Likely the nuttiest, kookiest, wackiest song ever written by this band – an… Read Full Bio ↴Likely the nuttiest, kookiest, wackiest song ever written by this band – and that’s saying a lot. Annotating this is the ultimate fool’s errand. Take whatever you can from it, no one can deny you. For what it’s worth (probably not much), it has always struck me as a savagely primitive and sexual song. The moaning, the groaning, the stuttering and the “one times one with you” all add up to some hot and heavy action. The initial lyrics all suggest that the object of his affections is a bit, shall we say, frigid, or virginal.

Thorn of Crowns
Echo & the Bunnymen Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ah ah, ah ah
Ah ah, ah ah

You set my teeth on edge
You set my teeth on edge
You think you're a vegetable
Never come out of the fridge

see-see-see-cucumber
see-see-see-cabbage
see-see-see-cauliflower
Men on Mars
April showers
Oh oh, oh oh

You are a dying breed
You are a dying breed
You once was an Inca
Now you're a Cherokee

see-see-see-cucumber
see-see-see-cabbage
see-see-see-cauliflower
Men on Mars
April showers

(You kick it, kick it)
(Ow uh, ow uh)
(Ow uh, ow uh, ow uh)

Wait for me on the blue horizon
Blue horizon for everyone
Wait for me on a new horizon
New horizons for everyone

I want to be one times one with you
Oh oh
I want to be one times one with you
Oh oh
Ah ah, ahh
Ah ah, ahh

I've decided to wear my thorn of crowns
I've decided to wear my thorn of crowns
Inside out
Back to front
Upside down
All the way round
Round, round rounnd

I've decided to wear my thorn of crowns
I've decided to wear my thorn of crowns
Upside down
Inside out
Back to front
All the way round, down
Down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down, down

Down, down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down, dow

Overall Meaning

"Thorn of Crowns" by Echo & the Bunnymen is a song that can have multiple interpretations. One interpretation that resonates with most listeners is the themes of frustration and disillusionment. The lyrics signify a feeling of being lost and misunderstood in a world that is constantly changing, leading to a sense of despair. The first verse talks about someone who is frustrating and irritating to the singer, comparing them to a vegetable that never leaves the fridge. The second verse is about someone who was once a prominent figure in history but is now forgotten and overlooked.

The chorus of the song is about hope and unity, with the singer asking to be connected to someone as an equal. The repetition of "Ah ah, ahh" throughout the song creates an ominous feel, while the use of "see-see-see" before naming out vegetables adds to the childishness of the song. The last verses talk about the singer wearing their crown of thorns in different positions- upside down, inside out, back to front, and all the way round- emphasizing their frustration.

Line by Line Meaning

Ah ah, ah ah
Repeated sounds with no meaning.

You set my teeth on edge
You irritate me and make me uncomfortable.

You think you're a vegetable
You have a low opinion of yourself and lack confidence.

Never come out of the fridge
You avoid taking risks and trying new things.

see-see-see-cucumber
Repeating sounds with no meaning.

see-see-see-cabbage
Repeating sounds with no meaning.

see-see-see-cauliflower
Repeating sounds with no meaning.

Men on Mars
Imaginary beings on a distant planet.

April showers
Rain in the month of April.

Oh oh, oh oh
Repeated sounds with no meaning.

You are a dying breed
You belong to a dying or disappearing group of people or things.

You once was an Inca
You used to be part of a powerful and advanced civilization.

Now you're a Cherokee
You are now part of a different and less powerful group of people.

(You kick it, kick it)
Encouragement to be active and engaged in life.

(Ow uh, ow uh)
Sounds of physical pain or discomfort.

(Ow uh, ow uh, ow uh)
Sounds of physical pain or discomfort.

Wait for me on the blue horizon
I hope to see you in the future.

Blue horizon for everyone
Hope for a better future for all.

Wait for me on a new horizon
I hope to see you in a new place or situation.

New horizons for everyone
Hope for new opportunities and experiences for all.

I want to be one times one with you
I want to be intimately connected with you.

Oh oh
Repeated sounds with no meaning.

I've decided to wear my thorn of crowns
I embrace my difficulties and challenges.

Inside out
Backwards or reversed.

Back to front
Upside down or turned around.

Upside down
Inverted or reversed position.

All the way round
Completely turned around or reversed.

Round, round, round
Repeated sounds with no meaning.

Down, down, down, down
Repeated sounds with no meaning.

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: IAN STEPHEN MCCULLOCH, LESLIE PATTINSON, PETE FREITAS, WILLIAM SERGEANT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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