Band members:
Andrew VanWyngarden (lead vocals, guitar, keyboards, drums)
Ben Goldwasser (keyboards, vocals, guitar)
Matthew Asti (bass, keyboards)
James Richardson (guitar, vocals)
Hank Sullivant (guitar, keyboards)
Will Berman (drums)
You can learn more about MGMT, browse photos, and see the tour schedule at the Official Website.
It
MGMT Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So I can see your faces
The eyes are wrong
How will I know if it's working right?
Light confuses
The tiny isles of bruises
I see the signs of aging
But if I try to feel at all I am deceived
My mind's affected
It's empty now
As I lay down
I feel alright
My heart is racing
Turn the noise on
I'd like to feed my poison
Assembly lines
Carry a velvet warning
To the yard
It's just like striking matches
The polish lies
But it's working in your blood
Which you know is not the same as love
Love is only in your mind
And not your heart
No, it's working
It's working in your blood
Which you know is not the same as love
Love is only in your mind and not your heart
It's working in your blood
Which you know is not the same as love
Love is only in your mind and not your heart
It's working in your blood
Which you know is not the same as love
Love is only in your mind and not your heart
The lyrics of MGMT's song "It" are cryptic and open to multiple interpretations. The first verse seems to be an invitation from the singer to the listener to focus on him/her so that he can see the expressions on the listener's face. However, the next line "The eyes are wrong" hints at the flaws or the disconnectedness in the communication between the two. The next line "How will I know if it's working right?" suggests uncertainty in the singer's mind about the effectiveness of the interaction. In the second verse, "light" is said to confuse "the tiny isles of bruises" and "mangled lines" suggesting distorted perceptions or feelings of the singer. He "tries to feel" but is "deceived" indicating some kind of detachment or confusion.
The third verse seems to suggest a desire to drown the confusion in some kind of addiction or activity. The singer wants to "feed his poison", and "Turn the noise on". The singer is aware that the "polish lies" indicating that the external beauty could be deceiving. In the final verse, the singer concludes that some kind of change or transformation is happening, but it's not love. The singer says, "It's working in your blood, which you know is not the same as love. Love is only in your mind and not your heart." The conclusion seems to be that whatever is happening is not based on deep emotions, but perhaps on something superficial or physically induced.
Line by Line Meaning
Here, you focus
Direct your attention, please
So I can see your faces
I need to observe you
The eyes are wrong
Something seems off
How will I know if it's working right?
I need to be certain of success
Light confuses
Brightness can distort
The tiny isles of bruises
Small injuries scatter
The mangled lines
Twisted marks are visible
I see the signs of aging
I notice indications of getting old
But if I try to feel at all I am deceived
Attempting emotions leads to deception
My mind's affected
Mental state is altered
It's empty now
Thoughts are vacant
As I lay down
While I recline
I feel alright
I am content
My heart is racing
Pulse is rapid
Turn the noise on
Activate the sound
I'd like to feed my poison
I want to indulge in my toxin
Assembly lines
Mass production
Carry a velvet warning
Alert subtly
To the yard
Outdoors
It's just like striking matches
Similar to igniting flames
The polish lies
The smoothness is dishonest
But it's working in your blood
It is effective within your system
Which you know is not the same as love
It differs from genuine affection
Love is only in your mind
The feeling of love is a mental construct
And not your heart
It does not originate from the physical organ
No, it's working
Indeed, it is effective
It's working in your blood
It is successful within your system
Which you know is not the same as love
It differs from genuine affection
Love is only in your mind and not your heart
Emotions of love originate from the brain, not the physical organ
It's working in your blood
It is successful within your system
Which you know is not the same as love
It differs from genuine affection
Love is only in your mind and not your heart
Emotions of love originate from the brain, not the physical organ
Lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: ANDREW WELLS VANWYNGARDEN, BENJAMIN NICHOLAS HUNTER GOLDWASSER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@knittedgandhi4956
Syd was simply part of the exposure of One Vibrational Consciousness.
IΒ guess I'm c.20yrs older than you (Pulling Rank, SIRΒ ;). I spent my 'Youuuff' @ the Roundhouse and saw Syd, and shared a ciggie outside, many times with him, (& my mate, Pete Shotten's little brother,Β Dave, played tambourine on Hey JudeΒ at Abbey Road).
I unplugged many years ago... I am Syd. You are Syd. You are John L., I am John L..
We are ALL "One Vibrational Consciousness". You are MGMT. What's the Big deal.Β A child under 5yrs "dies" every 3 seconds of preventable poverty somewhere on what we/you call Planet Earth.
Wake up... It's all a charade!!
You are One Consciousness, formed at the moment of Creation (Scientific...not supernatural!). Enjoy the ride of momentary, depleting, bliss!!Β
Grasp this and, like Neo in The Matrix, you can FLY!!
You can...
Don't be bound! unplug from MSM and "TV".
Reality isΒ you!Β Trust me.
(n.b. My internet gets deleted 2x a week by UK Gov... Simply for exposing the charade (as above) )
Enjoy.... my limb. Enjoy. Truly let go and enjoy the eternal bliss of perpetual death, (&Β strive for good grammar).
@DeineMudda313313
Here, you focus
So I can see your faces
The eyes are wrong
How will I know if it's working right?
Light confuses
The tiny isles of bruises
The mangled lines
I see the signs of aging
But if I try to feel at all I am deceived
My mind's affected
It's empty now
As I lay down
I feel alright
My heart is racing
Turn the noise on
I'd like to feed my poison
Assembly lines
Carry a velvet warning
To the yard
It's just like striking matches
The polish lies
But it's working in your blood
Which you know is not the same as love
Love is only in your mind
And not your heart
No, it's working
It's working in your blood
Which you know is not the same as love
Love is only in your mind and not your heart
@Davidbasque15
When I first heard Congratulation I didn't really understand, I didn't really like it. Then after listening to it more and more I understood how good it was. It's a very good album, it has it's own style and the songs are all so refreshing.
@byron2521
As an old dude that grew up in the 70s and 80s, I still love a lot of 21st cent. bands. MGMT is one I have liked for years. Just here to say this should not shock the young millennials, this song and many of their song have a retro-sound. This is very 60s psychedelic pop. When I hear songs like this, I can't help but think of early Pink Floyd (60s Syd Barrett days).
@isaacness2647
For some reason, i get a lot of beach boys vibes in this recording too.
@robertdominguez6002
according to Ben and Andrew, this song was inspired structure-wise by "See Emily Play"
@byron2521
I can see that. That is the particular Pink Floyd song it reminds me of.
@haikalfauzi_
- Joseph go find on your own
@knittedgandhi4956
Syd was simply part of the exposure of One Vibrational Consciousness.
IΒ guess I'm c.20yrs older than you (Pulling Rank, SIRΒ ;). I spent my 'Youuuff' @ the Roundhouse and saw Syd, and shared a ciggie outside, many times with him, (& my mate, Pete Shotten's little brother,Β Dave, played tambourine on Hey JudeΒ at Abbey Road).
I unplugged many years ago... I am Syd. You are Syd. You are John L., I am John L..
We are ALL "One Vibrational Consciousness". You are MGMT. What's the Big deal.Β A child under 5yrs "dies" every 3 seconds of preventable poverty somewhere on what we/you call Planet Earth.
Wake up... It's all a charade!!
You are One Consciousness, formed at the moment of Creation (Scientific...not supernatural!). Enjoy the ride of momentary, depleting, bliss!!Β
Grasp this and, like Neo in The Matrix, you can FLY!!
You can...
Don't be bound! unplug from MSM and "TV".
Reality isΒ you!Β Trust me.
(n.b. My internet gets deleted 2x a week by UK Gov... Simply for exposing the charade (as above) )
Enjoy.... my limb. Enjoy. Truly let go and enjoy the eternal bliss of perpetual death, (&Β strive for good grammar).
@Guidonator181
"It's just like striking matches" is one of my favourite moments on this album, which, incidentally, is one of my favourite moments in music of all time.
@ongogablogian3178
If you're still alive and here with us my dude striking matches is very satisfying so I don't blame you for liking the lyric a lot
@starlitsky4156
You wound me ππ