Ashtray Petting Zoo
Joyce Manor Lyrics

The opening lines of Joyce Manor’s “Ashtray Petting Zoo” set the tone for the entire song. The singer is disillusioned and trapped in a cycle of self-harm and regret. The line "I walked in to find what's worse than worst of all time" suggests the singer entered a situation with low expectations but found something even worse than they anticipated. They "walked out to see exactly what I expected to see," meaning they had a preconceived idea of what they would encounter in this situation. The person they were looking for is there, but they are in a horrible state. The line "horrible fingers ran right through your hair" paints a vivid image of someone in a state of disarray, with the added detail of "scabs on everything" indicating self-harm, perhaps from constant picking or scratching.

The refrain, "Oh, God bless you, ashtray petting zoo," is a bit confusing at first but becomes clearer in the context of the rest of the song. The ashtray petting zoo is a metaphor for the singer's life - full of self-destructive habits and meaningless activities. The "petting zoo" element implies a certain level of detachment from reality, as if the singer is observing their life from a distance or in a surreal state of mind. The repeated refrain suggests a sort of ironic resignation - the singer knows their life is a mess, but they mockingly bless it anyway.

The second verse of the song seems to shift focus to a different person - perhaps a romantic interest. The singer is "sin to write the love song of your life," implying they are the downfall of this person's romantic hopes. They realize they have made a mistake by getting involved with this person ("I walked out to regret it") and warn that "he will rot there if you let him." The mention of "money riding on your decomposure" adds an interesting layer - perhaps the singer is part of a wager or bet about the outcome of this relationship. The final lines of the song ("nothing but reasons to go for a ride...") seem to imply that despite all the chaos and pain, there is still some desire to keep going and see what happens next.

Overall, "Ashtray Petting Zoo" is a bleak and introspective song about someone caught up in a cycle of self-destructive behavior and regret. The metaphor of the "ashtray petting zoo" adds a surreal and almost humorous element to the lyrics, but ultimately just underscores the tragedy and futility of the singer's situation.