Dead Man Ray is a Belgian rock band. Among its members are Daan Stuyven, Ru… Read Full Bio ↴Dead Man Ray is a Belgian rock band. Among its members are Daan Stuyven, Rudy Trouvé, Elko Blijweert, Wouter Van Belle and Herman Houbrechts, who was later replaced by drummer Karel De Backer. The band was best known for their experimental way of making rock music: cutting & pasting song fragments next to eachother to produce one song. This methodology was used throughout the first two cd's (Berchem and Trap). For their third LP Dead Man Ray chose to 'renew' their sound and play a song in its entirety without experimenting with it. Their biggest 'hits' were Chemical, Woods and Landslide.

Their last album (Cago) dates from 2002. This album was recorded in Chicago and produced by Steve Albini.

According to their site, they are holding an introspective break and will restart creativity throughout 2006.

Toothpaste
Dead Man Ray Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

proberen proberen
toothpaste or glue
what should i do with you
toothpaste or glue
what should i do with you
menthol or mental
seal or demantle your hymn
the sound of your lips

i'm losing my grip on you

toothpaste or glue
what should i do with
clean up your words
or counter the source of your hymn
menthol or mental
seal or demantle your hymn
try to be gentle
empty the tube of my sin
the sound of your lips
i'm losing my grip on you
the blue strikes the sink
the red makes me think of you
gaffa or colgate
what is a man now to do
roommates or soulmates
i built this bathroom for you

toothpaste or glue
what should i do with you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Toothpaste" by Dead Man Ray are open to interpretation, but there are several themes that seem to recur throughout the song. The first theme is that of indecision or confusion. The singer poses the question "toothpaste or glue/what should I do with you" several times throughout the song, suggesting a state of uncertainty or ambivalence.

The second theme is that of control, or lack thereof. The singer seems to be struggling to control the source of the "hymn" that they hear - whether it's a personal vice (symbolized by toothpaste or glue), a mental state (menthol or mental), or even a relationship (roommates or soulmates).

The third theme is that of desire or longing. The singer seems to have some kind of attachment to the source of the hymn - perhaps a person, a habit, or a memory - but is also aware that it may be dangerous or destructive in some way.

Overall, the lyrics of "Toothpaste" are open-ended and elusive, leaving room for interpretation and speculation. The song is notable for its use of surreal and absurdist imagery, as well as its exploration of themes like control, desire, and uncertainty.

Line by Line Meaning

proberen proberen
Trying, trying

toothpaste or glue
Deciding between toothpaste or glue

what should i do with you
What should I do with this decision?

toothpaste or glue
Still undecided between toothpaste or glue

what should i do with you
The decision is still unresolved

menthol or mental
Toothpaste flavors, or a reference to one's state of mind

seal or demantle your hymn
Consider whether to protect or reject the other person's beliefs

the sound of your lips
The way you speak

i'm losing my grip on you
You are becoming distant and harder to hold onto

clean up your words
Refine your expression

or counter the source of your hymn
Choose to either filter or challenge the other's beliefs