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.
Mayan Nights
Man Man Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like it's the end of times
Gilded Mayans descend from heaven
Desires in their eye
They raze the landscape, I'll raise a toast
While wasted in strange arms(?)
No back-alley lobotomy
Could tear me away from you
Oh I can feel it from my head to my toes
The man I was, you once loved, is almost a ghost
I feel it, from my bones to my marrow
The man I was, you once loved, is almost a shadow
(quiet!)
We used to drink to make trouble and fun
But now we drink to forget our troubles
And everybody needs somebody
To shovel their hurt on
Logistics say you burn all your bridges
The savages stop attacking your village
What's the point, what's the purpose
When you're left with a life that's pillaged
And I, I can feel it
The man I was, you once loved, is almost gone
And I, I can't deal with it
The man I was was weak, but now I'm strong
And I, I can't live through this
The man i was was lost, but now I'm...
...doomed!
In Man Man's song Mayan Nights, the lyrics describe a character who lives in a hedonistic lifestyle, constantly living for the party and indulging in his vices. He compares himself to the Mayans, who were known for their gold and luxury, descending from heaven to satisfy their desires. Despite the destructive nature of this lifestyle, the singer revels in it, raising a toast even in the midst of chaos. He acknowledges that he has disassociated himself from the person he used to be, feeling like a ghost or shadow of his former self.
The quiet section of the song reveals a shift in tone, where the drinking is no longer fun but a means of coping with pain. The singer highlights the importance of human connection, but also the burden of each other's problems, with the need for someone to shovel their hurt on. The song then takes on a hopeless tone, where the logistics of one's life may seem bleak, leaving one with a life that is pillaged. The singer reflects on the person he once was and the person he has become, acknowledging that he is almost gone. Yet, he resolves to change and be stronger, declaring that he cannot live through this and is "doomed".
Overall, "Mayan Nights" is a poignant commentary on the destructive nature of living for pleasure and the importance of finding meaningful connections in life.
Line by Line Meaning
And every night he needs to party
He has a constant need to indulge in wild parties, as if it's the end of the world.
Like it's the end of times
His partying habits reflect his belief that the world is ending.
Gilded Mayans descend from heaven
He imagines the arrival of opulent Mayans from heaven, coming to join his party.
Desires in their eye
The Mayans have a certain lustful desire in their gaze.
They raze the landscape, I'll raise a toast
As the Mayans wreak chaos, he'll raise a glass to celebrate the destruction.
While wasted in strange arms(?)
As he drinks and parties, he may end up with unfamiliar partners.
No back-alley lobotomy
Nothing can separate him from his current lover, not even a potentially dangerous surgical procedure.
Could tear me away from you
He is metaphorically enslaved to his lover, refusing to let go even if it means being lobotomized.
Oh I can feel it from my head to my toes
He senses a change happening in him, starting from his head down to his toes.
The man I was, you once loved, is almost a ghost
He feels like he's losing the person he used to be, the one his lover fell in love with.
I feel it, from my bones to my marrow
The change he's undergoing is felt deeply, from his bones to his marrow.
The man I was, you once loved, is almost a shadow
He's almost unrecognizable to his lover, the man she once loved now just a fleeting shadow of his former self.
(quiet!)
The music fades and the scene changes.
We used to drink to make trouble and fun
They used to drink to intentionally cause problems and have fun doing it.
But now we drink to forget our troubles
Their drinking habits have changed from being intentionally reckless to a means of escaping their personal problems.
And everybody needs somebody
Everyone needs someone to confide in and share their problems with.
To shovel their hurt on
They need someone to help them deal with their emotional pain and trauma.
Logistics say you burn all your bridges
Practicality suggests that he should cut ties with everything and everyone he knows.
The savages stop attacking your village
Once he's cut ties with everyone, he'll be free from harm caused by those who used to attack him.
What's the point, what's the purpose
He questions the significance and meaning of his life.
When you're left with a life that's pillaged
After everything he's been through, he's left with a life that's been invaded and destroyed.
And I, I can feel it
He senses that he's changing and evolving.
The man I was, you once loved, is almost gone
The person he used to be, the one his lover once loved, is disappearing fast.
And I, I can't deal with it
He's struggling to cope with the changes he's undergoing.
The man I was was weak, but now I'm strong
The person he used to be was vulnerable, but now he's more resilient than ever before.
And I, I can't live through this
He's not sure if he can survive the changes he's experiencing.
The man i was was lost, but now I'm...
The person he used to be was aimless and misguided, but he's on a path to becoming something else.
...doomed!
He's uncertain about what his future holds and is fearful that he's destined for something unpleasant or unfortunate.
Contributed by Isaac L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.