Contents
Musical qualities
The song begins with a cyclic, scratchy warble that lasts about 30 seconds before fading into a more traditional build. The entire build lasts about one minute in all before climaxing into an electric bass riff, then leading into the first verse. The song is very low-pitched throughout and only up-tempo during the chorus and the intro.
Lyrical interpretations
Though the lead singer Brandon Boyd claims the song is not specifically targeting anybody [1], Megalomaniac has been called a "barely veiled condemnation of George W. Bush"[2]. The band maintains that the song's meaning pertains to megalomaniacs in general.
Music video
The video for Megalomaniac, directed by Floria Sigismondi, features a bleak, dystopian view of the world portrayed using posterization and spriting (using 2D images in 3D settings). Much of the imagery was inspired by the anti-Nazi photocollages of German artist John Heartfield. Images of Adolf Hitler are interspersed with shots of the band and of many people who are either protesting or helpless and victimized. At the beginning of the 2nd verse, the video shows George W. Bush, then a man very similar to him in appearance, standing on a podium speaking to the revolutionaries. As the video progresses, the Bush look-alike sends officers to disperse the crowd. The speaker's podium rises very high - then it is revealed that the podium is actually a gas pump. The gas pump spurts oil over the crowd, while the Bush figure's head is consumed by a Bald Eagle. At many points throughout the video winged people are shown descending to the ground which could be interpreted as normal beings who bring change to politics. The video also shows a somewhat disturbing image of two parents feeding their baby with oil. The broad theme of the video seems to be corruption in general, though oil and explosions are recurrent symbols as well. MTV refused to show the video during daytime airplay due to the controversy. Pictures of Hitler, Stalin and Mussolini also appear in the video.
Released - 15 December 2003 (song) 4 May 2004 (single)
Format - Enhanced CD
Recorded - October 2003
Genre - Rock, Hard Rock
Length - 4:28 (radio edit) 4:54 (album version)
Label - Epic/Immortal
Writer(s) - Incubus
Producer - Brendan O'Brien
Megalomaniac
Incubus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You permeate my screen, it's unkind
But if I met you in a scissor fight
I'd cut off both your wings on principle alone
Principle alone
Hey, megalomaniac
You're no Jesus, yeah, you're no fucking Elvis
And step down, step down, step down
Ooh
If I were your appendages
I'd hold open your eyes so you would see
That all of us are heaven-sent
And there was never meant to be only one
To be only one
Hey, megalomaniac
You're no Jesus, yeah, you're no fucking Elvis
Wash your hands clean of yourself, baby
And step down, step down, step down
Step down, step down, oh, step down
Ooh, ooh, do-do-do-do-do
You're, you're, you're
You're no Jesus
You're no Elvis
You're no Jesus
You're no Jesus
You're no Elvis
You're no answer, ooh
Step down, step down, step down
Step down, hey, hey
Hey, megalomaniac
You're no Jesus, yeah, you're no fucking Elvis
Wash your hands clean of yourself, baby
And step down, step, step down
Step down, oh, step down
Oh, step down
Step down
The lyrics to Incubus's song "Megalomaniac" critique the excessive pride and self-importance of certain individuals, particularly those in positions of power or fame. The opening lines express a sense of frustration with the constant exposure and influence of these people, whether through the radio or other media. However, the main chorus confronts the titular "megalomaniac" directly, calling them out for thinking they are comparable to Jesus or Elvis, and demanding that they "step down" from their pedestal of arrogance.
The verses contain more specific critiques, with the line "if I met you in a scissor fight / I'd cut off both your wings on principle alone" evoking the image of removing someone's ability to fly or soar above others. The second verse takes a more compassionate approach, suggesting that even the most powerful person should be able to recognize the equal humanity in all individuals ("all of us are heaven-sent / and there was never meant to be only one"). The repetition of the chorus and the phrase "step down" both emphasize the need for humility and recognition of one's own limitations, even if one has achieved a great deal of success or notoriety.
Line by Line Meaning
I hear you on the radio
I am familiar with your voice on the airwaves
You permeate my screen, it's unkind
It's unpleasant how your presence on my screen dominates everything else
But if I met you in a scissor fight
I'd cut off both your wings on principle alone
Principle alone
Even if we were physically fighting, I would defeat you not out of personal dislike, but on principle that you are not better than anyone else
Hey, megalomaniac
You're no Jesus, yeah, you're no fucking Elvis
Wash your hands clean of yourself, baby
And step down, step down, step down
People like you with a big ego are not superior to others, and should let go of their self-importance to help others
If I were your appendages
I'd hold open your eyes so you would see
That all of us are heaven-sent
And there was never meant to be only one
To be only one
If I were a part of you, I would help you see that everyone is important and needed in this world, and it's not just about one person
You're, you're, you're
You're no Jesus
You're no Elvis
You're no Jesus
You're no Jesus
You're no Elvis
You're no answer
You are not anyone special or important, not even comparable to religious figures or music legends
Step down, step down, step down
Step down, hey, hey
Take a step back down from your pedestal, it's time to be humble and recognize that everyone matters
Hey, megalomaniac
You're no Jesus, yeah, you're no fucking Elvis
Wash your hands clean of yourself, baby
And step down, step, step down
Repeating the idea that excessive pride and self-centeredness is not admirable or superior to anyone else, and that it's time to become grounded again
Step down, oh, step down
Oh, step down
Step down
A final repeat of the call to step down and rejoin the rest of humanity
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Ben Kenney, Brandon Charles Boyd, Christopher E Kilmore, Jose Pasillas II, Michael Aaron Einziger
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@elizabethmcteague8115
I hear you on the radio
You permeate my screen, its' unkind but
If I met you in a scissor fight
I'd cut off both your wings on principle alone
On principle alone
Hey megalomaniac
You're no Jesus
Yeah, you're no ****ing Elvis
Special, as you know yourself
Baby, just step down, step down
If I were your appendages
I'd hold open your eyes
So you would see
That all of us are heaven sent
There was never meant to be only one
To be only one
Hey megalomaniac
You're no Jesus
Yeah, you're no ****ing Elvis
Special, as you know yourself
Baby, just step down, step down
Yeah
You're no Jesus
You're no Elvis
You're no answer
Hey megalomaniac
You're no Jesus
Yeah, you're no ****ing Elvis
Special, as you know yourself
Just step down
@tuomasssss
16 years later and that chorus still gives me the chills every single time.
@kevinheatcoat2190
What Happened To Incubus
@Selwyndrea
@@kevinheatcoat2190 They still release stuff
@KaleidoscopeMagic
It's about Anthony Kiedis
@heavnnnsent
Just one of many amazing songs by this band
@heavnnnsent
@@KaleidoscopeMagic ...😆😆😆
@gandradd698
Those songs that ages really well like a fine wine.
@Eliy369
For real
@merielmesibere7171
Just like Brandon...
@wolfman6489
Water over wiiine?