Peeled Apples
Manic Street Preachers Lyrics
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The figure eight inside out is infinity
The naked light bulb is always on
They make your break complete
Then they blow it to kingdom come
Riderless horses, Noam Chomsky's Camelot
Bruises on my hands from digging my nails out
Trespass your torments
If you are what you wanna be
I once impersonated a shopwork dummy
The Levi jean will always be stronger than the Uzi
A dwarf takes his cockerel out of the cockfight
Falcons attack the pigeons
In the west wing at night
The lyrics to Manic Street Preachers’ song Peeled Apples are full of obscure and abstract imagery that invites interpretation. The line “The more I see, the less I scream” can be interpreted as the disillusionment that comes with age and experience, where the pain and suffering of the world becomes a dull background noise rather than a shocking revelation. The figure eight inside out being infinity is a nod towards the infinite cycle of life and death. The line “The naked light bulb is always on” can be interpreted as a symbol of exposure or vulnerability, which can be seen in the phrase “they make your break complete, then they blow it to kingdom come”. This line can mean that once someone has been broken down, they are then destroyed by those who exploited their vulnerability.
The rest of the lyrics continue to take the listener on a surreal journey through a variety of imagery that can be difficult to interpret. Lines such as “Noam Chomsky’s Camelot” and “Bruises on my hands from digging my nails out” remain somewhat opaque in their meaning but account for a sort of nightmarish atmosphere. Overall, the song can be interpreted as a meditation on the ultimate futility of life in the face of ongoing destruction.
Line by Line Meaning
The more I see, the less I scream
The writer's perception alters as they gain more experience, leading them to no longer react strongly to things.
The figure eight inside out is infinity
The reversed symbol for infinity is still infinity, suggesting that there can be multiple interpretations or paths to the same end.
The naked light bulb is always on
The truth is always visible and cannot be hidden or turned off, symbolized by the constant illumination of a light bulb without a shade.
They make your break complete
Something or someone can bring a sense of finality or closure to a situation, allowing one to move on or begin anew.
Then they blow it to kingdom come
Following a promising outcome, sudden and total destruction can occur, leading everything to fall apart.
Riderless horses, Noam Chomsky's Camelot
An uncontrolled force (represented by riderless horses) collides with a utopian ideal (Noam Chomsky's Camelot), leading to an unlikely or disastrous outcome.
Bruises on my hands from digging my nails out
The physical trauma from self-destructive behavior or attempts to escape a situation can leave marks on one's body.
A series of images against you and me
Recurring negative images or events may be directed at both the writer and the listener, creating a sense of shared struggle or oppression.
Trespass your torments
One can overcome their inner turmoil or difficulties by confronting them head-on, rather than avoiding or ignoring them.
If you are what you wanna be
The ability to shape one's own identity or destiny lies within their own hands, provided they have the desire and motivation to do so.
I once impersonated a shopwork dummy
The writer once felt like an empty shell or a meaningless object, without any true purpose or direction in life.
The Levi jean will always be stronger than the Uzi
The cultural impact or significance of fashion (represented by Levi jeans) can outlast or overpower that of violence or power (represented by the Uzi gun).
A dwarf takes his cockerel out of the cockfight
An underdog or marginalized individual (represented by the dwarf) can find ways to reclaim their own power or dignity, even in situations where they are initially disadvantaged.
Falcons attack the pigeons in the west wing at night
The idea of prey becoming predator, or vice versa, can occur even in unexpected or unlikely scenarios (such as a civic or governmental building).
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES BRADFIELD, NICHOLAS JONES, RICHARD EDWARDS, SEAN MOORE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind