General name for works of J.G. Thirlwell (aka Clint Ruin, Manorexia, Steroi… Read Full Bio ↴General name for works of J.G. Thirlwell (aka Clint Ruin, Manorexia, Steroid Maximus & others) - commonly, if simplistically - described as industrial. Many name variations have been used during his four-decade spanning career, beginning with the first proper album Deaf in '81, using the name You've Got Foetus On Your Breath. Since the mid-'90s, 'main project' releases (excl. projects like Manorexia), have simply used the name Foetus. Other name variations used at some point in time or another include Foetus Art Terrorism / F.A.T., Scraping Foetus Off the Wheel, The Foetus All-Nude Revue, Foetus Eruptus, Foetus Uber Frisco / Foetus Over Frisco, Foetus Under Glass, Phillip And His Foetus Vibrations, Foetus Corruptus, Foetus Interruptus, Foetus in Excelsis Corruptus Deluxe, Foetus Inc. & The Foetus Symphony Orchestra.

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.

Lust for Death
Foetus Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

If I ain't back by 5am start phoning round the hospitals
The memories of all my pearls are pouring out my nostrils
I'm the one Mother Nature had to recall
My back back back's against the wall
Put me out of my misery - I'm dying to get away from it all
North South Mae West - da boid gets da boid
I'm shaken but I ain't stoid - I'm gonna carry on undetoid
I got a LUST FOR DEATH

Got a lust got a lust got a LUST FOR DEATH
Libido in Limbo - Legs Akimbo
Never even ever read a word of Rimbaud
The walls of my stomach think they're JERICHO
I'm about to meet my MEXICO
Make mine a double TEXACO
I'M THE DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD DADDIO
I'se coughin up blood on a nice clean shirt
Nose eyes ears throat roads are blocked
Can see the light at the end of the tunnel
And I'd rather die young than diurnal
I'm the one Ralph Nader had to recall
My BACK BACK BACK'S up against the wall
Put me outa my misery - I'm dying to get away from it all
North South Mae West - My lips are blue and so am I
North South Mae West - Gimme a break! LUST or BUST!
NORTH SOUTH MAE WEST - I maybe shakin but I ain't stoid
Da boid gets da boid - I mo carry on undetoid
I BIN HUNG! IBIN HUNG! THROAT CUR MEAT HOOK FROM THE ROOF!
HUMAN HEIFFER FOR A FILLET VEAL!
HUGH HEFNER AND A HUMAN MEAL!
SOMEONE'S MAKING ME A HUMAN MEAL! SOMEONE'S MAKING ME A HUMAN
MEAL!
I got a LUST FOR DEATH
Got a lust got a lust got a LUST FOR DEATH
Libido in Limbo - Legs Akimbo
Never even ever read a word of Rimbaud
The walls of my stomach think they're JERICHO
I'm about to meet my MEXICO

Make mine a double TEXACO
I'M THE DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD DADDIO

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Foetus's song "Lust for Death" are quite dark and disturbing, with vivid depictions of physical bodily decay and a desire for death. The song opens with a warning to phone the hospitals if the singer does not return by 5am, suggesting that they are in a dangerous situation. The next line describes memories "pouring out [their] nostrils," perhaps indicating a physical breakdown or emotional overload. The singer claims to be "the one Mother Nature had to recall," suggesting that they are facing some kind of inevitable demise.

The phrase "back's against the wall" is repeated throughout the song, indicating a feeling of being trapped or cornered. The singer begs to be put out of their misery and expresses a "lust for death." They describe their libido as being in limbo and their legs as being akimbo. They also mention never having read the work of Rimbaud, a French poet known for his decadent and often dark themes. The walls of their stomach are compared to those of Jericho, a biblical city famous for its destruction. The singer repeatedly uses phrases like "North South Mae West" and "da boid gets da boid," which are perhaps nonsensical or meaningless, but add to the overall feeling of disorientation and chaos.

Line by Line Meaning

If I ain't back by 5am start phoning round the hospitals
In case I don't return by 5am, please call hospitals to find me

The memories of all my pearls are pouring out my nostrils
My precious memories are being lost and wasted

I'm the one Mother Nature had to recall
I am the one who Nature has decided to take back

My back back back's against the wall
I am cornered and have no escape

Put me out of my misery - I'm dying to get away from it all
End my suffering, I want to escape it all

North South Mae West - da boid gets da boid
I don't care which direction, the predator always preys on the weaker

I'm shaken but I ain't stoid - I'm gonna carry on undetoid
Despite being shaken, I will continue unafraid

I got a LUST FOR DEATH
I have a desire and craving to die

Got a lust got a lust got a LUST FOR DEATH
Reinforcement of the craving for death

Libido in Limbo - Legs Akimbo
My sexual desires are unfulfilled yet my body is exposed

Never even ever read a word of Rimbaud
I haven't read Rimbaud's work before

The walls of my stomach think they're JERICHO
My stomach feels like a fortress walls ready to crumble

I'm about to meet my MEXICO
I'm close to dying

Make mine a double TEXACO
Give me extra fuel to make my death faster

I'M THE DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD DADDIO
Emphasizing the fact that I am already dead

I'se coughin up blood on a nice clean shirt
I am coughing up blood on my clean shirt

Nose eyes ears throat roads are blocked
I can't breathe properly as my nose, eyes, ears, and throat are blocked

Can see the light at the end of the tunnel
I can see death approaching

And I'd rather die young than diurnal
I would rather die at a young age than live a long and boring life

I'm the one Ralph Nader had to recall
I am someone who should not exist according to Ralph Nader

My BACK BACK BACK'S up against the wall
I am completely trapped and helpless

Put me outa my misery - I'm dying to get away from it all
End my suffering, I want to escape it all

North South Mae West - My lips are blue and so am I
The references to Mae West and directions show that it doesn't matter where one goes, they will still be dead

Gimme a break! LUST or BUST!
Give me a break from life, either let me die or let me thrive

I maybe shakin but I ain't stoid
I may be scared, but I'm not giving up

Da boid gets da boid - I mo carry on undetoid
The predator always wins, but I will still go on unafraid

I BIN HUNG! IBIN HUNG! THROAT CUR MEAT HOOK FROM THE ROOF!
I have been hung by a meat hook through my throat, presumably leading to my death

HUMAN HEIFFER FOR A FILLET VEAL!
I have been treated and slaughtered like a cow

HUGH HEFNER AND A HUMAN MEAL!
Even Hugh Hefner, who lived life to the fullest, will eventually end up as food

SOMEONE'S MAKING ME A HUMAN MEAL! SOMEONE'S MAKING ME A HUMAN MEAL!
Emphasizing the fact that I have been reduced to nothing more than a meal for someone else