We
Kathleen Brennan/Tom Waits Lyrics
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Let the crows pick me clean but for my hat
Where the wailing of a baby
Meets the footsteps of the dead
We're all mad here
As the devil sticks his flag into the mud
Mrs Carol has run off with Reverend Judd
Hell is such a lonely place
And you'll die with the rose still on your lips
And in time the heart-shaped bone that was your hips
And the worms, they will climb the rugged ladder of your spine
We're all mad here
And my eyeballs roll this terrible terrain
And we're all inside a decomposing train
And your eyes will die like fish
And the shore of your face will turn to bone
The lyrics of "We" by Kathleen Brennan and Tom Waits paint a vivid picture of death and decay. The song begins with the image of being "hung in a bottle like a cat" and left for the crows to pick clean. This morbid description sets the tone for the rest of the song, which is steeped in dark imagery and a sense of madness. The line "where the wailing of a baby meets the footsteps of the dead" further illustrates the juxtaposition of life and death, innocence and corruption. The chorus, "we're all mad here," reinforces the idea that the world the song describes is one of madness and decay.
The second verse introduces more characters to the song's narrative, with Mrs. Carol running off with Reverend Judd and the devil planting his flag in the mud. The line "hell is such a lonely place and your big expensive face will never last" speaks to the idea that wealth and status are ultimately meaningless in the face of death. The final verse describes the physical decay of the body, with images of worms climbing up the spine and the shore of the face turning to bone.
Overall, "We" is a dark and haunting song that explores themes of decay, madness, and mortality. The lyrics are rich in vivid imagery and serve to paint a vivid picture of a world that is both beautiful and terrifying.
Line by Line Meaning
You can hang me in a bottle like a cat
You can trap me and keep me like a lifeless creature
Let the crows pick me clean but for my hat
Let the scavengers strip my flesh away, except for my headgear
Where the wailing of a baby
In a place where an infant's cries signify birth or loss
Meets the footsteps of the dead
Where the memories of the living are intersecting with the legacy of the departed
We're all mad here
We are all crazy, living in a world with confusing thoughts and emotions
As the devil sticks his flag into the mud
As the evil one revels in his power and triumph over goodness
Mrs Carol has run off with Reverend Judd
A story about an unexpected incident of betrayal and infidelity
Hell is such a lonely place
A metaphorical place of despair and agony where one is all alone
And your big expensive face will never last
The facade of luxury and beauty will eventually fade away
And you'll die with the rose still on your lips
Even in death, you will retain some semblance of beauty or passion
And in time the heart-shaped bone that was your hips
Even the most essential parts of you will be reduced to bone
And the worms, they will climb the rugged ladder of your spine
Eventually, nature will reclaim your body and everything inside it
And my eyeballs roll this terrible terrain
One's mind and emotions are in chaos and confusion
And we're all inside a decomposing train
All of humanity is endlessly moving towards death, decay, and oblivion
And your eyes will die like fish
One's eyes will lose their vitality, like the eyes of a dead fish
And the shore of your face will turn to bone
Even the most recognizable, human parts of you will eventually wither away
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KATHLEEN BRENNAN, THOMAS ALAN WAITS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind