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.
Trunk Eyes
Man Man Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Makes me want to exhume the madness
That flits between our lips like dynamite
And a moistened wick so
You feel like a firefly
Whose lamp's unlit
The bed, the sweat, the dawns of the past,
the taste of the small of an old lover's laugh so
You bust your bank try to build a better
bang for your buck, DNA to out distance
the tethers that you're tied to
the family lines that will hang you out to dry
and you wonder why
our hearts are such hungry beasts
the harder we starve them the more all-consuming
and I understand they'll never find the love that they need
so we try to run 'em into the ground
as I watch her unpack her hair
like stacks of black pyramids
so I smile like a crack in a dam or
a condemned chair to electric man so
(she wants stability)
what's that I can't hear you?
(she wants stability)
so I'll go and buy her a pony
(she wants stability)
I'll lay my head on a goddamn platter
(she wants stability)
but in the end, it doesn't really matter 'cause
our hearts are such hungry beasts
the harder we starve them the more all-consuming
and I understand they'll never find the love that they need
so we try to run 'em into the...
our heads are bottled up by the most heathen thoughts
our bodies hang in limbo of what we need and what we want
she's a cutter but I love her just the same
undercover but I never learned her real name
(x2)she's a gutter but I love her just the same
undercover but I never learned her real name
(I'm an old man, I'm only getting older, the world gets younger as I push boulders)
The lyrics of Man Man's song Trunk Eyes evoke a sense of desperation and craving for love and affection. The singer is mesmerized by the movements of a woman in a room, and feels a connection with the madness that flits between their lips like dynamite. The imagery of a firefly whose lamp is unlit and smothered by the bed, sweat, and memories of past love affairs adds a layer of melancholy to the song. The singer understands that hearts are like hungry beasts, and the harder they are denied love, the more all-consuming the hunger becomes. Despite his attempts to provide stability and fulfill his partner's desires, he realizes that love is elusive and cannot be forced.
The lyrics of Trunk Eyes are characterized by vivid and unconventional imagery that might be difficult to interpret at first. The black pyramids that the woman unpacks from her hair might be a metaphor for her past experiences or her enigmatic personality. The line "I smile like a crack in a dam or a condemned chair to electric man" is similarly obscure but suggests a sense of tension and instability. The repeated phrases "she's a cutter but I love her just the same" and "undercover but I never learned her real name" create a sense of intrigue and mystery surrounding the woman.
Overall, Trunk Eyes is a haunting and evocative song that speaks to the challenges of finding love and fulfillment in a chaotic and unpredictable world.
Line by Line Meaning
The way that she cuts through a room
Her presence is commanding and captivating
Makes me want to exhume the madness
It invokes a deep, intense desire to feel the same level of passion and intensity as before
That flits between our lips like dynamite
The intense chemistry that exists between them is powerful and explosive
And a moistened wick so
They are on the brink of unleashing their passions
You feel like a firefly
The thrill of being alive and the excitement of what could happen next
Whose lamp's unlit
But lacking the spark to set things in motion
And smothered by
Repressed by
The bed, the sweat, the dawns of the past,
The memories and regrets that continue to haunt them
the taste of the small of an old lover's laugh so
The lingering impact of past relationships
You bust your bank try to build a better
Desperately trying to escape the limitations imposed upon them
bang for your buck, DNA to out distance
Investing in better opportunities and striving for a superior genetic legacy
the tethers that you're tied to
The constraints and obligations they are burdened with
the family lines that will hang you out to dry
The expectations they must fulfill, even at the cost of their own desires
and you wonder why
They're conflicted and questioning the way things are
our hearts are such hungry beasts
They have insatiable appetites for love and passion
the harder we starve them the more all-consuming
The more they deny themselves, the stronger the urge to indulge
and I understand they'll never find the love that they need
Love is often elusive and difficult to find
so we try to run 'em into the ground
They push themselves to the limit and beyond, hoping to satisfy their cravings
as I watch her unpack her hair
Observing her in all her glory
like stacks of black pyramids
Her hair is striking and mysterious
so I smile like a crack in a dam or
My feelings are overwhelming, like water breaking through a dam
a condemned chair to electric man so
I feel trapped and powerless to resist her charms
(she wants stability)
She desires security and certainty
what's that I can't hear you?
I'm ignoring her request for stability
(she wants stability)
She emphasizes her need for stability
so I'll go and buy her a pony
I'll try to satisfy her wishes
(she wants stability)
Her need for stability persists
I'll lay my head on a goddamn platter
I'll do whatever it takes to please her
(she wants stability)
Her request for stability is unrelenting
but in the end, it doesn't really matter 'cause
Despite my efforts, her need for stability may not be fully satisfied
our heads are bottled up by the most heathen thoughts
We are conflicted and plagued by base, primal desires
our bodies hang in limbo of what we need and what we want
Our physical urges and emotional desires are at odds with each other
she's a cutter but I love her just the same
She has flaws, but I accept and love her for who she is
undercover but I never learned her real name
She is mysterious and enigmatic, and I am fascinated by her
(x2)she's a gutter but I love her just the same
She may come from humble origins, but I love her for who she is
undercover but I never learned her real name
Despite our intimacy, there is still much about her that I do not know
(I'm an old man, I'm only getting older, the world gets younger as I push boulders)
I'm aging, but the world around me remains youthful and full of energy. I feel like I am stuck in a never-ending struggle
Contributed by Isabelle L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.