Prologue
Marlon Alarm Lyrics


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Some people got it, other people don't
It's nothing you can buy, or even really own
And we go out every weekend, then say we should've stayed at home
'Cause it's hard to be productive, uninspired, and alone

So I get my warpaint, but it never really helps
It's like stepping into battle for a truth I'd never sell
So b-b-buy me baby, la la la la la la
I'ma tell you all the story about the rise and fall

Of a pharaoh in the dirt, of a king without a throne
Of a heart that's full of hurt, and a boy that's skin and bones





A boy that's skin and bones

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Marlon Alarm's song "Prologue" seem to be about the struggle of finding purpose and motivation in life. The first verse acknowledges that some people seem to have an inherent drive and passion, while others struggle to find it. The line "It's nothing you can buy, or even really own" suggests that this drive cannot be obtained through material possessions. The second half of the verse talks about the universal experience of going out on the weekends, only to regret it later because it doesn't fulfill us in the way we thought it would. The line "uninspired and alone" highlights the feeling of disconnection from oneself and others.


The second verse continues this theme, with the singer describing their own process of trying to psych themselves up and get motivated by "getting their warpaint on". But despite their efforts, they feel like they are fighting a battle for a cause they don't really believe in. The repeated lyric "b-b-buy me baby" could be interpreted as a commentary on consumer culture and the idea that we can try to purchase happiness or motivation, but it doesn't really work. The last two lines of the verse introduce the idea of telling a story about the rise and fall of a character, setting up the rest of the song as a narrative.


The chorus returns to the image of the "boy that's skin and bones", emphasizing the vulnerability and fragility of humanity. The use of this phrase seems to suggest that despite our external pursuits and struggles, at our core we are all just flesh and blood.


Overall, the lyrics of "Prologue" explore the universal human experience of trying to find meaning and motivation in life, and the frustration that comes when we are unable to do so. It presents a narrative framework for examining these themes and suggests that even the most successful or powerful people are ultimately just human.


Line by Line Meaning

Some people got it, other people don't
Some individuals possess something that others do not.


It's nothing you can buy, or even really own
This particular possession cannot be purchased or owned.


And we go out every weekend, then say we should've stayed at home
We frequently go out on weekends, but later regret not staying home.


'Cause it's hard to be productive, uninspired, and alone
Being unproductive, uninspired, and solitary is a challenge.


So I get my warpaint, but it never really helps
I put on my warpaint, but it doesn't truly assist.


It's like stepping into battle for a truth I'd never sell
It's similar to going into battle for a reality I'd never betray.


So b-b-buy me baby, la la la la la la
So please buy me, darling.


I'ma tell you all the story about the rise and fall
I'll narrate the tale of growth and decline.


Of a pharaoh in the dirt, of a king without a throne
The story involves a pharaoh in the dirt and a king who lacks a throne.


Of a heart that's full of hurt, and a boy that's skin and bones
It also includes a broken heart and a skinny boy.




Contributed by Lillian I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@enriquekenobi9467

Just on the border of your waking mind
There lies... Another time
Where darkness & light are one
And as you tread the halls of sanity
You feel so glad to be
Unable to go beyond
I have a message
From another time...

@jonniiinferno9098

awesome lyrics - and music too...

@charlesangell_bulmtl

THANK YOU I was losing that after There lies

@edwardmcalister8743

One of the best albums.... of all time!!!!

@sarahkinsey5434

I am listening to all of their songs since seeing Jeff Lynne live in July, and I love the 80s era!

@LoneLee2022

I saw them on this tour while tripping. One of the best.

@user-mv5tx8bb2t

That daicon IV video is a real gem. glad it used this music.

@rickrandall3174

Time was one of the first albums that I bought as a kid in the 1980s. The organs in Prologue create a feeling that something momentous is about to happen. The distorted voice -- Richard Tandy's, I believe, evokes memories of the Cylons from Battlestar Galactica.

@pumpknhd

I love cranking the subwoofer on this one for when the part at 0:26 kicks in. This is one of those pieces that's really good at high volume.

@desoxido

This is Pachelbel - Canon In D Major.

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