Sullivant was a co-founder of the Whigs and is also a producer, having overseen the recording of albums by Gift Horse, WAGES, and Colour Revolt.
O'Connor is the principal songwriter/frontman of Simon Doom and a member of Spiral Heads.
I Was The Rat
Kuroma Lyrics
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They're laughin cuz it's so hard to see
I'm waiting
Waiting on a long, long year
We've got a little plan in this dream
You're about to enter something obscene
I'm waiting
Who could it be
Leading the scheme with his horrible eye?
Don't touch within, follow the kid, and allow the surprise
I was the Rat
Dawn screams in a billion degrees
My mama can't describe what she's seen
I'm waiting
Waiting on a long, long year
I died eleven nights in a row
God's laughing, he ain't stoppin the show
I'm waiting
Waiting on a long, long year
Who could it be
Leading the scheme with his horrible eye?
Don't touch within, follow the kid, and allow the surprise
I was the Rat
You are the rat
The lyrics of Kuroma's "I Was The Rat" seem to be describing a surreal, dreamlike experience. The opening lines describe dawn breaking in the Atlantic jet stream, indicating that the singer is in an unusual place that is difficult to see. They are waiting on a long, long year, which suggests a feeling of stagnation or waiting for something to happen.
The singer then sets up a plan or scheme with someone, but it is described as something obscene or disturbing. They are waiting for this plan to come to fruition, but it is unclear what exactly they are waiting for.
The chorus repeats the phrase "I was the rat," which is a curious statement that could have multiple interpretations. It could be a metaphor for feeling like an outcast or an animal, or perhaps it suggests that the singer was involved in something secretive or sneaky.
The rest of the lyrics continue in this dreamlike, surreal vein. The singer's mother witnesses something indescribable, and the singer, apparently, dies repeatedly for eleven nights in a row. The final lines of the chorus suggest that the listener, too, is a rat, though there is no clear indication of what this means.
Overall, the song seems to be exploring themes of secrecy, surreality, and a feeling of stagnant waiting. The repeated phrase "I was the rat" adds an unsettling edge to the lyrics, leaving the listener with a sense of ambiguity and unease.
Line by Line Meaning
Dawn breaks in Atlantic Jet Stream
It's early morning and the sun is rising in the Atlantic Jet Stream.
They're laughin cuz it's so hard to see
Others are laughing because it's difficult to see in the dim light.
I'm waiting
Waiting on a long, long year
The singer is waiting for something and it's been a year of waiting already.
We've got a little plan in this dream
You're about to enter something obscene
The singer's group has a plan in their dream and it's something disturbing.
Who could it be
Leading the scheme with his horrible eye?
Don't touch within, follow the kid, and allow the surprise
Someone with a disturbing appearance is leading the plan, and people should follow to be surprised at what happens.
I was the Rat
The singer was part of the plan, possibly in a deceitful or cunning way.
Dawn screams in a billion degrees
My mama can't describe what she's seen
The sun is very hot and bright, and the singer's mother is unable to describe what she's witnessed.
I died eleven nights in a row
God's laughing, he ain't stoppin the show
I'm waiting
Waiting on a long, long year
The singer has had multiple near-death experiences, but God seems to be amused and the waiting has been going on for a long time.
You are the rat
Directing towards the listener, telling them that they are the deceitful rat in the plan.
Contributed by Bailey D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.