Lazy Flies
Beck Lyrics
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The magistrate he puts on his gloves
And he looks to the clouds
All pink and disheveled
There must be some blueprints,
Some creed of the devil
Inscribed in our minds
A hideous game
The vanity of slaves
Who wants to be there?
To sweep the debris
To harness dead horses
To ride in the sun
A life of confessions
Written in the dust
Out in the mangroves
The mynah birds cry
In the shadows of sulphur
The trawlers drift by
They're chewing dried meat
In a house of disrepute
The dust of opiates
And syphilis patients
On brochure vacations
Fear has a glare that traps you
Like searchlights
The puritans stare
Their souls are fluorescent
The skin of a robot
Vibrates with pleasure
Matrons and gigolos
Carouse in the parlor
Their hand grenade eyes
Invalid and blind
Vanishes in thin air
The vanity of slaves
Who wants to be there?
To sweep the debris
To harness dead horses
To ride in the sun
A life of confessions
Written in the dust
The lyrics to Beck's "Lazy Flies" paint a picture of a bleak and troubled world, rife with despair and hopelessness. The song is a commentary on the modern condition, with Beck questioning everything from the existence of evil to the meaning of life itself.
The first verse sets the tone for the rest of the song, as we are introduced to "lazy flies" hovering above a magistrate who is putting on his gloves. The imagery here suggests a world where even the smallest things are out of place, and where the very fabric of society is frayed and worn.
Beck goes on to describe a world of "hideous games" and "vanity of slaves," where people are trapped in a cycle of meaningless existence, going through the motions of life without really living it. The idea of "confessions written in the dust" suggests a society that has lost its moral compass, where even the most basic human values have been forgotten.
The chorus repeats the phrase "vanishes in thin air," suggesting that everything in this world is fleeting and temporary, and that nothing really matters. Beck questions why anyone would want to be a part of this world, with its dead horses to harness and debris to sweep.
Overall, "Lazy Flies" is a bleak yet powerful song that speaks to the human condition in a way that few other songs do. It is a haunting meditation on the meaning of life, and a stark reminder of the price we pay for our own existence.
Line by Line Meaning
Lazy flies all hovering above
There is a sense of laziness in the air, and the flies seem to be just as disinterested as everyone else.
The magistrate he puts on his gloves
Someone in power is getting ready to take action.
And he looks to the clouds
The person in power is looking for inspiration or guidance from somewhere above them.
All pink and disheveled
The clouds are not looking their best, and there is a sense of chaos and disorder in the air.
There must be some blueprints,
There is a feeling that there is a plan or a design behind everything happening around them.
Some creed of the devil
This plan or design seems sinister or evil in nature.
Inscribed in our minds
This plan or design has been deeply ingrained in our way of thinking and has influenced our actions.
A hideous game
This plan or design is a twisted and ugly way of controlling people's lives.
Vanishes in thin air
Despite all the grand designs, everything can disappear without a trace.
The vanity of slaves
People can become trapped in their own self-interest and become enslaved to their desires and ambitions.
Who wants to be there?
The singer questions why anyone would want to be a slave to their desires and ambitions.
To sweep the debris
There is a sense of cleaning up or dealing with the aftermath of something negative.
To harness dead horses
Trying to achieve something that is impossible or fruitless.
To ride in the sun
To experience freedom and let go of worries and troubles.
A life of confessions
A life that is filled with secrets and the need to confess sins.
Written in the dust
These secrets and confessions will eventually be left behind and forgotten.
Out in the mangroves
In a place of isolation and seclusion, away from mainstream society.
The mynah birds cry
The natural world around them is mourning, or communicating something important.
In the shadows of sulphur
In a place where pollution and darkness reigns.
The trawlers drift by
People are just passing through, and not making a real change in their surroundings.
They're chewing dried meat
People are surviving, but not thriving.
In a house of disrepute
In a place where morals and virtues are not upheld.
The dust of opiates
In a place where drugs and addiction have taken over.
And syphilis patients
In a place where sickness and disease are rampant.
On brochure vacations
People try to escape their troubles by going on extravagant trips, but they cannot truly escape their problems.
Fear has a glare that traps you
The singer is emphasizing the power and grip that fear can have on a person.
Like searchlights
Fear can illuminate and expose a person's worst fears and flaws.
The puritans stare
The moral and religious authorities are watching and judging everyone, adding to their fear.
Their souls are fluorescent
The artist is commenting on the soulless or fake nature of these religious authorities.
The skin of a robot
The people in power are acting like machines, lacking emotion or empathy.
Vibrates with pleasure
Even though they are not human, the people in power still experience some sort of gratification from their actions.
Matrons and gigolos
People of all ages and backgrounds are engaging in immoral behavior.
Carouse in the parlor
People are carelessly enjoying themselves, not concerning themselves with the consequences of their actions.
Their hand grenade eyes
The artist is describing the intensity and danger of the people's gaze and actions.
Invalid and blind
The people in power are handicapped in some way, and cannot truly see or understand the reality of their actions.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Beck Hansen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind