Rising from the ashes of Failure's first four-piece band "The Bloody Mannequins", Die Mannequin started in the spring of 2006 when Failure recorded her first EP, How to Kill/Cordless Recordings on which she sang and played bass and guitar because she didn't have a permanent band at that time. Death from Above 1979's Jesse F. Keeler took care of the drum duties as well as production. The E.P. featured four songs and was produced by Keeler and partner Al-P from MSTRKRFT.
Care later hired two of her long time friends, Ethan Deth (Kill Cheerleader, and later Crystal Castles) and Ghostwolf (born Pat. M), to play bass and drums. Ethan was quickly replaced by Anthony Bleed (who had been Kill Cheerleader's singer/guitarist) on bass. Managed by Shull Management, Die Mannequin signed with EMI Publishing in the summer of 2006, and began their own record label, How To Kill Music which is distributed by Warner Music Canada.
Die Mannequin's second EP titled Slaughter Daughter was released in 2007. The band released a video for the first single "Do it or Die" (produced by Ian D'Sa of Billy Talent) which has air play on Much Music and Much Loud.
Unicorn Steak was released in 2008, which provides a compilation of How to Kill and Slaughter Daughter plus two additional tracks—"Empty's Promise" and "Hand in Hand".
In September 2009 they releasedFINO + BLEED.FINO + BLEED includes 12 tracks, but those lucky enough to have grabbed the limited edition version also got an hour long documentary, “The Rawside of…Die Mannequin,” which was nominated for two Gemini Awards.
Their last album NEON ZERO was released in October 2014.
Candide
Die Mannequin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Are you getting off?
This course in melodrama
Wake me when it's over
Thin skin we're whipped again
They're merciless
Flag wavers prey and prosper
Escape with me father
You and I have been around
Beaten up, run out of town
Don't say
"God's planned the world we live in,
Take what you can get, " it's written
Earth shakes and waters rise
A plague hits, my lover dies
And you say
"Best of all possible worlds
Get by while it all unfurls"
Syphilis, aren't you sick of this
Give me a hand
To the taking back of our fate
Believe in another
There's a little patch of land there
Just up ahead
Slow and steady we can prosper
Trot on with me father
Come on, come on
You and I have been around
Beaten up, run out of town
Don't say
"God's planned the world we live in,
Take what you can get, " it's written
Earth shakes and waters rise
A plague hits, my lover dies
And you say
"Best of all possible worlds
Get by while it all unfurls"
This land needs tiling
Come on and help out
The pirate swine
We'll bluff and cop out
Your... worlds just burn out
You and I have been around
Beaten up, run out of town
Don't say
"God's planned the world we live in,
Take what you can get, " it's written
Tragic comic repartee
This schlep has had it's day
I say
Get by or you're a goner
Hands on and we'll get stronger
Get by or you're a goner
Hands on and we'll get stronger
Oh...
The water has spat us out
Coast is clear again
Hush up now
And don't get bored
Work away
We're on the mend
The song Candide by Die Mannequin explores themes of resilience, rebellion, and the struggle for survival. The opening lines, "Stop the wrecking ball, are you getting off? This course in melodrama, wake me when it's over," suggest a sense of weariness and exasperation with the ongoing turmoil in the world. The lyrics go on to describe various challenges, such as being whipped, plagued, and losing a lover, yet there is a refusal to accept defeat or subscribe to the notion that this is the best of all possible worlds. Instead, there is a call to action to take control of one's fate, to collaborate with others, and to make the best of what's available.
The reference to Candide, a character in Voltaire's eponymous novel, is a nod to the satire on philosophical optimism and the idea that all is for the best in the best of all possible worlds. The lyrics reject this notion and instead suggest that it is up to individuals to create a better world through their actions.
Overall, the song portrays a sense of defiance and determination in the face of adversity, as well as a skepticism of accepted beliefs and ideologies.
Line by Line Meaning
Stop the wrecking ball
Put an end to the destruction and chaos.
Are you getting off?
Are you ready to take action and make a change?
This course in melodrama
This situation is filled with unnecessary drama and theatrics.
Wake me when it's over
I don't want to deal with any more of this.
Thin skin we're whipped again
We are easily hurt and vulnerable, and someone is taking advantage of that.
They're merciless
They have no compassion or mercy.
Flag wavers prey and prosper
Those who blindly follow a particular group or ideology can often benefit from it at the expense of others.
Escape with me father
Let's leave this behind and start fresh.
Come on, come on
Let's go.
You and I have been around
We have experience dealing with difficult situations.
Beaten up, run out of town
We've been hurt and pushed out before.
Don't say
Don't try to justify this situation.
"God's planned the world we live in, Take what you can get, " it's written
Don't use religion or fate to excuse the injustices of the world. It's up to us to make a change.
Earth shakes and waters rise, A plague hits, my lover dies
Natural disasters and tragedies can strike at any time, and can devastate our lives.
And you say "Best of all possible worlds, Get by while it all unfurls"
Stop trying to make excuses for the situation, and face reality.
Syphilis, aren't you sick of this, Give me a hand
We're tired of the suffering and need help to make things better.
To the taking back of our fate, Believe in another, There's a little patch of land there, Just up ahead, Slow and steady we can prosper, Trot on with me father
We can take control of our future and make a better life for ourselves if we work together to achieve it.
This land needs tiling, Come on and help out, The pirate swine, We'll bluff and cop out, Your... worlds just burn out
Let's work to make the world a better place, even if it means standing up to those who try to hold us back.
Tragic comic repartee, This schlep has had it's day, I say
This situation is both sad and absurd, and it's time to put an end to it.
Get by or you're a goner, Hands on and we'll get stronger
We need to take action and work together to survive and thrive.
The water has spat us out, Coast is clear again, Hush up now, And don't get bored, Work away, We're on the mend
We've been through a lot, but things are getting better. Let's keep working hard to make a better life for ourselves.
Contributed by Stella O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Rika Y
DM is really good. Still don't get why they haven't become big enough to get paid attention to. I'd love you to come to Japan
Shaun Ferguson
Its because DM are partially Canadian and also major label record companies stopped supporting rock music for the most part in any meaningful way in the longterm as of the beginning of 1998. They are lucky to be be rockstars at all in the current musical climate as dictated by those corrupt labels
Michael Dodd
I LOVE THIS BAND............ CARE IS AN EXPLORER SLINGING GODDESS! Saw them open for Manson, and really, truthfully, after DM's set I couldnt give a fuck about MM. Care was all I could think about. Great Band! can't wait to see you in GP this fall.
Wesley Smith
I concur
Dave Shepherd
I remember seeing you guys perform in Edmonton years ago at the Finger 11/Sum 41 concert. I've been hooked ever since! Great video and phenomenal song, thank you for sharing your art with us all :)
lordofnokrine
damn amazing band, would love to see them live
Sadie FireFly
You guys are amazing! keep it up!
Kelcie Breanna
Greatest Female Fronted Punk Band of this generation!!!! I'm in love with Die Mannequin & Care Failure & this song! <3 Now if only they would come to British Columbia so I could see them live!!!! xoxoxox
Dan Tice
Amazing canadian band! We will be seeing you in a couple weeks in my city. Great to see you guys come back to the small towns and kick some serious ass !
Antoinette Heil
Amazing live <3 Love you guys