Knott's music has not been without controversy in Christian circles, particularly due to profanity in the song "Rocket and a Bomb" (from the self-titled release of his former band Aunt Bettys) and original artwork in that album of Jesus Christ as a bartender.
Knott explained some of his views in an interview with HM Magazine, saying "Basically, I'm a human being and I believe in Christ, period. It doesn't make my life rosy, it doesn't make my life terrible, it doesn't do anything with that. I know Christ."
Michael Knott is also the founder of the now defunct independent record label, Blonde Vinyl Records.
http://www.michaelknott.com/
Apocalypse Lips
Michael Knott Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And a killer of a kiss
I tremble in the maul of her mind
She's got a bitter bag of tricks
It's something of an addiction
Satisfaction
I wanna yell and set fire to the Queen
She's got a bitter bag, it's a bitter bag of tricks
Satisfaction
Why stop that blue
You can't stop that green
Unsightly miles of beastly emotion
The song Apocalypse Lips by Michael Knott seems to be the singer’s admittance of his obsession with a girl who has a destructive impact on him. The girl in question has “apocalypse lips” and a “killer of a kiss” which represents her power and a possible reference to a potential end of the world. The singer is in her grip and feels helpless as she is “something of an addiction”. He experiences a sense of fear almost, as he says he’s trembling in the maul of her mind, indicating that he feels trapped by her thoughts and the hold she has on him.
The third verse is a bit harder to interpret, but it seems like the singer wants to break free from the hold she has on him. He refers to her as the queen and speaks of a desire to yell and set fire to her, almost a call for liberation. The phrase “manumit machine” refers to a device or system that frees people from slavery or oppression, so it's possible that the singer wants to be freed from the girl’s hold over him. The repetition of “bitter bag of tricks” throughout the song reinforces the idea that the girl is not good for him, yet he seems unable to break free from her.
Overall, the lyrics of Apocalypse Lips suggest a powerful yet destructive relationship, which causes the singer to feel trapped and unsure of how to break free. The girl in question has a hold over him that seems almost addictive, despite the singer’s recognition of the negative impact this relationship has on him.
Line by Line Meaning
She's got apocalypse lips
Her lips are intense and overwhelming, with a sense of impending doom.
And a killer of a kiss
Her kiss is dangerously captivating and irresistible.
I tremble in the maul of her mind
Being in her presence makes me feel small and powerless, like I'm caught in the jaws of her thoughts.
She's got a bitter bag of tricks
She has a collection of unpleasant methods at her disposal to use against others.
It's something of an addiction
Despite the negative aspects of her personality, I can't help but be drawn to her.
I love her manumit machine
I'm fascinated by her ability to liberate herself and others from constraints and limitations.
I wanna yell and set fire to the Queen
I'm so overwhelmed by the intensity of my feelings for her that I want to rebel against the established order.
Why stop that blue
Why try to suppress or ignore the natural emotions and feelings that arise in response to her?
You can't stop that green
It's impossible to control the growth and development of feelings towards her.
Unsightly miles of beastly emotion
There are deep, intense feelings and desires within me towards her that are hard to express or articulate.
Contributed by Keira E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jesse Jasko
I wish I could find this CD... amazing music!!