Known to tour the US in a converted city bus with Rathbun as the driver/mechanic, with the windshield destination banner of HELL. Besides their wild performances which embodied a "rock against rock" ethos, they were also known to defy classification with marching band routines, performing puppet shows, and playing household items as instruments (in tune). After finding few financial rewards for their increasingly complex stage show, Idiot Flesh disbanded in 1998.
Core Members:
- Captain Dragon (Gene Jun; Guitar, Percussion, Violin, Vocals, Arranger)
- Hyena Boy (Wes Anderson; 1994-1998: Percussion, Drums, Marimba, Multi Instruments, Talking, Vocals, Bassoon, Trash Cans)
- The Improver (Dan Rathbun; Bass, Multi Instruments, Saw, "Talking", Horn, Vocals, Trombone, Cello, Megaphone; Engineer)
- Pin (Nils Frykdahl; Flute, Saxophone, Percussion, Castanets, Vocals, Guitar; Cover Design/Graphics)
- Chuck Squier (1985 through 1994: Drums, Cover art)
Discography:
- (1990) Tales of Instant Knowledge and Sure Death
- (1994) The Nothing Show
- (1995) Teen Devil/Twitch (4 Song EP)
- (1997) Fancy (Nov. 11)
Drowning
Idiot Flesh Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So I wait in line all day – just me and the phone booth
While she goes through the shit we own, finding what’s unnecessary.
Three pairs of clothes, one pair of shoes. Nothing else we really use.
She said, "Let’s slow the day down, darling, so it all don’t… slip away."
I catch a glimpse of a future picture, the only thing that we will still own.
Naked and cold in an empty room, but I’m happy ‘cause I still got you.
And your happy ‘cause you still got… cigarettes.
Yesterday I had a quarter. And I know I didn’t eat it.
I’ll make the same mistakes. Won’t care ‘til my body needs it.
Three pairs of clothes, one pair of shoes. Nothing else we really use, like food and sleep.
We don’t like to think about tomorrow when we are in this deep. That’s the trick to a happy life.
Spend every moment dying. Some people were born to float.
Lord knows I’ve forgotten how to swim, sinking. And neither of us knows which direction the air bubbles are going.
The lyrics of Idiot Flesh’s song “Drowning” portray a sense of apathy towards the world and the self-destructive tendencies that result from it. The song starts with the female protagonist proposing a torturous activity, which sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer and the singer wait in a line, with the phone booth being their only escape from boredom. As the singer rummages through their belongings, she is left with only three pairs of clothes and a pair of shoes, which are the only things they really use. The singer then suggests slowing the day down to prevent it from slipping away, portraying their reluctance to engage with the world.
The singer then has a moment of realization, envisioning a future where they only have each other and cigarettes, as if anything else is unnecessary. The lyrics depict the singer and the singer’s self-destructive nature, where they are content with living without basic necessities like food and adequate rest. The lyrics underline the importance of living in the moment, without thinking about what tomorrow might bring, even if it means slowly deteriorating life quality. The song's final lines portray the fear of drowning, where neither the singer nor the singer knows which direction to take, ultimately suggesting a sense of helplessness.
Line by Line Meaning
I’m bored," she said. "Let’s go torture something."
The singer's companion expresses a desire to cause harm to something out of boredom.
So I wait in line all day – just me and the phone booth
The singer spends a long time, possibly waiting in a line, causing boredom and monotony.
While she goes through the shit we own, finding what’s unnecessary.
The singer's companion goes through their possessions, identifying things that are not needed.
Three pairs of clothes, one pair of shoes. Nothing else we really use.
The artist and their companion have minimal possessions, only using a few necessary items.
She said, "Let’s slow the day down, darling, so it all don’t… slip away."
The artist's companion suggests they enjoy their time and not let it go to waste.
I catch a glimpse of a future picture, the only thing that we will still own.
The singer imagines a scenario in which they have lost everything except for their companion.
Naked and cold in an empty room, but I’m happy ‘cause I still got you.
The singer may have lost everything else, but they are content as long as they have their companion.
And your happy ‘cause you still got… cigarettes.
The artist's companion is content because they still have access to cigarettes.
Yesterday I had a quarter. And I know I didn’t eat it.
The artist may have had limited resources in the past, and was unable to afford food despite having some money.
I’ll make the same mistakes. Won’t care ‘til my body needs it.
The artist acknowledges their tendency to repeat mistakes, only caring about changing their behavior when it affects their physical well-being.
We don’t like to think about tomorrow when we are in this deep. That’s the trick to a happy life.
The singer and their companion do not concern themselves with the future, living in the moment is a key to their happiness.
Spend every moment dying. Some people were born to float.
The artist may view life as a constant process of dying or losing something, while others are better suited to accepting changes and floating through life.
Lord knows I’ve forgotten how to swim, sinking.
The singer may feel overwhelmed by life or circumstances, and unable to keep up or stay afloat.
And neither of us knows which direction the air bubbles are going.
The singer and their companion may feel lost or directionless, uncertain of what is to come.
Contributed by Zachary N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
guitarandgraves
One of my all-time favorite guitar solos. So powerful.
A Non Pony
This is pretty much my favourite song from the album!
ofalllife87
Love this song, never gets old!
Don Mega
I'd suggest it's about a wickedly bitter addiction relationship between one who understands he's falling and slipping away but can't do anything against the nagging or bitter forces that drag him away. Deep in a hole and sunken further within any chemical or emotional imbalance, the song is more a momentary thought of the dilemma as it descends into mental anxiety, such as the guitar riffs.
I don't know. Never understood the song until I started drowning too, within life, alcohol, drugs, mishandled relationships.
John Doe
I was thinking it has something to do with being homeless but idk
Clown World Honk
Epic band and song
GK Vidding HD
The best psychopathically desperate vibe you can get.
XNTRK
I need this album. Cannot find it anywhere! Can't even pirate. Of course I wanna buy but....
Mihail Sirbu
LOL, I hate drowning!