In the past, band members dressed in outlandish makeup and costumes, and engaged in intentionally shocking behavior both onstage and off. Their lyrics often received criticism for their anti-religious sentiment and references to sex, violence and drugs, while their live performances were frequently called offensive and obscene. On several occasions, protests and petitions led to the group being blocked from performing, with at least three US states passing legislation banning the group from performing at state-owned venues. They released a number of platinum-selling albums, including Antichrist Superstar (1996) and Mechanical Animals (1998). These albums, along with their highly stylized music videos and worldwide touring, brought public recognition to Marilyn Manson. In 1999, news media, infamously, falsely blamed the band for influencing the perpetrators of the Columbine High School massacre.
As this controversy began to wane throughout the 2000s, so did the band's mainstream popularity. Despite this, Jon Wiederhorn of MTV, in June 2003, referred to Marilyn Manson as "the only true artist today". Marilyn Manson is widely regarded as being one of the most iconic and controversial figures in rock music, with the band and its lead singer influencing numerous other groups and musicians, both in metal-associated acts and also in wider popular culture. VH1 ranked Marilyn Manson as the seventy-eighth best rock band on their 100 Great Artists of Hard Rock. They were inducted into the Kerrang! Hall of Fame in 2000, and have been nominated for four Grammy Awards. In the U.S., the band has seen ten of its releases debut in the top ten, including two number-one albums. Marilyn Manson have sold in excess of 50 million records worldwide.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marilyn_Manson_(band)
Studio albums
Portrait of an American Family (1994)
Antichrist Superstar (1996)
Mechanical Animals (1998)
Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death) (2000)
The Golden Age of Grotesque (2003)
Eat Me, Drink Me (2007)
The High End of Low (2009)
Born Villain (2012)
The Pale Emperor (2015)
Heaven Upside Down (2017)
We Are Chaos (2020)
Mutilation Is The Most Sincere Form Of Flattery )
Marilyn Manson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You steal instead of borrow; you take all the shapes that I make
You think that you think all the thoughts that are thought you
Don't you?
Mutilation's the most sincere form of flattery
If you want to be me, then stand in line like the rest
Now, do you know what I mean?
[Chorus:]
The young get less bolder, the legends get older
But I stay the same as long as you have less to say
You think that I wouldn't say this
You know that I play this better than you
Fuck you
Fuck you
Fuck you, too
Fuck you
Fuck you
Fuck you, too
Do you really think that I wouldn't say this?
You know that I play this better than you
Rebels without applause; I sell my shadow to those who are standing in it
Who think I would bitch about them thinking they are the shit when they can't even step in it
[Chorus]
Fuck you
Fuck you
Fuck you
Fuck you
Fuck you, too
[Chorus]
Fuck you
Fuck you
And fuck you, too
[Chorus]
Fuck you
Fuck you
Fuck you, too
Fuck you
Fuck you
Fuck you, too
You really think that I wouldn't say this
You know that I play this better than you
The lyrics of Marilyn Manson's song "Mutilation Is The Most Sincere Form Of Flattery" are directed towards those who try to imitate him or steal his style. The singer challenges anyone who thinks they can copy his music and image, stating that mutilation and plagiarism are the ultimate forms of flattery. The chorus represents the egotistic mindset of an artist who believes they are the best; the less competition there is, the better they remain. The verses are a warning to anyone trying to take his position by doing what he does, but the artist is only getting angrier about imitation.
The line "rebels without applause, I sell my shadow to those who are standing in it" represents how many people are trying to replicate Manson's style, but they will never be able to do it as well as he does. They are imitators without originality or creativity. Therefore, he can sell his shadow, or his style, since those who copy him are only standing in his shadow. However, they will never have the same level of success because they lack originality.
Overall, the song conveys Manson's message that imitation is not a sincere form of flattery, and it is not admirable. Instead, it is better to have originality and express oneself uniquely.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, there's no rules today
There are no regulations today.
You steal instead of borrow; you take all the shapes that I make
You copy instead of creating new things; you utilize all the forms that I create.
You think that you think all the thoughts that are thought you
You believe that you are capable of thinking every thought.
Don't you?
Isn't that right?
Mutilation's the most sincere form of flattery
Mutilating oneself is the truest form of imitating me.
If you want to be me, then stand in line like the rest
If you aspire to be me, then wait in a queue like everybody else.
Now, do you know what I mean?
Do you comprehend what I'm intending to say?
[Chorus:]
Refrain:
The young get less bolder, the legends get older
The young become less daring, the legends become older.
But I stay the same as long as you have less to say
But I don't change as long as you don't have much to say.
You think that I wouldn't say this
You presume that I wouldn't speak out about this.
You know that I play this better than you
You're aware that I perform this more skillfully than you.
Fuck you
Go to hell
Fuck you
Screw you
Fuck you, too
And screw you as well
Do you really think that I wouldn't say this?
Do you truly believe that I wouldn't voice my opinion about this?
Rebels without applause; I sell my shadow to those who are standing in it
Rebels without any recognition; I hand over my image to those who want me to represent them.
Who think I would bitch about them thinking they are the shit when they can't even step in it
Who believe that I will criticize them for believing that they are superior, even though they can't even measure up to their own standards.
[Chorus]
Refrain:
And fuck you, too
And screw you also
You really think that I wouldn't say this
Do you genuinely assume that I wouldn't talk about this?
You know that I play this better than you
You realize that I perform this more skillfully than you.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: TIM SKOLD, BRIAN HUGH WARNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
SabrinaOnlineFan96
on Use Your Fist and Not Your Mouth
I woke up today and wished for tomorrow, I don't wanna be like anyone else!
DrJKintobor
on The Speed of Pain
This song reminds me of Shadow the Hedgehog falling to Earth. The lyrics "I hope we die holding hands, always" refers to him and Maria.
DrJKintobor
on Spade
This is the saddest song on the album.
SabrinaOnlineFan96
on Cyclops
Correction, this song makes me think of the dark night.
SabrinaOnlineFan96
on HALF-WAY & ONE STEP FORWARD
This song is so dark, it makes me think of Endora from Sabrina Online: Skunk's Day Out.
SabrinaOnlineFan96
on I Want to Disappear
This is Zaphod Beeblebrox's theme from Hitchhikers Guide to The Galaxy.
SabrinaOnlineFan96
on Posthuman
This song reminds me of the Mike Teavee Oompa Loompa song from the 2005 Willy Wonka movie, which is funny since Johnny Depp is friends with Marilyn Manson.
SabrinaOnlineFan96
on Tattooed In Reverse
This song gives me Blitzo from Helluva Boss vibes.
SabrinaOnlineFan96
on Long Hard Road Out of Hell
This song reminds me of Shadow the Hedgehog.
DrJKintobor
on Killing Strangers
Me when my dog is killed by Russian gangsters.