99
E.O.M. Lyrics

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Steady repetition is a compulsion mutually reinforced
Now what does that mean?
Is there a just contradiction?
Nothing much
Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
If I should die before I wake
I pray the Lord, hesitate

Got to punch
Right on target
Twisting tongues
Gotta stripe down his back
All nine yards down her back

Give me a couple
Don't give me a couple of pointers
Turn to lies and conversation fear

Got to punch
Right on target
Twisting tongues
Gotta stripe down his back
All nine yards down her back

Give me a couple
Don't give me a couple of pointers
Turn to lies and conversation fear

What is in my mind?
What is in my mind?

Steady repetition is a compulsion mutually reinforced
Now what does that mean?
Is there a just contradiction?
Nothing much
Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
If I should die before I wake
I pray the Lord, hesitate

Got to punch
Right on target
Twisting tongues
Gotta stripe down his back
All nine yards down her back

Give me a couple
Don't give me a couple of pointers
Turn to lies and conversation fear

Conversation fear, conversation fear, conversation fear

Overall Meaning

In E.O.M.'s song "99," the lyrics point to a compulsive and repetitive behavior that is mutually reinforced by individuals. The repetition could be harmful or helpful depending on the context, but it binds people to each other in some way. The contradiction in the behavior is minimal, and the singer doesn't delve into it much. The next few lines shift to a more sinister tone. The lyrics imply physical violence, and the singer talks about punching someone and leaving a stripe down someone's back. The violent imagery breaks the monotony of the repetitive behavior mentioned earlier. The phrase, "Give me a couple, don't give me a couple of pointers" suggests that the singer may be asking their partner for something physical in exchange for not receiving verbal feedback.

Line by Line Meaning

Steady repetition is a compulsion mutually reinforced
A constant pattern of behavior is driven by both external and internal factors

Now what does that mean?
The singer is questioning the significance of the previous line

Is there a just contradiction?
The singer is questioning whether there is a logical inconsistency in their thoughts or behavior

Nothing much
The artist dismisses the significance of the previous questions

Now I lay me down to sleep
The artist is about to go to bed

I pray the Lord my soul to keep
The singer is asking for spiritual protection

If I should die before I wake
The singer is acknowledging the possibility of dying in their sleep

I pray the Lord, hesitate
The artist is again asking for divine intervention, but in a sarcastic or ironic way

Got to punch
The artist must act with force

Right on target
The artist is aiming for a specific goal or objective

Twisting tongues
The singer is using manipulative language

Gotta stripe down his back
The artist wants to punish someone severely

All nine yards down her back
The singer wants to punish someone, perhaps a woman, with excessive force

Give me a couple
The singer wants more of something, perhaps information or resources

Don't give me a couple of pointers
The singer doesn't want just advice or suggestions

Turn to lies and conversation fear
The artist is resorting to deceit and intimidation tactics

What is in my mind?
The artist is questioning their own thoughts or feelings

Conversation fear, conversation fear, conversation fear
The singer is repeating the phrase that suggests using fear as a tool to control others

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Michael Mills, Michael Stipe

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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