Hostage Stamps
At the Drive-In Lyrics


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My eyes scroll to the back of my head
When the Lord's name taken in vain
Keepsake battalions, phantom couplets
A new tactile cremation attested
Opaque spurs, contemplative mayhem keeps us

Branded on the wrist "Do not embalm"
A paper nest truancy of wasps
Wrap me up in mylar film
The anachronism enacts the indigenous
Prolonged exposure to combustible nativism

Thirty days spent in the hole
Raise yourself a May Day pole
Inoculated at the liquor store
Drunk on the piss of sycamore embers

The hospice waltz of corpus flowers
Leaves pinko fumes from turret guns
Sawing at the base of pylon towers
Banking on the drought banking on the tower
Opaque spurs, I've defeated every crypt

In the potter's field of Machuca
Calling from the blossoming dust
Slid down the bank, choking on shit
A new tactile cremation attested
To opaque spurs, contemplative mayhem keeps us together

Thirty days spent in the hole
Raise yourself a May Day pole
Inoculated at the liquor store
Drunk on the piss of sycamore embers

Thirty days spent in the hole
Raise yourself a May Day pole
Inoculated at the liquor store
Drunk on the piss of sycamore embers

Raise your May Day poles
Raise your May Day poles

Put your heart in a safe
Throw it in wet cement
Never speak of this to a living soul
Heed the mercury blots
Of this Rorschach advice
No good will come of your insect rebellion

Thirty days spent in the hole
Raise yourself a May Day pole
Inoculated at the liquor store
Drunk on the piss of sycamore embers

Raise your May Day poles
Raise your May Day poles




Raise your May Day poles
Raise your May Day poles

Overall Meaning

"At the Drive-In" is an American post-hardcore band, known for its incredible energy and surreal lyrics, and "Hostage Stamps" is one of their most popular songs. The lyrics in "Hostage Stamps" are quite elusive, but there are some hints towards the central themes of the song.


The song starts with the singer's eyes rolling back as they hear the Lord's name taken in vain. The next line is about a "Keepsake Battalion," which is a group of people who have experienced trauma, and the "phantom couplets" may refer to memories that haunt them. The use of tactile cremation likely refers to the painful feelings of loss and the desire to hold onto something tangible. “Opaque spurs” refer to something that is obscure and shadowy, and “contemplative mayhem,” a phrase that appears in multiple stanzas, represents the chaos and confusion experienced by those who have been traumatized. Overall, the song seems to be dealing with feelings of trauma, confusion, and oppression.


The next verses tell of being branded on the wrist, which could symbolize the experience of being trapped or imprisoned. The lyricist then refers to the "potter's field of Machuca," which is a reference to a cemetery for the poor in Santiago, Chile. The chorus repeats the idea of spending "thirty days in the hole" and "raising a May Day pole," which could be a literal reference to being kept in isolation or a metaphor for feeling stuck in a cycle of oppression.


Line by Line Meaning

My eyes scroll to the back of my head
I'm exasperated, overwhelmed.


When the Lord's name taken in vain
When people curse with religious words, it's offensive.


Keepsake battalions, phantom couplets
Memories, temporary poetry.


A new tactile cremation attested
A new physical way of dying, witnessed.


Opaque spurs, contemplative mayhem keeps us
Dark impulses, thoughtful chaos unite us.


Branded on the wrist "Do not embalm"
A warning against preserving a dead body.


A paper nest truancy of wasps
A symbolic interpretation of a wasp school.


Wrap me up in mylar film
Protect me from the outside world, preserve me.


The anachronism enacts the indigenous
The past and present clash to maintain heritage.


Prolonged exposure to combustible nativism
Being around strongly nationalist people can be dangerous.


Thirty days spent in the hole
Time spent in isolation officially sanctioned.


Raise yourself a May Day pole
Celebrate spring's arrival.


Inoculated at the liquor store
Being made immune to negative effects of alcohol abuse.


Drunk on the piss of sycamore embers
Intoxicated with fermented sycamore wood.


The hospice waltz of corpus flowers
The dying dance of blooms.


Leaves pinko fumes from turret guns
Offers clues about previous violence.


Sawing at the base of pylon towers
Damaging power structures.


Banking on the drought banking on the tower
Using dry weather as a source of strength.


Opaque spurs, I've defeated every crypt
Dark impulses, I've defeated any secret.


In the potter's field of Machuca
In an unmarked grave for those without resources.


Calling from the blossoming dust
Making contact from an abandoned place.


Slid down the bank, choking on shit
Slipping and coughing in a dirty place.


A new tactile cremation attested
A new physical way of dying, witnessed.


To opaque spurs, contemplative mayhem keeps us together
To dark impulses, thoughtful chaos unites us.


Raise your May Day poles
Celebrate spring's arrival.


Put your heart in a safe
Protect your feelings.


Throw it in wet cement
Make it a permanent fixture.


Never speak of this to a living soul
Keep your business private.


Heed the mercury blots
Pay attention to the messy details.


Of this Rorschach advice
Of this vague guidance.


No good will come of your insect rebellion
Resistance is futile.


Raise your May Day poles
Celebrate spring's arrival.


Raise your May Day poles
Celebrate spring's arrival.


Raise your May Day poles
Celebrate spring's arrival.


Raise your May Day poles
Celebrate spring's arrival.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: CEDRIC BIXLER, KEELEY DIXON DAVIS, ANTOINE HAJJAR, PAUL HINOJOS, OMAR ALFREDO RODRIGUEZ

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Alex weber

one armed scissor changed the way I listened to music. I heard it pop on VH1 when I was 12 or 13, and I just stood and stared at the tv until it was over. this band is the band that defines music for me. couldn't be happier that they r back. I saw them live and it was my bucket list show.

BooYahCubes

Now this sounds like the old At The Drive-In I remember, gives me the old school vibes while still sounding fresh

Rocked

It's impossible sometimes to describe what At The Drive-In sounds like to someone else. This song further proves that. You just have to show them.

It's great for every reason you just can't explain.

Crack_the_Skye

Rocked it's the matrix

Christian Davis

vocals sound just like MSI

Hey! It's Me!

I always talk of ATD as an acquired taste like caviar and stinky rotten cheese, it takes a while to get used to it and understand it but once you get it is the best thing ever.
ATD is a post hardcore delicacy.

Ronin 619

This had to grow on me, but once it clicked👍

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Yuber san

This album is gonna be off the chain. 16 years. Welcome back At The Drive In!

RAMPFACE

Of the three songs released so far, this one sounds the most like At The Drive In imo. Can't wait to have the full album.

none of your business

This album was A LOT Better than I remember it being.

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