Marlon J.D.
Manic Street Preachers Lyrics
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As he was beaten across the face
With a horse whip
Where the wounds already exist
A well-oiled rifle
And never lonely, Marlon JD
If you want to come down, come down
Give him some dignity
So see, so see Marlon J.D.
So see, so see Marlon J.D.
Learn to live without clutter
To live without luxury
Sometimes I envy them
Goodnight yourself, Marlon JD
He did not defend himself
He didn't even raise his hand
I will not beg because
This is how I am
So see, so see Marlon J.D.
So see, so see Marlon J.D.
"Bare floors, plain white walls.
No window curtains, nothing but essentials.
With no luxuries, no ornamentation,
Utter simplicity.
But it's also clean,
It's clean as a rifle."
So see, so see Marlon J.D.
So see, so see Marlon J.D.
"And, and they're never lonely
And sometimes I envy them"
The song "Marlon J.D." by Manic Street Preachers is a reflection on the life and values of an individual named Marlon JD. The lyrics describe a man who is being physically beaten with a horse whip, yet he stands like a statue as if he is used to the pain. He is armed with a well-oiled rifle and is content with living a simple life without luxuries or clutter. Despite his broken and beaten state, Marlon JD refuses to beg for mercy or defend himself, suggesting that this is just how he is. The repetitive refrain of "so see, so see Marlon J.D." emphasizes the importance of seeing and recognizing the value in his way of life.
The lyrics also suggest that the singer sometimes envies the simple life lived by Marlon JD. The description of Marlon's bare living arrangement, with "bare floors, plain white walls, no window curtains, nothing but essentials", is contrasted with the singer's own life of clutter and luxury. The final line of the song, "And, and they're never lonely / And sometimes I envy them", seems to suggest that perhaps Marlon JD's simple life and lack of clutter provides a sense of peace and contentment that is lacking in modern society.
Overall, the song is a thought-provoking look at the value of simplicity and the impact of luxury and clutter on our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
He stood like a statue
Despite the beating he knew was coming, he maintained his composure and didn't move
As he was beaten across the face
He endured severe physical punishment inflicted upon him by his oppressors
With a horse whip
The cruel weapon used to cause harm on Marlon JD's body
Where the wounds already exist
The beating was targeted at the areas where Marlon JD had already been hurt
A well-oiled rifle
A weapon that works perfectly and is well-maintained
And never lonely, Marlon JD
Despite such mistreatment and punishment, he maintains companionship and does not feel alone
If you want to come down, come down
If you want to harm me, you can do so, but I won't back down or let you affect me
Give him some dignity
Treat Marlon JD with respect and honor, even if he is in a situation of oppression
Learn to live without clutter
Living without unnecessary possessions and material items is a valuable lesson to learn
To live without luxury
Learning to be content with basic necessities and not striving for lavish living
Sometimes I envy them
The simple life of those without luxuries can be appealing and refreshing
Goodnight yourself, Marlon JD
A crude insult or derogatory statement directed towards Marlon JD
He did not defend himself
Marlon JD understood that fighting back would only cause more harm and chose not to retaliate
He didn't even raise his hand
Marlon JD did not resort to violence or aggression in response to the beating
I will not beg because
Marlon JD refuses to plead or request mercy, maintaining his dignity and pride
This is how I am
Marlon JD is aware of his own identity and cannot be swayed to act outside of his own principles by external pressure
"Bare floors, plain white walls.
A description of a minimalist setting with no unnecessary decorations or ornamentation
No window curtains, nothing but essentials.
Only the necessary items are present in the living space, with no extra or excessive additions
With no luxuries, no ornamentation,
There are no non-essential, decorative items or lavish items in the space
Utter simplicity.
The space is intentionally designed to be simple and functional, with no added distractions or embellishments
But it's also clean,
The space may be simple, but it is also well-maintained and pristine
It's clean as a rifle."
The cleanliness of the space can be likened to the immaculate functionality of a well-kept firearm
So see, so see Marlon J.D.
Repeated refrain calling attention to and honoring Marlon JD
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES BRADFIELD, NICHOLAS JONES, RICHARD EDWARDS, SEAN MOORE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind