Based in Philadelphia, PA, Man Man is an experimental indie band that incor… Read Full Bio ↴Based in Philadelphia, PA, Man Man is an experimental indie band that incorporates Eastern European and circus-esque styles in their music, creating a unique sound. The band consists of Honus Honus (lead vocals, piano, percussion), Pow Pow (drums, auxiliary percussion), Critter Crat (aka Cougar) (guitar, trumpet, bass, marimba, vocals), Organ Freeman (synth, organ, accordion, vocals), and Chang Wang (alto sax, bari sax, vibraphone, melodica, flute, percussion, vocals).

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.

Zebra
Man Man Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

They said I'm worn thin from wasting to much time
On your sidelines waving a sign that says I will work
For you but they don't know your kiss to me is a hatchet through my chest
That sends me down a flight of stairs hitting every step

And I swear to God
It's not my fault this mask I wear
It's not my fault this gloom I bare

It's not my fault this mask I wear
It's not my fault this gloom I bare
It's not my fault this mask I wear
It's not my fault this gloom I bare

And they said I'm tired from waiting around for you
The reasons I start fires is that's what lost men do
Split dogs and hoof-in-mouth you are broken glass
Don't care if I cut myself I'll crash into the crash

You stung me bad, what can I do?
But leave the stinger in so I won't forget you
You stung me bad, what can I do?
But leave the stinger in so I won't forget you

Ahhhhh they said I'm wrong
Ahhhhh I know I'm wrong

Ahhhhh they said I'm wrong
Ahhhhh I was born wrong

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Zebra" by Man Man describe a tumultuous relationship that appears to be more painful than cathartic for the singer. The opening lines suggest that he has wasted a lot of time on this relationship, and that he has been cheering from the sidelines for far too long. However, he knows that his affections are not reciprocated, and that the kisses from his partner feel like a hatchet in his chest, causing him immense pain. The description of the "flight of stairs hitting every step" is a visceral portrayal of this pain, suggesting that his descent into sadness and depression is steep and painful.

The chorus of the song provides a clue to the source of the singer's pain. He seems to be wearing a mask of gloom and doom, suggesting that he is trying to hide his true emotions from the world - perhaps because he is ashamed of them. He repeats the phrase "it's not my fault" several times, which suggests that he is trying to avoid responsibility for his own negative emotions. However, he also acknowledges that he is carrying a burden of sorrow ("this gloom I bare"). This repeated refrain suggests that he is trapped in a cycle of pain and self-doubt, unable to escape the emotional prison that surrounds him.

The second half of "Zebra" describes the singer's emotional turmoil in more detail. He describes himself as a "lost man" who starts fires (presumably metaphorical ones) because he doesn't know what else to do. He also references self-harm ("Don't care if I cut myself") as a way of expressing his pain. The final lines of the song seem to suggest that he is trapped in a pattern of self-destructive behavior that stems from a deep sense of inadequacy ("I was born wrong"). Overall, "Zebra" is a powerful and haunting song about the emotional pain that can arise from trying (and failing) to find love.

Line by Line Meaning

They said I'm worn thin from wasting to much time
Others have criticized me for spending too much time on something that they deem worthless or unnecessary.

On your sidelines waving a sign that says I will work
I have put myself in a position of support, hoping to work to achieve some form of acceptance or approval from someone else.

For you but they don't know your kiss to me is a hatchet through my chest
While others believe I am doing this for someone else's benefit, the truth is that this person's affection is painful and causing me harm.

That sends me down a flight of stairs hitting every step
Their actions cause me to spiral down into a deep depression, hitting every point of negative thoughts and emotions along the way.

And I swear to God
I am making a solemn vow or promise to a higher power or authority figure.

It's not my fault this mask I wear
The persona I present or the facade I put on is not my fault, but rather a reaction to the circumstances around me.

It's not my fault this gloom I bare
The sadness or hopelessness I experience is not a choice I make, but rather a burden I carry as a result of past events or current situations.

And they said I'm tired from waiting around for you
Others have criticized me for being idle or unproductive while waiting for someone else to act or make a decision.

The reasons I start fires is that's what lost men do
I have resorted to destructive behavior because of my feelings of loss or abandonment.

Split dogs and hoof-in-mouth you are broken glass
This person is unstable and volatile, causing pain and harm to those around them.

Don't care if I cut myself I'll crash into the crash
Even knowing the pain or danger that lies ahead, I cannot help but collide with this person or situation.

You stung me bad, what can I do?
This person's actions have caused me tremendous pain and I am powerless to do anything about it.

But leave the stinger in so I won't forget you
I choose to hold onto the pain or memory of this person, even though it hurts me deeply.

Ahhhhh they said I'm wrong
Others have criticized my choices or actions as being incorrect or misguided.

Ahhhhh I know I'm wrong
I am aware that my decisions or behavior may not be the best, but I cannot help myself or control my actions.

Ahhhhh they said I'm wrong
Others continue to judge or criticize me, even though I am doing the best I can with the circumstances I am given.

Ahhhhh I was born wrong
I feel that I am fundamentally flawed or imperfect, from the very beginning of my life.

Contributed by Sydney K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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