Starting his vocal career with NZ punk band The Enemy in 1977, Knox has involved in the NZ music scene ever since. Frontman for the short-lived but energetic Toy Love and one half of the perpetually magical duo that is Tall Dwarfs - as well as recording and performing his own solo works. Knox assembled Chris Knox & The Nothing in the mid-2000s and recorded two albums.
On Thursday 11 June 2009, Knox was admitted to Auckland hospital suffering from a stroke. This initially left him with limited speech and mobility. Friends and family of Knox initiated a blog that kept people updated. An album of various musicians from around the world performing Knox's songs was produced entitled "Stroke: Songs for Chris Knox" with all proceeds going to Knox.
Mirror Mirror
Chris Knox Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My throat is raw, my gums are filmed and tart
I cannot wrench a smile from lips that once were young
But I can bare my teeth and that's a start
And you haven't a clue what's going on inside
This head pointed at you and drivelling on
To try and make a song out of a speech
But thanks to rap we minstrel types can get away
With melody and murder out of reach
And you haven't got a clue what's on in this slender mind
Watch out, watch out for the quicksand at your feet
When you look at me, ooh, what do you?
Looking back at you, ooh, what can it be?
And you haven't a clue what's happening in this song
Well hey, neither do I and I don't care
So you, pack up your cares and woes and sing along
To all of the ignorance we share
When you look at me, ooh, what do you see?
Looking back at you, you all disagree
Is it me or you, ooh, it's hard to see
From another view, who this fool might be
The song "Mirror Mirror" by Chris Knox tells the story of someone who is going through a rough time. The opening lines describe physical symptoms of stress, with a dry mouth, raw throat, and tart gums. The person cannot smile as they used to, but they can show their teeth. The second line of the verse starts with the statement that the person cannot share what is going on inside their head, which is pointed at another person.
In the chorus, the lyrics become more enigmatic, asking what the other person sees when they look at the singer. There is a sense of disagreement between them, with the perspective of the singer being hard to understand from another viewpoint. The second verse references Leonard Cohen, who was known for bending words to create songs out of speeches. The lyrics suggest that rap music allows minstrel types like Chris Knox to combine melody and murder in a way that was previously out of reach. The chorus repeats, with the singer stating that they don't know what is happening in the song, but they don't care. The final lines suggest that listeners can join in with the ignorance that the singer shares.
Overall, "Mirror Mirror" is a song that explores the difficulties of communication and understanding between two people. The lyrics suggest that what is on the surface may not reflect what is happening inside, but that there is a shared experience of ignorance that can be embraced.
Line by Line Meaning
My mouth is dry as a powder sticking to my tongue
My mouth is so dry that my tongue is sticking to my teeth like powder.
My throat is raw, my gums are filmed and tart
My throat is sore and my gums feel coated and acidic.
I cannot wrench a smile from lips that once were young
I am unable to force a smile from my face, which has aged over the years.
But I can bare my teeth and that's a start
However, I can still show my teeth as a sign of hostility or aggression.
And you haven't a clue what's going on inside
You have no idea what is happening inside me mentally or emotionally.
This head pointed at you and drivelling on
I am speaking to you, and my words may not make sense or matter to you.
Now Leonard Cohen used to bend his words this way
Leonard Cohen, a famous musician, used to manipulate his lyrics in a similar manner to mine.
To try and make a song out of a speech
He attempted to turn his speeches into songs through poetic language.
But thanks to rap we minstrel types can get away
However, rap music has allowed us performers to use this style of wordplay more freely and creatively.
With melody and murder out of reach
We are able to create songs with complex language that may not follow a traditional melody or tone.
And you haven't got a clue what's on in this slender mind
You are completely unaware of what is happening inside my mind, which is full of complex thoughts and emotions.
Watch out, watch out for the quicksand at your feet
Be careful, as you may not even realize that you are in a dangerous situation.
When you look at me, ooh, what do you?
When you see me, what is your perception of me?
Looking back at you, ooh, what can it be?
As I look back at you, what do I see in return?
And you haven't a clue what's happening in this song
You have no idea what is going on in the lyrics or the meaning behind them.
Well hey, neither do I and I don't care
To be honest, I myself do not know what is happening in this song, but I am indifferent to that fact.
So you, pack up your cares and woes and sing along
Therefore, put aside your worries and problems and sing along with me to enjoy the music.
To all of the ignorance we share
We may be ignorant about what is happening in the song, but we can still enjoy it together.
Is it me or you, ooh, it's hard to see
It is difficult to determine if the issue is with me or with you.
From another view, who this fool might be
From someone else's perspective, it is hard to tell who is the foolish one in this situation.
Writer(s): Chris Knox
Contributed by Elijah S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.