Frenetically creative, and playing only by his own rules, Thirlwell has never stopped experimenting and evolving his sound. While his music is most often outside of any genre, it is most frequently described as Industrial or No-Wave. His earlier music is usually quite harsh and distorted, although since Love, his music has become increasingly orchestral and symphonic, sometime sounding like a full orchestra, but is actually only J.G Thirlwell himself, though sometimes assisted by guest musicians on select tracks. His latest album, Hide, goes even further in this direction than Love did, beginning with an operatic piece sung by Abigail Fischer.
He has inspired many following industrial artists; like Nine Inch Nails, Pig and Cop Shoot Cop, among others, with his sonic assault and innovative use of studio technology, and was a key contributor on Coil's groundbreaking debut album Scatology as well as appearing on a few early Nurse With Wound recordings.
Thirlwell has also worked on collaborations under the names of Steroid Maximus (multiple collaborators), Stinkfist (with Lydia Lunch), Flesh Volcano (with Marc Almond), Baby Zizanie (with Jim Coleman) and Wiseblood (with Roli Mosimann of Swans); and does remix work as well, often under the name of Foetus. He also lent his voice to the introduction of album Misguided by Argyle Park.
Thirlwell is currently the Composer In Residence for Adult Swim's "The Venture Brothers".
For the video release of Season 3, a soundtrack album was also released, titled "The Venture Bros.: The Music of JG Thirlwell". This is the same audio CD included as a bonus with the Blu-ray version of Season 3. While the CD release was originally made available at Adult Swim's website, it was given a wide release on May 12, 2009;[15] the vinyl LP release came out a month earlier. It can also be downloaded from most major digital retailers. The CD features 20 tracks, while the vinyl LP release is 16 tracks.[16]
In the episode "The Trial of the Monarch," The Monarch mentions a picture of Dr. Girlfriend "skinny dipping with Jim Foetus," a reference to Thirlwell.
Descent into the Inferno
Foetus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the bottom of the Black Lagoon
Purgatory disguised as a room with a view
I used to be in heaven looking down
Now I know the inferno from the inside
And you can't see out them windows (ooh)
And smoke gets in your eyes
And eyes just wanna cry, cry, cry
An obscene sprawling landscape of nothing
And nothing is it's middle name
Meet you on the corner of nothing and nowhere
Where in hell is that?
So flat you can't see ten feet in front
I want everything to disappear
Give me an isolation tank
Make a withdrawal from my blood bank
And you can't see out them windows (ooh)
And smoke gets in your eyes
And eyes just wanna cry, cry, cry
Cry, cry, cry, cry
Give me another stiff one, and make it a double
I don't know when I've had enough
But I've never had enough, and I've never been bad enough
I need it, and I need it bad
And if it ain't bad, it ain't worth having
I ain't the most popular boy, I know
That's common knowledge in this town
I'm trying hard to DIY but everything is broken down
And you can't see out them windows (ooh)
And smoke gets in your eyes
And eyes just wanna cry, cry, cry
Cry, cry, cry, cry, cry
Spuddla-dah woo-wah, a diddly don, a boo bah bow
Spuddla-dah woo-wah, a diddly don, a boo bah bow
Glory, glory hallelujah, you get what's coming to ya
You get a stomach tumor
You get a stake right through your heart, oh
Spuddla-dah woo-wah, a diddly don, dah-dah-dah
Spuddla-dah woo-wah, a diddly don
Spuddla-dah woo-wah, a diddly don, dah-dah-dah
Spuddla-dah woo-wah, a diddly don
I recognize thee Satan and I spit in thine face
Whatever happened to the human race?
What happened to the humanistic faith?
What happens to human waste?
I wanna get the hell out, but there ain't much hope of that
Fallen into the abyss, like a roach in a trap
There ain't a hope in Hades, there ain't a hope in hell
There ain't a hope in Hades, there ain't a hope in hell
I don't need a mother no more
I'd rather be an orphan, or a son of a bitch
Or a bastard son who's been dug up dead
Worms in eye sockets, holes in my head
Don't excavate if you ain't diggin' for gold
'Cause it's a long way up when you're six feet under
Under a pile of human debris
A life full of lies and shit and rubble
You wanna save yourself the trouble
And you can't see out them windows (oh)
And smoke gets in your eyes (ah)
And eyes just wanna cry, cry, cry
Cry, cry, cry, cry, cry
Spuddla-dah woo-wah, a diddly don, a boo bah bow
Spuddla-dah woo-wah, a diddly don, a boo bah bow
Gory, glory hallelujah, you get what's comin to ya
You get a stomach tumor
You get a stake right through your heart
It isn't very pretty what a town without pity can do, uh
Starin' into a waste of space
Bring on the monotony, bring on the lobotomy
And make it a double, and make it a pact
I've had more than I can stand, an hors d'oeuvre of maniac
I've had more fun in an iron lung
I'm cancelling my next birthday
I m gonna wait till the witching hour
Then watch my life come tumblin' down
The moon's so full it's spilling over
There ain't a hope in Hades, there ain't a hope in hell
It isn't very pretty what a town without pity can do
And you can't see out them windows
And smoke gets in your eyes
Eyes just wanna cry, cry, cry
Cry, cry, cry, cry, cry
Spuddla-dah woo-wah, a diddly don, a boo bah bow
Spuddla-dah woo-wah, a diddly don, a boo bah bow
Glory, gory hellelujah, you get what's coming to ya
You get a stake right through ya, through ya
Get a stake right through your heart
It isn't very pretty what a town without pity can do
No, it ain't very pretty what a town without pity can do
Descend, descend, descend
Descend, descend, descend
The lyrics of "Descent into the Inferno" describe a sense of hopelessness and despair felt by the singer. He finds himself in the "bottom of the Black Lagoon," which is a metaphorical representation of being trapped in a dark and miserable place. The room the singer is in is described as purgatory disguised as a room with a view, suggesting that even the idea of a view is a lie, and that he can never escape it. The singer also mentions that he used to be in heaven but has now been plunged into inferno and recognizes Satan as he spits in his face. The line "And you can't see out them windows, and smoke gets in your eyes" are another metaphor for the inability of the singer to see the way out of this situation and how his environment is choking him.
The singer talks about his desire to escape from everything, but it seems impossible. He's stuck in a landscape of nothingness and cannot see anything beyond the present moment. He expresses his need for more alcohol, but even that is not enough, and he feels like nothing can satiate his desires. He also talks about the broken state of everything around him, his sense of isolation, and how he feels like everything is collapsing in on him. The repetition of the line "Cry, cry, cry" emphasizes the overwhelming emotions and the sense of loss and despair that the singer is feeling.
Line by Line Meaning
Another hungover morning
Starting the day in a state of hangover
In the bottom of the Black Lagoon
Being in a bad place or situation
Purgatory disguised as a room with a view
Living in a place that seems pleasant but is actually miserable
I used to be in heaven looking down
Living a good life in the past
Now I know the inferno from the inside
Having experienced a hellish life from within
And you can't see out them windows (ooh)
Being trapped in a life with limited perspective
And smoke gets in your eyes
Feeling the negative effects of a bad situation
And eyes just wanna cry, cry, cry
Feeling overwhelming emotions
An obscene sprawling landscape of nothing
Living in a place that lacks any real value or meaning
And nothing is its middle name
Being surrounded by emptiness
Meet you on the corner of nothing and nowhere
Having nowhere specific to go
Where in hell is that?
Feeling lost and confused
So flat you can't see ten feet in front
Being unable to plan or prepare for the future
I want everything to disappear
Yearning for an escape from reality
Give me an isolation tank
Seeking a complete separation from the world
Make a withdrawal from my blood bank
Using drugs or alcohol to cope
Give me another stiff one, and make it a double
Wanting more drugs or alcohol to numb the pain
I don't know when I've had enough
Being unable to control one's addiction
But I've never had enough, and I've never been bad enough
Feeling as though one's addiction is not severe enough
I need it, and I need it bad
Being completely dependent on drugs or alcohol
And if it ain't bad, it ain't worth having
Having a self-destructive mindset
I ain't the most popular boy, I know
Feeling isolated or disliked by others
That's common knowledge in this town
Being aware of one's reputation
I'm trying hard to DIY but everything is broken down
Attempting to fix one's life but feeling overwhelmed by the state of things
Cry, cry, cry, cry, cry
Expressing intense emotions of sadness
Spuddla-dah woo-wah, a diddly don, a boo bah bow
Nonsensical lyrics used to express frustration or confusion
Glory, glory hallelujah, you get what's coming to ya
Believing in karma or a greater justice
You get a stomach tumor
Cursing someone with misfortune
You get a stake right through your heart, oh
Desiring revenge on someone
I recognize thee Satan and I spit in thine face
Rejecting religious or moral values
Whatever happened to the human race?
Questioning the downfall of humanity
What happened to the humanistic faith?
Expressing disillusionment with societal values
What happens to human waste?
Feeling worthless or meaningless
I wanna get the hell out, but there ain't much hope of that
Desiring to escape one's life but feeling trapped
Fallen into the abyss, like a roach in a trap
Comparing oneself to a trapped insect
There ain't a hope in Hades, there ain't a hope in hell
Feeling hopeless and lost
I don't need a mother no more
Rejecting familial or societal norms
I'd rather be an orphan, or a son of a bitch
Preferring to be alone or disliked by others
Or a bastard son who's been dug up dead
Expressing a desire for death or an end to life
Worms in eye sockets, holes in my head
Describing a grotesque image of death
Don't excavate if you ain't diggin' for gold
Advising against searching for an escape from life
Cause it's a long way up when you're six feet under
Acknowledging the difficulty of escaping death
Under a pile of human debris
Being buried beneath the waste of society
A life full of lies and shit and rubble
Describing a life filled with deceit and destruction
You wanna save yourself the trouble
Advising against the pursuit of a futile escape
And you can't see out them windows (oh)
Feeling trapped by limited perspective
And smoke gets in your eyes (ah)
Feeling overwhelmed by negative experiences
Gory, glory hallelujah, you get what's comin to ya
Believing in the eventual punishment of wrongdoers
You get a stake right through ya, through ya
Desiring revenge or punishment for someone
No, it ain't very pretty what a town without pity can do
Describing the negative effects of a cruel or uncaring society
Descend, descend, descend
Succumbing to a negative mindset or situation
Lyrics © NEIL MUSIC INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: James George Thirlwell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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