Describing their music as a combination of “Funeral Pop” and “Dead Western”, MXMS made a vow to express their art as naked as it reads channeling artists like Johnny Cash, Nirvana, Serge Gainsbourg, Lush, Vast, and Enya.
Collaborating with designer Asher Levine for a “funeral” inspired fashion show for SS 2014, performing a series of shows at NYC’s immersive Sleep No More theatre, and playing LACMA’s (Los Angeles contemporary museum of modern art’s) annual Halloween Ball installation called “Haunted Screens” German 1920’s Cinema are just a few of the many events and performances MXMS has taken part of in efforts to jointly focus on music, fashion and cinema.
At the end of 2014, with a large collection of songs and a finished film script MXMS signed with boutique indie label Grand Jury Records. The music is earmarked for release early summer internationally via digital and vinyl with an accompanying tour.
“MXMS’s music frequently swells from lush yet painfully intimate lows to rousing and inspirational cinematic highs, demanding to be mined for a transformative film montage. The duo relishes straddling the fine line between light and dark–as well as navigating, and often deliberately disrupting, the fault line between their fierce desires to both shun industry norms, and to share their music with the world.” –Kurt McVey for Interview Magazine
Rx
MXMS Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Code three, room eight-thirty-six)
I don't sleep, and I won't
Get me down low, keep me down low
Get me down low, keep me down low
A demon sigh, she opens wide
(???????? Lithium, Adderall,???? without a doubt)
I show teeth, my dolls won't play with me
Get me down low, keep me down low
A girl in a cage, (?)
If I miss a pill, she says--
Kill, kill
Keep me down low, head goes on the shoulder
I'll try staying alive until I'm older
Spin the wheel of a chemical revolver
I put it all on black
Keep me down low, doctor said so
There's things in the past that I never let go
But I'm just a girl and I wanna go home
(Go home)
(Wanna lose weight? (?))
I watch TV, should I drink
Bleach?
Get me down low, keep me down low
Get me down low, keep me down low
Give me a shot, kickstart my heart
(???????? Lithium, Adderall,???? without a doubt)
A girl in a cage,?
If I miss a pill, she says
Kill
Keep me down low, head goes on the shoulder
I'll try staying alive until I'm older
Spin the wheel of a chemical revolver
I put it all on black
Keep me down low, doctor said so
There's things in the past that I never let go
But I'm just a girl and I wanna go home
Keep me down low, head goes on the shoulder
I'll try staying alive until I'm older
Spin the wheel of a chemical revolver
I put it all on black
Keep me down low, doctor said so
There's things in the past that I never let go
But I'm just a girl and I wanna go home
(Interlude)
Another knock on the wall
Keep walking down the hall
Another knock on the wall
Keep walking down the hall
(End)
The lyrics to MXMS's song "Rx" describe the experience of a person struggling with addiction and mental illness. The repeated code three, room eight-thirty-six suggests that the person is in a psychiatric hospital or treatment center. They are unable to sleep, a common symptom of anxiety and depression, and seem to be searching for ways to feel "down low," possibly through the use of drugs. There is a sense of desperation and longing for escape and comfort, as the person expresses the desire to "go home" and is haunted by a figurative "girl in a cage" who demands they take their medication or else face the consequences of relapse.
The use of chemical metaphors throughout the song ("spin the wheel of a chemical revolver," "give me a shot, kickstart my heart") underscores the idea that the person is at the mercy of their medication and addiction, and that their identity has become intertwined with their struggles. The repeated phrase "keep me down low" suggests a desire to avoid intense emotional experiences and a sense of helplessness in the face of their circumstances. Overall, the lyrics portray a complex and haunting picture of the challenges faced by those dealing with mental illness and addiction.
Line by Line Meaning
Code three, room eight-thirty-six
An emergency situation, likely in a hospital setting.
I don't sleep, and I won't
The singer is unable or unwilling to sleep.
Get me down low, keep me down low
The singer wants to be kept hidden or suppressed.
A demon sigh, she opens wide
Possibly a reference to addiction or a personal struggle; something negative that is all-consuming.
(???????? Lithium, Adderall,???? without a doubt)
Unspecified medication is mentioned, possibly related to mental health or managing symptoms.
I show teeth, my dolls won't play with me
The singer may be lashing out or feeling rejected by others.
A girl in a cage, (?)
Possibly a metaphorical allusion to feeling trapped or stuck.
If I miss a pill, she says-- Kill, kill
The artist's mental state may be fragile or unstable.
Keep me down low, head goes on the shoulder
The artist is seeking comfort and support from someone else.
I'll try staying alive until I'm older
The artist is struggling to cope but wants to survive and live longer.
Spin the wheel of a chemical revolver
Possibly a reference to experimenting with medication or other substances in an attempt to manage symptoms or cope with life.
I put it all on black
The artist is taking a risk and doesn't know how it will turn out.
Keep me down low, doctor said so
A medical professional has advised the singer to stay hidden or suppressed.
There's things in the past that I never let go
The singer is struggling with past traumas or regrets.
But I'm just a girl and I wanna go home
The singer is yearning for safety, comfort, and familiarity.
(Wanna lose weight? (?))
An advertisement or message aiming to sell a product or service.
I watch TV, should I drink bleach?
The artist is feeling hopeless or despairing, considering self-harm or suicide.
Give me a shot, kickstart my heart
The singer is in need of a burst of energy or motivation.
Another knock on the wall, keep walking down the hall
The singer is either confined to a specific space or is searching for something or someone.
Contributed by Micah R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@gralkorxero
(Code 3, room 836)
(Code 3, room 836)
(Code 3, room 836)
I don't sleep and I won't
Get me down low, keep me down low
Get me down low, keep me down low
A demon sigh, she opens wide
Thorazine, Remeron, Librium, Risperdal
Lithium, Mellaril, Lamacital, Halidol
I show teeth, my dolls won't play with me
Get me down low, keep me down low
Get me down low, keep me down low
A girl in a cage, a rat on a wheel
If I miss a pill, she says
Kill, kill
Get me down low, head goes on the shoulder
I'll try staying alive until I'm older
Spin the wheel of a chemical revolver
I put it all on black
Get me down low, doctor said so
There's things in the past that I never let go
But I'm just a girl and I wanna go home
(Go home)
You might also like
OMG
MXMS
Timebomb
MXMS
You’re Losing Me (From The Vault)
Taylor Swift
(Wanna lose weight [?])
I watch TV
Should I drink bleach?
Get me down low, keep me down low
Get me down low, keep me down low
Give me a shot, kick start my heart
Thorazine, Remeron, Librium, Risperdal
Lithium, Mellaril, Lamacital, Halidol
A girl in a cage, a rat on the wheel
If I miss a pill, she says
Kill
Get me down low, head goes on the shoulder
I'll try staying alive until I'm older
Spin the wheel of a chemical revolver
I put it all on black
Get me down low, doctor said so
There's things in the past that I never let go
But I'm just a girl and I wanna go home
(Go home)
Get me down low, head goes on the shoulder
I'll try staying alive until I'm older
Spin the wheel of a chemical revolver
I put it all on black
Get me down low, doctor said so
There's things in the past that I never let go
But I'm just a girl and I wanna go home
(Go wanna go home)
Another knock on the wall
Keep walking down the hall
Another knock on the wall
Keep walking down the hall
@LoneKharnivore
My favourite MXMS song.
@chrisadams628
"Spin the wheel of a chemical revolver" is such a powerful line
@Smallgot83
Is it
@xoloboy9093
I love this song, please put it on spotify <3
@grainofsand4176
It's on Spotify.
@YOU2pressDELETE
@@grainofsand4176 How do we find it? Because I sure can't find it :(
@orpheusly69
@@YOU2pressDELETE search it??
@katienoneofyourbusiness1048
This song makes me feel like I'm not alone.
@grainofsand4176
you aren"t
@xXEmbracetheMetalXx
You’re not alone