He also said that the band went back and remixed it after being done with another version of the song.
Daniel stated in an interview with Chart Attack:
“There’s a really slow groove to the whole thing, and it’s a really non-traditional song where it kind of stays on the same keel and then changes keys three-quarters of the way through. There’s a really ambitious breakdown. I don’t know if we pulled it all off, and in fact, we made that song one way and then went back and remixed it.“
The Scale
Interpol Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pick a rose and hide my face
This is the bandit's life
It comes and goes and them's the breaks
Under a molten sky, beyond the road, we lie in wait
You think they know us now?
Wait 'til the stars come out, you see that
Well, I made you and now I take you back
I made you and now I take you back
Sun, you sleep in clouds of fire
That's all and that's right
My sun, you sleep in clouds of fire
That's all and that's right
I can still feel it when you lie
Pick a rose just to hide my face
Well, if there's something I should know
I seek no science when there is no shape
Under a molten sky, let the days collide
Well, I made you and now I take you back
Sun, you sleep in clouds of fire
That's all and that's right
My sun, you sleep in clouds of fire
That's all and that's right
I have a sequin for an eye
Pick a rose and hide my face
This is the bandit's life
It comes and goes and them's the breaks
Under a molten sky, beyond the road, we lie in wait
You think they know us now?
Wait 'til the stars come out, you see that
Well, I made you and now I take you back
It's too late but today I can define the lack
I made you and now I take you back
Sun, you sleep in clouds of fire
That's all and that's right
My sun, you sleep in clouds of fire
That's all and that's right
I can still feel it when you lie
Pick a rose just to hide my face
Well, if there's something I should know
I seek no science when there is no shape
Under a molten sky, let the days collide
Well, I made you and now I take you back
Sun, you sleep in clouds of fire
That's all and that's right
My sun, you sleep in clouds of fire
That's all and that's right
The lyrics to Interpol's song "The Scale" are poetic and enigmatic, leaving room for interpretation. One possible interpretation is that the first verse speaks of a bandit's life, where one must constantly hide themselves and their emotions in order to survive. The rose, a symbol of beauty and love, is picked and used to hide the face, suggesting a need to conceal oneself from the world. The line "I made you and now I take you back" is interesting because it implies a sense of ownership over someone, perhaps a loved one or a creation of some sort. The lack of context surrounding this line creates an air of mystery and darkness to the song.
The second verse continues the mysterious and poetic language, with the repetition of "you sleep in clouds of fire" suggesting either a sense of passion or a destructive force. The singer is still seeking knowledge, but here they acknowledge that sometimes there are things that cannot be explained or understood through science. The final line, "let the days collide", gives an image of chaos and unpredictability, much like the bandit's life described in the first verse. The repeated chorus serves as a reminder that everything in life is temporary, and that even the sun, a symbol of constant stability, can sleep in clouds of fire.
Overall, "The Scale" is a song that speaks to the human experience of hiding oneself and seeking understanding in a chaotic world. The poetic language and enigmatic lyrics allow for multiple interpretations and create an atmosphere of intrigue and darkness.
Line by Line Meaning
I have a sequin for an eye
I have a glittering, sparkling, attention-grabbing way of seeing things.
Pick a rose and hide my face
I mask my identity or emotions by focusing on something pleasing or beautiful.
This is the bandit's life
This is the life of someone who steals or takes things they don't deserve.
It comes and goes and them's the breaks
Sometimes life is full of disappointments and setbacks that we have little control over.
Under a molten sky, beyond the road, we lie in wait
We anticipate or prepare for something ominous or uncertain in a wild or violent environment.
You think they know us now?
You believe that we are already understood or recognized by others.
Wait 'til the stars come out, you see that
Wait until there is complete darkness or obscurity; then the truth will reveal itself.
Well, I made you and now I take you back
I created or had power over you and now I reclaim or repossess that power.
It's too late but today I can define the lack
Although it's too late to change things, I can finally understand or acknowledge what was missing or insufficient.
Sun, you sleep in clouds of fire
The source of light, life, or energy rests or hides itself in a blanket of danger or destruction.
That's all and that's right
That's everything that needs to be said, and it's correct according to my perception.
I can still feel it when you lie
I can recognize or sense when you are not truthful.
Well, if there's something I should know
If there is important or relevant information I am missing or unaware of,
I seek no science when there is no shape
I do not look for explanations or logic when something is formless or chaotic.
Under a molten sky, let the days collide
In an unstable or dangerous world, let conflicts or events play out as they will.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind