts and emotions. The following lines shift to a narrative perspective where the singer observes someone else, who is also searching for meaning and purpose. The library metaphor suggests that despite the abundance of information available, true answers may be difficult to find. The final lines suggest a bleak view of reality, where even the ideas of beauty and cleanliness are artificial and inadequate.
Overall, "Medication" is a powerful exploration of the complexities of the human mind, and the struggle to find clarity and meaning in a confusing world.
Line by Line Meaning
This is the part of me that needs medication
This line represents the side of the singer that requires medication to function
This is the part of me that believes in heaven
This line represents the side of the singer that has faith in an afterlife
This is the part of me that thinks outer space is all dead
This line represents the side of the singer that believes that nothing is alive beyond Earth
This is the part of me that wishes it was with it
This line represents the side of the singer that wants to be part of a group or in touch with a certain trend
This is the part of me that's trying to be funny
This line represents the side of the singer that attempts to be humorous
This is the part of me that loves my parents
This line represents the side of the singer who has love for their parents
This is the part of me that thinks that ants are cavemen
This line represents the side of the singer that believes that ants are like prehistoric humans
This is the part of me that thinks all humans are ants
This line represents the side of the singer that views people as insignificant and interchangeable
This is the part of me that learns from sitcoms
This line represents the side of the singer that gathers information from television comedies
This is the part of me that means nothing
This line represents the side of the singer that is worthless or hollow
And I don't know
This line represents the singer's ignorance, uncertainty or lack of understanding
Well, I could go away and you could wish that I had stayed or just stayed gone
This line represents the possibility that the singer's departure could generate regret and ambiguity
So, out of the context and into what you meant
This line represents the transition from an isolated status to an understanding of the big picture
And you know your reasons
This line represents the belief that the audience has a rational basis for their beliefs
You don't know who you are, but you know who you wanna be
This line represents the idea that a person's identity is not yet defined, but it's clear where they want to go
I don't know
This line represents the singer's lack of knowledge, doubt, or confusion
So you go to the library to get yourself a book
This line represents the act of trying to gain knowledge from books
And you look and you look
This line represents the idea of searching, examining, and scrutinizing to find something
But you didn't find anything to read
This line represents the disappointment of not finding useful information
Left all my kinder parts rusting and peeling
This line represents the abandonment of the singer's compassionate sides
That guy was complaining as he looked at the ceiling
This line represents the observation of a person who is discontented with their life
My nose isn't that big, it looks nothing like me
This line represents the observation that people often see themselves differently than they actually are
We're all doctors trading sadness for numbness
This line represents the idea that everyone is working to escape sadness by becoming indifferent
Grass looks much greener, but it's green-painted cement
This line represents the illusion of superficial beauty
The mayor's machines are there cleaning the pavement
This line represents the government's effort to maintain appearances and symbolize order
You can't make dirt clean so we'll just lemon-scent it
This line represents the attempt to beautify the environment through the use of scents, masking impurities
Contributed by Kennedy J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.