Mansun came to prominence in the mid-nineties British indie/ guitar-rock resurgence, despite pursuing their own path away from any of the emerging scenes. Their first album Attack of the Grey Lantern could easily have been lost amidst the wave of new music in the British (Britpop) scene at that time if it had not been for the majestic Wide Open Space. The single charted at number 15 in the UK. The album then went on to reach no. 1 in the UK charts. Many of the tracks from the album and the associated EP's formed part of a grand concept piece. The band created a twisted town inhabited by bizarre characters such as "Dark Mavis", "Stripper Vicar", "Flourella" and "Egg-Shaped Fred".
Between their 1st and 2nd album they released the Closed for Business EP which departed from the themes that had run through all Mansun's previous releases, while musically very similar to the tracks from Attack of the Grey Lantern.
The band's second album Six was a radical departure from the first album. The tracks segued into each other creating two musical sections which were separated by an "intermission". Musically, the songs were far more produced in sound. The album artwork was also very complex containing many references to the cult (and often surreal) 60's TV show "The Prisoner". This perfectly suited the music which had the feeling of a nonsensical prog extravaganza. The artwork together with the way that the complex structure of the songs/time signatures blended into each other gave the impression of a very ambitious progressive rock concept album, though lyrically there is little to suggest that there is a central theme to the album. While generally critically appreciated, Six was not a huge commercial success, though the album did reach no. 6 in the UK album charts.
For their third album, Little Kix, Mansun again changed direction. This time the songs were slickly produced (over-produced in some senses) with strong pop sensibility. The album was obviously an attempt by the band to produce an album with more maturity, but was perhaps too polished. Little Kix reached no. 12 in the UK charts.
Mansun disbanded in May 2003. This was a culmination of band tensions which had seen one of the original members leave (Stove King). Disappointed by the poor reception of their 3rd album, the band folded with little fanfare of their passing.
Due to pressure from their fans, EMI released the posthumous "4th album", Kleptomania, which was a three CD set containing rough recordings of tracks slated to be on the unfinished 4th album, b-sides and rarities.
Six
Mansun Lyrics
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The lyrics of Mansun's song "Six" express a feeling of conformity and compromise in life. The first two lines of the song talk about how the singer shivers and cowers to conformity and authority. He then goes on to describe his life as a series of compromises that he is conditioned to accept. The singer feels like his life is a sham, and he has no choice but to accept the compromises. The following section of the lyrics lists some of the things the singer has more of than he needs, which could refer to material possessions or societal pressure to conform.
The next few lines describe how the singer's religion is caged and safe from progress. He wonders how this will affect him emotionally and if they will let him go. The equilibirum is imbalanced again, and he feels no pain. The Jabberwocky is referenced and is the subject of the singer's memory. He feels no pain until someone punches him in the stomach.
The song then repeats the lines about life being a compromise and a sham, and the singer being conditioned to accept it all. The song ends on a resigned note, as though the singer has accepted his fate.
Overall, the lyrics of "Six" suggest a feeling of conformity and the societal pressures to conform, which leads to a series of compromises in life that are hard to overcome.
Line by Line Meaning
And you see, I kind of shivered to conformity
Did you observe how I gave in to the norms of society?
Did you see the way I cowered to authority
Did you witness how I surrendered to those in power?
You see, my life, it's a series of compromises anyway
My existence is a string of sacrifices, adjustments, and deals, regardless.
It's a sham, and I'm conditioned to accept it all, you see
It's a deception, and I'm molded to acknowledge everything, you know.
(More) than I had before
Greater in quantity than my previous possessions
(More) than I've presently got
Larger in quantity than what I currently own
(More) than I'll ever use up
Excessive in number or amount, more than I will ever consume or exhaust
(More) than I really need
Surpassing what's essential or vital for me
It's more than I can spare
It's too much or too many to give away or dispose of
My religion is caged
My faith or belief is restrained or limited
Safe from progress, purgatory I know
Protected from innovation, I'm aware that it's trapped in uncertainty and emptiness
How does this affect me
What's the impact or influence of this situation on me?
Emotionally affect me
How does this situation have a psychological or sentimental impact on me?
Will they let me go
Will they release me from this confinement?
Equilibrium imbalanced again
The balance or stability is disrupted or upset, once more
I feel no pain
I experience no physical or emotional suffering
The Jabberwocky haunts me, in my memory it's caged
I'm tormented by my recollection of the Jabberwocky, it's imprisoned in my mind
But if you punched me in the stomach then I'd feel it again
But if you struck me in the abdomen, I would register pain anew
Life is a compromise anyway
Existence is a constant tradeoff or negotiation, regardless
And it's a sham, and I'll accept it all
And it's a deception, and I'll welcome everything
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: PAUL EDWARD DRAPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind