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)
Prelude
Marilyn Manson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's no knowing where we're rowing or which way the river's flowing
Is it raining? Is it snowing? Is a hurricane a blowing?
Not a spec of light is showing so the danger must be growing
Are the fires of Hell a glowing? Is the grizzly reaper mowing?
YES!!!
The danger must be growing
for the rowers keep on rowing
any signs that they are slowing!!!
Stop the boat
The lyrics of Marilyn Manson's Prelude in 2-3 may seem like a series of random questions and exclamations, but upon closer inspection, they reflect a darker theme of confusion, fear, and impending doom. The first two lines: "There's no earthly way of knowing which direction we are going, there's no knowing where we're rowing or which way the river's flowing," set the tone for the rest of the song. The singer feels lost and uncertain, with no clear sense of the future or where their actions are leading them. The following lines continue this theme, with the singer wondering if they are in the middle of a natural disaster ("Is it raining? Is it snowing? Is a hurricane a-blowing?") and contemplating the possibility of death itself ("Are the fires of hell a-glowing? Is the grizzly reaper mowing?"). The repetition of "The danger must be growing" and "Stop the boat" creates a sense of urgency and panic.
What makes this song so unnerving is the contrast between the playful, almost whimsical melody and the dark lyrics. The melody is light and bouncy, reminiscent of a carnival or circus tune, but the lyrics are filled with dread and despair. This contradiction is intentional, as it underscores the idea that danger can lurk even in the most seemingly innocent and joyful places. Manson has often used this technique in his music, using catchy melodies and upbeat rhythms to draw listeners in before hitting them with unsettling or disturbing lyrics.
Overall, Prelude in 2-3 is a haunting and unsettling track, and one that showcases Manson's talent for creating mood and atmosphere. The song leaves the listener with a sense of unease, unsure of what lies ahead or what dangers may be lurking just out of sight.
Line by Line Meaning
There's no earthly way of knowing which direction we are going
We are lost and have no idea which way to go.
There's no knowing where we're rowing or which way the river's flowing
We don't know where we are headed or which way the current is taking us.
Is it raining? Is it snowing? Is a hurricane a blowing?
We can't tell what kind of weather conditions we are in.
Not a spec of light is showing so the danger must be growing
It is so dark that we cannot see anything, indicating the situation is becoming more dangerous.
Are the fires of Hell a glowing? Is the grizzly reaper mowing?
We are experiencing extreme danger and possibly death itself.
YES!!!
Affirming that the danger is very real.
The danger must be growing
The danger is getting worse.
for the rowers keep on rowing
Despite the danger, the people in control are not stopping or changing course.
and they're certainly not showing
The people in control are not displaying any signs of doubt or caution.
any signs that they are slowing!!!
They are not stopping or changing course, even though the situation is becoming more dangerous.
Stop the boat
A plea to immediately halt and change course to avoid disaster.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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on (s)AINT
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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.