Mana ERG was the musical project of ex recording engineer and multi-instrum… Read Full Bio ↴Mana ERG was the musical project of ex recording engineer and multi-instrumentalist Bruno De Angelis. Born in Rome and grown up in London, he gained experience by recording and producing bands playing very different genres. This had a direct influence on his music, a genre-defying blend of industrial, ethereal, ebm, electronica, and rock elements. Bruno's closest collaborators, who also assisted him in the production, were Joe Erber (piano and keyboards) and Tiberio (guitars), but quite often they were joined by special guests such as soprano Deborah Roberts, who, with her crystal clear and yet warm vocals, added an ethereal and dream-like touch to the sound. Other notable friends and collaborators were sound manipulator Antonym, russian composer Artemiy Artemiev, Dieter Moebius, and Attrition's Martin Bowes. The band finally split in 2011 after the release of their last album "Idiosyncratic".

Living Room
Mana ERG Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I guess you don't know my face
My life is so far removed from this
I guess you don't know my name
My name is …

I see your piano like a coffin in your living room
I see your kitchen and your gadgets and your fancy food
I see you got yourself a brand new car, let's go for a ride

I've very little to lose and almost nothing to hide…

I want your house, I want your car,
I want a life… a life with meaning !

If I don't do it…who's gonna do it
If I don't do it…who's gonna do it
If I don't stand up for myself, who's going to do it ?
If I don't stand up for myself, who's going to do it ?

I've learnt to shoot
My aim is straight
My hand is firm
It never hesitates…

"…You're just a little boy lost who wants his mummy…"

If I don't stand up for myself, tell me, who's going to do it ?

If I don't stand up for myself, who's going to do it ?

Overall Meaning

The song Living Room by Mana ERG is a deep reflection on envy, ambition, and the human desire for meaningfulness in life. The artist expresses a feeling of detachment and distance from the affluent lifestyle of someone they envied, symbolised by the piano and the material possessions in their living room, kitchen, and brand new car. The singer expresses a sense of anonymity and unrecognized identity, as they feel that their face and name are unknown to the person they envy. This detachment is significant as it highlights the excesses of capitalism and consumerism, which can create social inequality and fragmentation in society.

The lyrics also emphasise the singer’s yearning for a meaningful existence, which is hinted at by their repeated yearning for a life that has meaning. The song seems to suggest that the life of the person they envy may not be fulfilling, despite their material wealth. In the second verse, the singer asserts their agency and capacity to take action, stating that if they do not take action, no one else will stand up for them. The song suggests a need for individual responsibility and action in carving out one's life's meaning.

Line by Line Meaning

I guess you don't know my face
I am not recognizable to you

My life is so far removed from this
My life is vastly different from this

I guess you don't know my name
You are unaware of my identity

My name is …
But I exist

I see your piano like a coffin in your living room
I observe your piano, as though it is symbolic of something somber or foreboding in your home

I see your kitchen and your gadgets and your fancy food
I take note of your well-appointed kitchen and the luxurious ingredients within it, along with other frivolous items that you possess

I see you got yourself a brand new car, let's go for a ride
You have acquired a new car, and as a result, I suggest we go on a drive

I've very little to lose and almost nothing to hide…
I have very little to risk, and almost nothing that I conceal

I want your house, I want your car,
I covet your dwelling and your vehicle

I want a life… a life with meaning !
I aspire to have a life that holds significance

If I don't do it…who's gonna do it
If I do not take action, then who will?

If I don't stand up for myself, who's going to do it ?
If I do not fight for myself, then who will?

I've learnt to shoot
I have trained myself to shoot

My aim is straight
I am proficient at aiming

My hand is firm
My hand is steady

It never hesitates…
It is resolute

"…You're just a little boy lost who wants his mummy…"
"You are a lost little boy who craves your mother's care and guidance"

If I don't stand up for myself, tell me, who's going to do it ?
If I do not advocate for myself, then suggest who will?