Styrofoam Boots/It's All Nice on Ice Alright
Modest Mouse Lyrics
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But I'm told that it'll all be quite nice
You'll be drowned in boots like Mafia
But your feet will still float like Christ's
And I'll be damned
They were right
I'm drowning upside down
My feet afloat like Christ's
I'm in heaven
Trying to figure out which stack
They're going to stuff us atheists into
When Peter and his monkey laugh
And I laugh with them
I'm not sure what at
They point and say
We'll keep you in the back
Polishing halos, baking manna and gas
Well some guy comes in looking a bit like everyone I ever seen
He moves just like Crisco disco
Breath a hundred percent Listerine
He says looking at something else
But directing everything to me
Ever time anyone gets on their knees to pray
Well it makes my telephone ring
And I'll be damned
He said you were right
No one's running this whole thing
He had a theory too
He said that God takes care of himself
And you of you
It's all nice on ice alright
And it's not day
And it's not night
But it's all nice on ice alright
The lyrics of Modest Mouse's song Styrofoam Boots_It's All Nice On Ice Alright present a twisted interpretation of the idea of heaven and the role of God in it. The singer explains how he has been told that everything will eventually be alright, but the reality he experiences is far from it. The image of boots drowning him, while his feet float like Christ's, gives a sense of confusion and disorientation. Furthermore, the idea of being an atheist in heaven is something the singer struggles with. He wonders which stack the "atheists" will be put in and why Peter and his monkey laugh at them. The singer then meets someone who moves like "Crisco disco" and smells like Listerine who seems to validate his suspicion that God is not in control and does not care about human beings. The song concludes with the chorus "It's all nice on ice alright," which is an ironic way of saying that things are not actually all that nice.
Line by Line Meaning
Well all's not well
Things are not going well
But I'm told that it'll all be quite nice
Despite the problems, there is hope for a good outcome
You'll be drowned in boots like Mafia
The burdens and rules will be overwhelming
But your feet will still float like Christ's
You will be able to cope with the pressure
And I'll be damned
Expressing surprise or disbelief
They were right
Admitting that others were correct
I'm drowning upside down
Feeling overwhelmed and out of control
My feet afloat like Christ's
Finding stability and balance in the midst of chaos
I'm in heaven
Feeling like being in a surreal or dreamlike state
Trying to figure out which stack
Wondering where he will fit in or belong
They're going to stuff us atheists into
Feeling ostracized or excluded because of his beliefs
When Peter and his monkey laugh
When authority figures or others mock him
And I laugh with them
Resorting to a sarcastic or self-deprecating response
I'm not sure what at
Uncertain about what is so funny or absurd
They point and say
Others assigning roles or duties to him
We'll keep you in the back
Marginalizing or relegating him to a secondary position
Polishing halos, baking manna and gas
Performing menial or tedious tasks
Well some guy comes in looking a bit like everyone I ever seen
A stranger enters who is unremarkable and unassuming
He moves just like Crisco disco
He has a slick and smooth way of moving or speaking
Breath a hundred percent Listerine
Being overly clean or hygienic, possibly to mask flaws or insecurities
He says looking at something else
Being distracted or disinterested
But directing everything to me
Focusing attention on him
Ever time anyone gets on their knees to pray
Feeling annoyed or offended by religious displays
Well it makes my telephone ring
Being bothered or contacted excessively by religious people or organizations
No one's running this whole thing
Feeling disillusioned or cynical about those in power
He had a theory too
Sharing an unorthodox or unconventional idea
He said that God takes care of himself
Believing that God does not require human intervention or assistance
And you of you
Encouraging self-sufficiency and self-care
It's all nice on ice alright
Things may appear fine on the surface, but there are deeper problems
And it's not day
Feeling disoriented or unsure of time and place
And it's not night
Feeling uncertain or confused about one's situation
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ERIC JUDY, ISAAC BROCK, JEREMIAH GREEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Gilsworth
I am at the end of listening to this album in its entirety. Scrolling through the comments reveals over a decade of thoughts and feelings, lonely but crowded. Tendrils through time, not reaching out to anybody in particular, just reaching out - I see you. I hope 10 years from now someone sees me too.
@BeansBeansBeans
I see you.
@jeremiahhammer2282
This is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever read in my life ❤️.
@Gilsworth
@@jeremiahhammer2282 Thank you Jeremiah, you've not only given me a great compliment but also brought me back to this masterpiece. I hope you're doing well!
@ibeleaf
when the drums kick in it's the best part of music ever. no matter how many times you've listened to it, it still fucks with you.
@jonmikolajewski7167
RIP Jeremiah
@alecsw9572
I used to play this song at the begining of a bike ride.
I had it timed so I was on a nice downward slope for the into and when the drums hit I hit the uphill over a bridge. Felt like flying
@samus598
Oh man, nothing makes travelling better than jamming some Modest Mouse. It always seems perfectly timed with every bridge and every vista.
@erobin2470
first time i listened to this album, maybe 14 or 15 years old, headphones, falling asleep on the long bus ride home. jumped awake at 2.41 wont ever forget that moment, foggy post nap realisation that i'd found my favourite band
@hs2874
You're lucky to have discovered them at 15. I was 30.