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.
Push the Eagle's Stomach
Man Man Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't wanna know your name (bad vice cops)
I don't wanna know your name (the prescription doesn't scan)
We start shrinking
When we hit that grill you know we will
Don't beat around the black jack night
Don't beat around the black jack night
Don't beat around the black jack night
(My brain hurts, you're own your own from here)
The lyrics of Man Man's song Push the Eagle's Stomach in are highly metaphorical and open to personal interpretation. The repetition of "I don't wanna know your name" suggests a resistance to identifying with certain societal expectations, expectations that might be debilitating or limiting. The use of the fragmented phrases "my vice grips," "bad vice cops," and "the prescription doesn't scan" hint at feelings of being controlled or limited by external forces, with the imagery of the shrinking suggesting a loss of power or vitality.
The lines "When we hit that grill you know we will" might refer to a moment of self-destructive behavior, a loss of restraint or control that results in negativity or damage. The chant-like repetition of "Don't beat around the black jack night" might encourage a listener to take direct, decisive action and avoid hesitation or doubt. The final line, "My brain hurts, you're own your own from here," suggests a moment of frustration or overwhelming emotion, with the sense that the listener is left to navigate their own path.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't wanna know your name (my vice grips)
I am indifferent to your identity and prefer to hold onto my own desires without getting entangled in yours.
I don't wanna know your name (bad vice cops)
I am feeling reclusive and distrustful, possibly due to negative experiences with law enforcement and authority figures in the past.
I don't wanna know your name (the prescription doesn't scan)
I am resistant to following conventional rules and regulations, and prefer to operate outside of them when possible.
We start shrinking
As we get older and experience more stress and hardship, our natural resilience and optimism begin to diminish.
When we hit that grill you know we will
Inevitable challenges and obstacles will wear us down and test our resilience, but we will keep going regardless.
Don't beat around the black jack night
I am tired of wasting time and effort on fruitless endeavors, and would rather focus on what truly matters in life.
Don't beat around the black jack night
I am urging others to be direct and honest with me, and not to hide things or play games.
Don't beat around the black jack night
I am emphasizing the importance of cutting through distractions and focusing on the task at hand in order to achieve success.
Don't beat around the black jack night
I am expressing frustration with people who are indecisive or uncommitted, and urging them to take action and make a choice.
(My brain hurts, you're own your own from here)
I am acknowledging the difficulty inherent in these complex and abstract thoughts, and suggesting that the listener must interpret them for themselves.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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