Open Season
Imperial Teen Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

One of us
Faking Victorian
What a fuss
A picture of Dorian

Follow a trail
Corrupt the au pair
A lesson in lust
The prince lost his hair

Bathing words
With mock hysteria
Stuffing birds
A case of malaria

Preparing your face
For crying on cue
You're painting your nails
While eating for two

Follow the trail
Corrupt the au pair
A lesson in lust




The prince lost his hair
Light red

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Open Season" by Imperial Teen seem to focus on a world where appearances and indulgences are at the forefront, with individuals faking their identities and attempting to project a certain image. The first line, "One of us, faking Victorian," sets the tone for this theme of deception, as the singer suggests that someone is pretending to be something they're not. This is followed by the line, "What a fuss, a picture of Dorian," which references Oscar Wilde's novel 'The Picture of Dorian Gray,' where the singer's physical appearance is preserved while his immoral acts and corruption slowly destroy his soul.


The next few lines seem to describe a situation where someone follows a path that leads to corruption, as they "corrupt the au pair" and learn a "lesson in lust." The mention of a prince losing his hair may also suggest a loss of power or a fall from grace. The last few lines of the song deal with the idea of projecting an image while hiding secrets or indulging in excess, as the singer notes that someone is "preparing their face for crying on cue" while "painting their nails" and "eating for two."


Overall, "Open Season" seems to be a commentary on a society that values appearances and indulgences over authenticity and morality. The lyrics suggest that people are willing to fake their identities and engage in corrupt behavior in order to maintain a certain image or status.


Line by Line Meaning

One of us
Referring to a member of a group or community, who is not specified.


Faking Victorian
Pretending to be from the Victorian era, copying its customs or fashion.


What a fuss
Expressing annoyance or exasperation with a situation or people's reaction to it.


A picture of Dorian
Alluding to the novel 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' by Oscar Wilde, where the main character remains youthful while his portrait ages and shows his sins.


Follow a trail
Investigating and tracking down clues or leads to solve a mystery or find someone/something.


Corrupt the au pair
Persuading or tricking a nanny or caregiver to do something unethical or illegal.


A lesson in lust
An experience that teaches about sexual desire or passion, possibly leading to temptation and immoral behavior.


The prince lost his hair
Using a fairy-tale metaphor to suggest that someone, typically male and of high status, suffered a downfall or humiliation, losing their power or beauty.


Bathing words
Covering language or speech with a particular tone or emotion, like washing it in a certain attitude.


With mock hysteria
Making a show of extreme or irrational emotions, like anxiety or panic, for dramatic or humorous effect, without actually feeling them.


Stuffing birds
Filling a bird's body cavity with a stuffing mixture, often for cooking, or killing and preserving birds as taxidermy specimens.


A case of malaria
Referencing the disease caused by plasmodium parasites, which can lead to fever, chills, and other symptoms, often occurring in tropical or subtropical regions.


Preparing your face
Getting ready, usually with makeup or expressions, to show a particular emotion or to act a certain way in front of others.


For crying on cue
Practicing how to produce tears quickly and convincingly, especially for acting purposes, but also in real-life situations when one wants to elicit sympathy or manipulate others.


You're painting your nails
Coloring or coating the nails, often with nail polish or lacquer, as a cosmetic decoration or self-care ritual.


While eating for two
Consuming food as if one were pregnant with twins or more, suggesting either indulgence or necessity due to carrying a heavier load than usual.


Light red
A phrase without an obvious connection to the rest of the lyrics, possibly denoting a shade of the color red that is not too bright or intense.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JONE STEBBINS, LYNN ELISE PERKO, RODDY CHRISTOPHER BOTTUM, WILL SCHWARTZ

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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