Their style has been compared to a mixture of Tom Waits, Frank Zappa, and Captain Beefheart. Man Man is known for their distinctive live shows where the members of the band dress in white tennis outfits and don war paint. During their sets the band does not take breaks between songs in order to keep a constant energy level.
Man Man has released two LPs with Ace Fu Records: The Man in the Blue Turban With a Face (2004) and Six Demon Bag (2006). In November 2007 they signed with Anti- to release Rabbit Habits (2008). Their second Anti- release is titled Life Fantastic and was released in 2011.
Black Mission Goggles
Man Man Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
sock of cocaine in the
ministry of information
subway train's derailing
heads decapitating
catch her reflection and it seems to sing to me
lalalala lalalala lalalala lalalalala
she's a warm bodega
high on noreaga
strung out in brooklyn like it's 1983
she wears her legs around her
neck like a piece of ice
her smile's a neon marque hipsters eat for free
and i say lalalala lalalala lalalala lalalalala
lalalala lalalala lalalala lalalalala
i am falling like a
sock of cocaine in the
ministry of information
i'm a warm bodega
high on noreaga
strung out in brooklyn cause i fell in love with her
and i say lalalala lalalala lalalala lalalalala
lalalala lalalala lalalala lalalalala
moon cut moon cuts tiny like eyelash
lonely cat nap whisper lonely cat nap whisper
moon cut moon cuts tiny like eyelash
lonely cat nap whisper lonely cat nap whisper
and i walk around i whisper in her scalp
i whisper on the wind i whisper once again
The lyrics of Man Man's "Black Mission Goggles" are cryptic and full of vivid imagery that paints a picture of a chaotic and bleak urban world. The opening line, "the sky is falling like a sock of cocaine in the ministry of information" sets the tone for the song, introducing the idea of a world that is unstable and unpredictable. The metaphorical comparison of the falling sky to a sock of cocaine suggests a world that is addicted to chaos and destruction.
Throughout the song, there are references to violence, such as subway trains derailing and heads decapitating, further emphasizing the sense of danger and instability. However, amidst this chaos, there is also a sense of beauty and attraction, as the singer describes a woman who is "high on noreaga" and "strung out in Brooklyn like it's 1983," wearing her "legs around her neck like a piece of ice." The image of the woman's legs around her neck is both sensual and unsettling, suggesting a kind of self-destructive behavior.
Line by Line Meaning
the sky is falling like a
sock of cocaine in the
ministry of information
The situation is deteriorating rapidly and uncontrollably, like the spread of illegal drugs in a highly regulated government institution.
subway train's derailing
heads decapitating
catch her reflection and it seems to sing to me
There is chaos all around, with gruesome injuries and death, but the singer is entranced by a woman who appears to be singing in the midst of the chaos.
and i say lalalala lalalala lalalala lalalalala
lalalala lalalala lalalala lalalalala
The singer is caught up in the moment and can only express himself through nonsensical sounds.
she's a warm bodega
high on noreaga
strung out in brooklyn like it's 1983
The woman the artist is obsessed with is like a small, cozy store, heavily influenced by a famous rapper, and stuck in a time when things were simpler.
she wears her legs around her
neck like a piece of ice
her smile's a neon marque hipsters eat for free
The woman's fashion choices are strange and icy, but her vibrant smile makes her popular with the trendy young people in the area.
i am falling like a
sock of cocaine in the
ministry of information
The singer feels out of control and overwhelmed by the situation, much like the imagery used earlier in the song.
i'm a warm bodega
high on noreaga
strung out in brooklyn cause i fell in love with her
The singer is so infatuated with the woman that he sees himself as part of the environment she inhabits, influenced by the same cultural touchstones and chemicals.
moon cut moon cuts tiny like eyelash
lonely cat nap whisper lonely cat nap whisper
moon cut moon cuts tiny like eyelash
lonely cat nap whisper lonely cat nap whisper
This surreal and repetitive verse seems to convey a sense of drifting or dreaming, disconnected from reality.
and i walk around i whisper in her scalp
i whisper on the wind i whisper once again
The artist is fixated on the woman to the point of delusion or obsession, imagining ways to communicate with her that are impossible in reality.
Contributed by Leo I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.