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.
Mystery Disease
MGMT Lyrics
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What slips into the system
A light touch, a whisper that puts you to sleep
Don't sympathize with the mystery disease
All it is is a feeling,
Pain in a dress too revealing,
A lost bond an old friend who likes what it sees
Lovers in a past life
Meet in the street close to midnight,
A last look sweet like the end of a dream,
Then fall back into the mystery disease
Go on, tell your symptoms to me
It's not in any of the books you can read
It's no fun to face what you don't get to be,
But what's one more to the mystery disease?
Floating impatience
Snuffs my limited sapience
Black smoke as soon as the pressure's released
Deep space sighs, the mystery disease
Consumed by a weakness
Cut with perpetual unrest
You see stars, sunsets blurred through a screen,
Trap what you want, waste what you need
And when the west wind sweeps through the leaves,
Emperors of history fall to their knees
Small fronds can't see the wood for the trees,
Left in the dust of the mystery disease
The lyrics of MGMT's song "Mystery Disease" speak of an affliction that overcomes the singer, causing him to feel distracted, consumed, and entranced. The verses describe the symptoms of this disease, which include a feeling of pain, fatigue, impatience, and perpetual unrest. The disease is described as a mystery, not recognized in any books or medical texts. Despite this, it is a condition that many seem to be afflicted with, as evidenced by other lost bonds and former lovers who have also fallen to the disease.
The lyrics are filled with haunting imagery, such as "black smoke as soon as the pressure's released," and "sunsets blurred through a screen." The chorus urges listeners not to sympathize with the disease, perhaps implying that it is something to be shaken off or avoided rather than indulged in. The final lines suggest a kind of futility in trying to understand this disease or other similar afflictions, as even emperors and those with great power must kneel before its power. The lyrics leave much to interpretation, but overall, the song seems to capture a sense of helplessness and confusion in the face of an insidious, nebulous illness.
Line by Line Meaning
It can't pay attention
The subject is unable to focus.
What slips into the system
Something has been allowed to enter unnoticed into the system.
A light touch, a whisper that puts you to sleep
It's something subtle and gentle that sedates the subject.
Don't sympathize with the mystery disease
The subject is encouraged not to identify or empathize with the disease.
All it is is a feeling
The disease is a subjective experience that cannot be proven.
Pain in a dress too revealing
The subject is exposed to a level of pain they cannot bear.
A lost bond an old friend who likes what it sees
An old friendship might still be present but lead to harm.
You can't shake off the mystery disease
The disease is difficult to eradicate, and its grip is strong.
Lovers in a past life
The song's about the reconnection of two former lovers.
Meet in the street close to midnight
The reunion happens late in the evening, in a public place.
A last look sweet like the end of a dream
The last moments together might be bittersweet.
Then fall back into the mystery disease
Despite the reunion, the disease still lingers on.
Go on, tell your symptoms to me
The singer invites the subject to share their symptoms.
It's not in any of the books you can read
The disease is unique and different from the written lore.
It's no fun to face what you don't get to be
The subject finds it challenging to be unable to live as they wish.
But what's one more to the mystery disease?
The presence of another subject with the same disease is not uncommon.
Floating impatience
There is a sense of restlessness accompanied by impatience.
Snuffs my limited sapience
The disease is undermining the subject's intellect.
Black smoke as soon as the pressure's released
The disease might cause anxiety which causes powerful feelings.
Deep space sighs, the mystery disease
The disease is vast, and its grasp is all-consuming.
Consumed by a weakness
The subject feels powerless and unable to act.
Cut with perpetual unrest
There is a never-ending sense of unease accompanying the disease.
You see stars, sunsets blurred through a screen
There is a distorted perception present with the disease.
Trap what you want, waste what you need
The disease causes confusion, leading the subject to act without reason.
And when the west wind sweeps through the leaves
An elemental force is going to impact on the subject's environment.
Emperors of history fall to their knees
All that experienced or powerful can be toppled by the disease.
Small fronds can't see the wood for the trees
The subject might miss the bigger picture or fail to recognize the root cause of the disease.
Left in the dust of the mystery disease
The disease might lead to social or physical isolation or ostracism.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: SANDY LINZER, BENJAMIN NICHOLAS HUNER GOLDWASSER, DAVEY JOHNSTONE, DENNY RANDELL, ANDREW WELLS VANWYNGARDEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind