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.
Guns Not Bombs
Die Mannequin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It follows wherever I go
Shadows kept in horror
Captured all over the floor
When it's over I know
Never over, I'm told
Going to take us all
Hated heart in a hole
Turning peace into gold
Fatal fires grow
Infernal legions
Twisted regions
Tragic cruelty
Sadist ruling
Our arms and raids
Have gone on too late
Our bombs have saved
A fatal brigade
Our guns and graves
Have gone on too late
Believe our prayer
"Don't need you there"
Barbarous, I know
It follows wherever I go
Feathered at the wrists
Bury my dead wish
When it's over I know
Never over, I'm told
Going to take us all
Catastrophic assault
Hated heart in a hole
Turning peace into gold
Fatal fires grow
Infernal legions
Twisted regions
Tragic cruelty
Sadist ruling
Our arms and raids
Have gone on too late
Our bombs have saved
A fatal brigade
Our guns and graves
Have gone on too late
Believe our prayer
"Don't need you there"
Have you seen my hoax
Heartless holy ghost
Faded, fainted, close
War without a home
When it's over I know
Never over, I'm told
Going to take us all
Catastrophic assault
Hated heart in a hole
Turning peace into gold
Fatal fires grow
Infernal legions
Twisted regions
Tragic cruelty
Sadist ruling
Our arms and raids
Have gone on too late
Our bombs have saved
A fatal brigade
Our guns and graves
Have gone on too late
Believe our prayer
"Don't need you there"
Don't need you there
The lyrics to "Guns Not Bombs" by Die Mannequin paint a picture of a world torn apart by war and violence. The singer describes the horror of the aftermath of this violence, with "shadows kept in horror" and bodies "captured all over the floor." She acknowledges the endless cycle of war, with the line "when it's over I know, never over, I'm told." The catastrophic assault seems to have taken a toll on her, with the line "hated heart in a hole." The idea of turning peace into gold implies that war has become profitable, with many benefiting from the destruction.
The chorus is a call to action against this senseless violence. The singer pleads for an end to the warfare, stating "our arms and raids have gone on too late, our guns and graves have gone on too late." The repetition of the line "don't need you there" is a rejection of the idea that more war and violence is the solution. Instead, she suggests that guns can be used to protect, rather than to harm.
Overall, "Guns Not Bombs" is a powerful commentary on the brutality of war and the importance of peace.
Line by Line Meaning
Odious, I know
I am aware that my actions are offensive or hateful
It follows wherever I go
The impact of my actions have lasting effects
Shadows kept in horror
My actions have negative consequences that haunt me
Captured all over the floor
The destruction from my actions are widespread and undeniable
When it's over I know
Despite the end, the consequences will remain
Never over, I'm told
The impact of my actions is so profound that it will always be present
Going to take us all
The results of my actions will affect everyone
Catastrophic assault
The harm caused by my actions is extremely severe
Hated heart in a hole
The negativity within me leads to destruction
Turning peace into gold
The calmness of a situation is replaced by the greed for material gain
Fatal fires grow
The harmful impact of my actions increases as time goes on
Infernal legions
The evil nature of my actions can seem never-ending
Twisted regions
The aftermath of my behavior is deeply disturbing
Tragic cruelty
My actions are filled with pain and suffering
Sadist ruling
My actions are characterized by the pleasure I take in causing harm
Our arms and raids
Our military actions and raids
Have gone on too late
We have continued aggressive actions for too long
Our bombs have saved
Our bombs have only served to create more destruction
A fatal brigade
Our actions are leading to death and destruction
Our guns and graves
Our reliance on violence will cause more harm than good
Believe our prayer
We hold the misguided belief that violence is the answer
Don't need you there
Our world does not require more violence and destruction
Have you seen my hoax
Have you seen through the lies and deceit of our actions?
Heartless holy ghost
The religious or moral reasoning behind our actions is empty and meaningless
Faded, fainted, close
The justification for our actions is weak and losing credibility
War without a home
Our actions are causing so much destruction that there is no sense of safety or comfort in our own homes
Contributed by Vivian B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
CRM2006
Love this album. One of my favorite songs on it, along with Bad Medicine and Suffer.
Jack Maynard
the band i waited my whole life for
john stubbs
LOVE IT you know where i can find there songs in canada
AJ Johnston
When I die...make me a mannequin
David Sisson
@angelpie3677 I hear ya there! Just do what I do and force your friends to the shows and show em what they're missing now!
rockergurl0808
i just discovered these guys there fucking awsome Care Failure rocks
Jake Adams
Still feel the same way?
mattimos
Yeah, I bought my copy at Walmart. I was shocked, but I don't even have a CD store anymore. Walmart's the only place I can go. :(
MMD
This band is so underated.
spikedylacid
@angelpie3677 SO TRUE! tht always friggin happerns, they forget u where there from day 1 flying the flag!