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/
Brittle Body
Michael Knott Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cut the flesh from my bone, cause it to pus and bleed
Make this salty sliver work its way into your hand
The meat and the marrow, the pillar and the sand
Take this brittle body, throw it all away
Take this brittle body, I can't seem to change
It separates in time, divides amongst the curve
Insomniac and the sleeper, can they have the same dream
Sheets and the tailor, can they be torn by the seam
In Michael Knott's song Brittle Body, he uses vivid and gruesome imagery to express his desire to rid himself of his physical body due to its fragility and limitations. He asks for his skin to be set on fire and for the flesh to be cut from his bones in order to shed the limitations of the body. The use of the word "beggar" implies a sense of humility and submission to this desire to be free from the constraints of the physical self.
In the second verse, he talks about the separation and division that occurs within individuals and among individuals. He uses the metaphor of oil and vinegar to describe the way in which different aspects of a person's self can separate and become distinct, and how this can lead to a sense of internal conflict. The reference to the insomniac and the sleeper suggests that even within one person, there can be conflicting desires and dreams. The final line, "Sheets and the tailor, can they be torn by the seam," highlights the fragility and impermanence of all things, even those that are seemingly well-crafted or well-designed.
Overall, Brittle Body is a complex and haunting song that explores themes of identity, mortality, and the human condition.
Line by Line Meaning
Light the skin on fire, make me into a beggar, please
I'm helpless and desperate, so please do whatever you want with me.
Cut the flesh from my bone, cause it to pus and bleed
I'm so broken that even when you hurt me, it won't matter because I'm already hurting anyways.
Make this salty sliver work its way into your hand
Even though I'm just a small part of the bigger picture, I want to be important to you.
The meat and the marrow, the pillar and the sand
I'm complex and layered, and sometimes I'm strong and sometimes I'm weak.
Take this brittle body, throw it all away
My life feels fragile and insignificant, and sometimes I just want to throw it all away.
Take this brittle body, I can't seem to change
I feel stuck and trapped, and I don't know how to change myself.
Like shaken oil mixes with the vinegar
Sometimes it feels like my world is being turned upside down and nothing makes sense.
It separates in time, divides amongst the curve
Even though things seem chaotic and confusing, eventually they will settle and fall into place.
Insomniac and the sleeper, can they have the same dream
Even though two people may seem very different, they can still share common hopes and aspirations.
Sheets and the tailor, can they be torn by the seam
Even something that seems perfect can be ruined by a small imperfection.
Contributed by Christopher W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jesse Jasko
Such a great CD... I wish I could find this album on Mp3