Earwig Town
Chairlift Lyrics
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An unknown caller, an unknown face
Oooh, you've been let down
Oooh, in earwig town
They burrow in through your left ear
Lay their eggs and crawl out the right
Oooh, they'll chase you down
Oooh, in earwig town
Earwig Town by Chairlift is a fascinating and cryptic song that seems to be talking about betrayal, paranoia and the destructive power of negative thoughts. The first verse introduces us to a phone call from an unknown number and an unknown person on the other side of the line. The singer has been let down, but we don't know by whom or for what reason. The chorus follows with a repetition of the phrase "in earwig town" which is both enigmatic and creepy. Earwigs are insects famous for their pincers and alleged habit of crawling into people's ears while they sleep. In this context, "earwig town" could denote a place where paranoia and suspicion reign, and where one's thoughts are constantly disturbed by invasive and unpleasant sensations.
The second verse deepens the metaphor by describing earwigs not as mere pests, but as creatures that have the ability to lay eggs in people's heads. This image is both disgusting and suggestive of a psychological infection that can quickly spread and infest one's mind. The chorus repeats, this time with a new twist: the earwigs will chase you down, suggesting that they are not just passive intruders, but rather determined predators. In this light, Earwig Town becomes a psychological horror story about the danger of giving in to negative thoughts and feelings, as they can quickly take over one's life and turn it into a living nightmare.
Line by Line Meaning
A uniform telephone call
Receiving a phone call from an unknown number, with no distinguishable features
An unknown caller, an unknown face
The person on the other end of the line is a complete stranger with no identifiable information
Oooh, you've been let down
Feeling disappointed or betrayed by the person on the other end of the call
Oooh, in earwig town
Feeling trapped and helpless, like being in a town overrun by insects
They burrow in through your left ear
Earwigs, small insects with pincers, are known to crawl into people's ears and cause discomfort
Lay their eggs and crawl out the right
Earwigs can lay their eggs inside a person's ear, causing further discomfort and potential health problems
Oooh, they'll chase you down
Feeling like the earwigs are in control and pursuing you, causing fear and panic
Oooh, in earwig town
Feeling helpless and alone in a town overrun by earwigs
Contributed by Alexander I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.