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.
Rabbit Habits
Man Man Lyrics
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That the end was coming soon
And your eyes shine like Oppenheimer's
As he talks about the boom
And he don't even taste the food he eats anymore
And there's a space in place of where his heart was before
And he don't even taste the food he eats anymore
And she don't wanna dine alone
And he don't wanna die alone
And she wants to live to eat
Don't you dare say that you weren't warned
That the end was coming soon
And your eyes shine Enola Gay-like
As you see the light of day
And he don't even taste the food he eats anymore
And there's a space in place of where his heart was before
And he don't even taste the food he eats anymore
And he don't wanna dine alone
And she don't wanna die alone
And he wants to eat to live
You're an elegant little pelican
And all your sorrows are stacked
Amongst your nest of friends
And over time, defined by how you carry on
And all of the torch songs you keep inside
And all of the songs that hang in the night
Even after you're gone
The song "Rabbit Habits" by Man Man depicts the downfall of a relationship with a focus on the lack of emotional connection between the two individuals. The repeated line "Don't you dare say that you weren't warned that the end was coming soon," acts as a warning to both parties that the relationship is on the verge of ending. The lyrics also suggest that the two individuals may be disconnected from each other, as the male character "don't even taste the food he eats anymore" and has "a space in place of where his heart was before."
The female character "don't wanna dine alone," and the male character "don't wanna die alone." These lines illustrate the fear of being alone and the desire to find a connection with someone. They both have desires, but their desires are different, and it is what is causing a divide in their relationship. Furthermore, the lines "And he wants to eat to live" and "And she wants to live to eat" can be interpreted as a metaphor for their different priorities in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't you dare say that you weren't warned
You were cautioned about the inevitable end that was fast approaching
That the end was coming soon
It was a matter of time before everything came to an end
And your eyes shine like Oppenheimer's
Your eyes glitter with fascination and awe like Oppenheimer's when he spoke about the bomb
As he talks about the boom
As he discusses the explosion that is upcoming
And he don't even taste the food he eats anymore
He has lost his appetite for life and the things that once brought him joy
And there's a space in place of where his heart was before
There's an emptiness within him where love and compassion once thrived
And she don't wanna dine alone
She doesn't want to live a lonely life without someone to share it with
And he don't wanna die alone
He fears the thought of dying alone and without anyone by his side
And she wants to live to eat
She desires to enjoy life to the fullest; indulging in all the little things that make it worth living
And your eyes shine Enola Gay-like
Your eyes sparkle with an eerie glow - similar to the Enola Gay aircraft that carried the atomic bomb
As you see the light of day
As you witness the events that unfold before you, even if it's not always pleasant
You're an elegant little pelican
You're a beautiful and graceful creature, much like a pelican
And all your sorrows are stacked
Your woes and heartaches are piled on top of each other without any respite
Amongst your nest of friends
Surrounded by acquaintances, but still feeling alone in the world
And over time, defined by how you carry on
Time is measured by how you deal with the struggles in life
And all of the torch songs you keep inside
All of the emotional songs that you hold deep within your soul, never sharing them with anyone else
And all of the songs that hang in the night
All of the melodies and lyrics that linger in the air long after they are sung
Even after you're gone
These songs and memories will live on even when you're no longer present
Contributed by Asher G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.