A new album titled The Economy was released in Fall 2011.
Gods of American Success
John Mark McMillan Lyrics
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Minnows in the pool, the way they slip away
And I go fumbling, go running in and repossess
The story of my youth
The story of my electric pains
Are we running after flickering sparks, oh
Are we babbling for diamonds in the dark, oh
The way we chase that mercury
Loud like lions in the slickest [?]
Desperately we haunt the other animal
But in the end if all we are
Is dogs out back, chasing cars
Then pray that we don't get the things we want
Are we running after flickering sparks, oh
Are we grappling for diamonds in the dark, oh
The way we chase that mercury
Way we chase that mercury, oh
Love, a pound of flesh
Offer it up to the gods of American success
Doesn't matter what you are, you're only second best
If it's all that you can ever hope to be
The way you chase that mercury, oh
[?] fumble in the mystery
Afraid to be, it smells while we pretend to be
Something more than what we are
Losing love a bunch run hearts
Mystified by everything we see
Are we running after flickering sparks, oh
Are we grappling for diamonds in the dark, oh
The way we chase that mercury
Way we chase that mercury, oh
Oh, the way we chase that mercury
Way we chase that mercury, oh
Love, a pound of flesh
Offer it up to the gods of American success
Doesn't matter who you are, you're only second best
If it's all that you can ever hope to be
The way you chase that mercury, oh
Way you chase that mercury
There must be more to this
Our desperate wonder and
How do we put to rest
All of our victims and
Beneath the shadows of
All that we think we want
These sterile eyes, we can't see
There must be more to this
Our desperate wonder and
How do we put to rest
All of our victims and
Beneath the shadows of
All that we think we want
These sterile eyes, we can't see
Way you chase that mercury
The lyrics of John Mark McMillan's song "Gods of American Success" speak to the cycle of materialism and the relentless pursuit of success that has taken over the American psyche. The opening lines, "White faced phantoms in a foggy rain, Minnows in the pool, the way they slip away" set a haunting tone that speaks to the fleeting nature of the things we chase after. The following lines, "And I go fumbling, go running in and repossess, The story of my youth, The story of my electric pains" reveal that the singer is reflecting on the mistakes and pain of their past, perhaps as a way of trying to understand their current path.
The chorus of the song asks the question, "Are we running after flickering sparks, oh? Are we babbling for diamonds in the dark, oh? The way we chase that mercury, The way we chase that mercury." The metaphor of chasing after mercury is used throughout the song to represent the emptiness and transience of the things we pursue in life. The second verse references the idea that we as humans are constantly searching for something more, but we are often held back by our own fear and insecurity. The song ends with the repeated chorus and the plea to find more meaning in life than just the pursuit of material wealth.
Line by Line Meaning
White faced phantoms in a foggy rain
Lost souls wandering in confusion and uncertainty
Minnows in the pool, the way they slip away
Ephemeral nature of life and how things can easily escape our grasp
And I go fumbling, go running in and repossess
Trying to regain control of something that has slipped away
The story of my youth
Reflecting on past experiences that have shaped one's identity
The story of my electric pains
The lingering effects of past traumas
Are we running after flickering sparks, oh
Chasing after fleeting pleasures and desires
Are we babbling for diamonds in the dark, oh
Pursuing wealth and status without really understanding why
The way we chase that mercury
The elusive and unstable nature of what we are seeking
Loud like lions in the slickest [?]
Making a lot of noise without really achieving much
Desperately we haunt the other animal
Trying to compete with others to prove our worth
But in the end if all we are
Realizing that our efforts may be futile
Is dogs out back, chasing cars
Chasing after something without fully understanding what we would do if we caught it
Then pray that we don't get the things we want
Considering the consequences of our desires
Love, a pound of flesh
The sacrifices we make for our goals
Offer it up to the gods of American success
Worshipping material possessions and societal expectations
Doesn't matter what you are, you're only second best
Feeling like we are inferior if we do not achieve a certain level of success
If it's all that you can ever hope to be
Feeling limited by society's narrow standards of success
The way you chase that mercury, oh
The endless pursuit of a fleeting and uncertain goal
[?] fumble in the mystery
Feeling lost in the unknown and unsure of how to proceed
Afraid to be, it smells while we pretend to be
Being afraid to be our true selves and putting on a facade to fit in
Something more than what we are
Striving for something that may not align with our true selves
Losing love a bunch run hearts
Losing sight of what truly matters in life
Mystified by everything we see
Feeling overwhelmed and confused by the world around us
There must be more to this
Questioning the validity and meaning of societal expectations
Our desperate wonder and
The intense longing and questioning of our purpose
How do we put to rest
How to find peace and contentment in our lives
All of our victims and
The consequences of the societal pressures to succeed
Beneath the shadows of
Underneath the surface of society's expectations
All that we think we want
Realizing that what we thought we wanted may not align with our true selves
These sterile eyes, we can't see
Being blinded by societal expectations and external pressures
Contributed by Taylor L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.