"Midlife Crisis" is a song by the alternative metal band Faith No More, from the… Read Full Bio ↴"Midlife Crisis" is a song by the alternative metal band Faith No More, from their fourth studio album Angel Dust. According to singer Mike Patton "The song is based on a lot of observation and a lot of speculation. But in sort of a pointed way its kind of about Madonna... I think it was a particular time where I was being bombarded with her image on TV and in magazines and her whole schtick kind of speaks to me in that way... like she's going through some sort of problem. It seems she's getting a bit desperate." The song also had a working title of 'Madonna'.

Patton has also denied that the song is about having a midlife crisis, as he didn't know what one would feel like, but says "it's more about creating false emotion, being emotional, dwelling on your emotions and in a sense inventing them."

The song contains a sample from "Cecilia", as performed by Simon and Garfunkel and another from "Car Thief", as performed by The Beastie Boys.

"Midlife Crisis" is featured on the soundtrack for the videogames Tony Hawk's Underground 2 and also Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, on the fictional Alternative station Radio X.

This song was covered by the industrial metal band Bile on their 2002 cover album, The Copy Machine. It was also covered by American Rock band Disturbed on their album Indestructible (as a B-side track).

Midlife Crisis
Faith No More Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Go on and wring my neck
Like when a rag gets wet
A little discipline
For my pet genius

My head is like a lettuce
Go on and dig your thumbs in
I cannot stop giving

I'm thirty-something

Sense of security
Like pockets jingling
Midlife crisis
Suck ingenuity

Down through the family tree
You're perfect, yes, it's true
But without me you're only you
Your menstruating heart
It ain't bleedin' enough for two

It's a midlife crisis
It's a midlife crisis
What an inheritance
The salt and the Kleenex

Morbid self attention
Bending my pinky back
A little discipline
A donor by habit

A little discipline
Rent an opinion
Sense of security
Holding blunt instrument

Midlife crisis
I'm a perfectionist
And perfect is a skinned knee
You're perfect, yes, it's true
But without me you're only you

Your menstruating heart
It ain't bleeding enough for two

(Yeah)

It's a midlife crisis
It's a midlife crisis

You're perfect, yes, it's true (go on and wring my neck)
(Like when a rag gets wet) but without me you're only you (go on and wring my neck)
Your menstruating heart (go on and wring my neck)
(Like when a rag gets wet) it ain't bleedin' enough for two

You're perfect, yes, it's true (go on and wring my neck)
(Like when a rag gets wet) but without me you're only you (go on and wring my neck) (you're only you)
Your menstruating heart (go on and wring my neck)
(Like when a rag gets wet) it ain't bleedin' enough for two

You're perfect, yes, it's true (go on and wring my neck)
(Like when a rag gets wet) but without me you're only you (go on and wring my neck) (you're only you)
Your menstruating heart (go on and wring my neck)
(Like when a rag gets wet) it ain't bleedin' enough for two

You're perfect, yes, it's true (go on and wring my neck)
(Like when a rag gets wet) but without me you're only you (go on and wring my neck)

Your menstruating heart (go on and wring my neck)
(Like when a rag gets wet) it ain't bleedin' enough for two

Overall Meaning

The song "Midlife Crisis" by Faith No More deals with the concept of reaching a certain age and feeling the need to change or break out of routine in order to feel alive. The lyrics express the desire for someone to exert control over the singer, to discipline him like a pet, in order to bring him back to reality. The imagery of a lettuce and the mention of a donor both suggest the idea of being pliable and accommodating, ready to give and shape oneself in order to fit in. The line "midlife crisis suck ingenuity" is a play on words, as it suggests that the crisis itself is what's sucking away the singer's creativity and originality.

The second verse seems to take a more confrontational tone, with the singer belittling the addressee's perfect facade and declaring that without him, they are only themselves, while his role in their life is crucial. The mention of a menstruating heart not bleeding enough for two is a metaphor for the limitations of the human condition and how even the most perfect individual can't sustain their life without some sort of struggle or hardship. Overall, the song seems to be about self-discovery and the need to rebel against expectations and conformity in order to find oneself.

Line by Line Meaning

Go on and wring my neck
Challenge me and make me uncomfortable

Like when a rag gets wet
Squeeze me hard until I can't take it anymore

A little discipline
I need someone to teach me how to behave

For my pet genius
I'm very talented, but I need guidance

My head is like a lettuce
I'm very vulnerable and easily hurt

Go on and dig your thumbs in
Hurt me even more

I cannot stop giving
I'm a very generous person

I'm thirty-something
I'm in my midlife crisis

Sense of security
I feel safe and comfortable

Like pockets jingling
I have some money in my pockets

Midlife crisis
I'm going through a period of self-doubt and re-evaluation

Suck ingenuity
I'm losing my creativity and originality

Down through the family tree
This is a problem that runs in my family

You're perfect, yes, it's true
You're a great person

But without me you're only you
You need me to be complete

Your menstruating heart
You're emotional and vulnerable

It ain't bleedin' enough for two
You can't handle both of us being emotional at the same time

What an inheritance
I've inherited some bad traits from my family

The salt and the Kleenex
I'm crying a lot and need tissues

Morbid self attention
I'm very focused on my problems

Bending my pinky back
I'm hurting myself

A donor by habit
I'm giving too much of myself

Rent an opinion
I don't really believe in anything, I just follow what others say

Holding blunt instrument
I'm not very smart

I'm a perfectionist
I'm very demanding of myself

And perfect is a skinned knee
Perfection is impossible to achieve

Your menstruating heart
You're emotional and vulnerable

It ain't bleeding enough for two
You can't handle both of us being emotional at the same time

It's a midlife crisis
I'm going through a period of self-doubt and re-evaluation

You're perfect, yes, it's true (go on and wring my neck)
You're a great person

(Like when a rag gets wet) but without me you're only you (go on and wring my neck)
You need me to be complete

Your menstruating heart (go on and wring my neck)
You're emotional and vulnerable

(Like when a rag gets wet) it ain't bleedin' enough for two
You can't handle both of us being emotional at the same time

You're perfect, yes, it's true (go on and wring my neck)
You're a great person

(Like when a rag gets wet) but without me you're only you (go on and wring my neck) (you're only you)
You need me to be complete