The band has released five albums: "3/5" (1997), "The Cat and the Cobra" (1999), "Go Forth" (2001), "Let's Stay Friends" (2007) and "Root for Ruin" (2010). "Inches", a compilation of the non-album singles the band released between 1995 and 2004 was released in April 2004.
Raging In The Plague Age
Les Savy Fav Lyrics
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Deep inside my castle walls
Spend my nights with concubine
Wasted, unchaste, drunk on blood red wine
Being the king was pretty cool
I'd have to say that ruling ruled
And I'd be in throne still
Had I not one day fallen ill
I spit and I coughed
My vision went soft too
And my chest got tight
My court, they surrounded me
They gagged and bounded me
And threw me out into the night
Out in the mud I sadly sighed
The waiting crowd laid and died
There came a noise boisterous
From down in the cloisters
And I heard them call the cry;
"Draw up the drawbridge, draw down the blinds
Everyone inside is getting high tonight
Waiting for the plague to move on
No one's getting sober till the liquors all gone"
The bra in the candelabra, the panties on the paintings,
the Monks have tapped their finest cask,
and the Nuns are into fainting. They sing,
I hold my breath, you hit my chest
I hold my breath, you hit my chest
I hold my breath, you hit my chest
I hold my breath, you hit my chest
You stumble from the arms of the one
What made you, didn't you?
Fumble to the palms of the one
What pays you, didn't you?
Stumble from the arms of the one
What made you, didn't you?
Fumble to the palms of the one
What pays you, didn't you?
In Les Savy Fav's song, "Raging In The Plague Age," the lyrics depict a fallen monarch reminiscing about his past life of luxury and excess. He used to be a powerful king, residing within his castle walls, but after falling ill and being cast out into the streets, he is left to contemplate his newfound mortality. Meanwhile, the rest of society is plagued by a disease that is causing havoc and chaos, and they have resorted to indulging in an unrestrained party.
The lyrics are filled with metaphors and imagery that point toward the sense of impending doom that surrounds the song. The monarch's illness is seen as a metaphor for his loss of power and status, while the disease ravaging the populace is a metaphor for a larger societal decay. The partying and indulging in the face of death can also be seen as a metaphor for how people indulge in their vices when faced with despair.
One of the most interesting aspects of the song is the use of historical imagery and allusions. The reference to the plague and the use of medieval settings all point towards a wider commentary on the state of society. The song critiques the decadent lifestyle of monarchs and lords, while also highlighting the plight of the common people in the face of disease and death.
Line by Line Meaning
I used to hold the biggest balls
I used to have a lot of power and control
Deep inside my castle walls
My power was confined to within the walls of my castle
Spend my nights with concubine
I spent my nights with my mistresses
Wasted, unchaste, drunk on blood red wine
I was wasteful and unfaithful while indulging in wine
Being the king was pretty cool
I enjoyed being the king
I'd have to say that ruling ruled
I think ruling was the best thing ever
And I'd be in throne still
I would still be the king if not for my current situation
Had I not one day fallen ill
If I hadn't gotten sick, I would be continuing my reign
I spit and I coughed
I was physically ill
My vision went soft too
I had difficulty seeing
And my chest got tight
My chest felt constricted
My court, they surrounded me
The members of my court enclosed me
They gagged and bounded me
They restrained and silenced me
And threw me out into the night
They expelled me from the castle
Out in the mud I sadly sighed
I was outside in the dirt, feeling regretful
The waiting crowd laid and died
People were waiting and then dying from the plague
There came a noise boisterous
There was a loud and lively sound
From down in the cloisters
The sound came from a secluded area
And I heard them call the cry;
I heard their rallying call
"Draw up the drawbridge, draw down the blinds
Shut ourselves in and block out the outside world
Everyone inside is getting high tonight
We're going to indulge in pleasure tonight
Waiting for the plague to move on
We're waiting for the epidemic to pass
No one's getting sober till the liquors all gone"
We'll stay drunk until we run out of alcohol
The bra in the candelabra, the panties on the paintings,
There were sexual items in unexpected places
the Monks have tapped their finest cask,
Even the monks are indulging
and the Nuns are into fainting.
Even the nuns are indulging and losing consciousness
They sing,
They are singing a song
I hold my breath, you hit my chest
I am tense and expectant of something happening
You stumble from the arms of the one
You leave the embrace of your lover
What made you, didn't you?
What was attractive to you was not permanent
Fumble to the palms of the one
You are now in someone else's embrace in a clumsy way
What pays you, didn't you?
What you thought was beneficial didn't last
Stumble from the arms of the one
You leave that embrace again
What made you, didn't you?
What attracted you is no more
Fumble to the palms of the one
You are now held by someone new in a hasty manner
What pays you, didn't you?
What seemed to be advantageous to you has ended
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: HARRISON HAYNES, SETH JABOUR, SYD BUTLER, TIM HARRINGTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind