Acoustic five-piece playing bittersweet and beguiling folk-indie-pop songs about love, jealousy, apathy, imaginary friends, and pirates. Having released two albums to critical acclaim, the band announced on December 2, 2007 that after a short tour of Great Britain ending in February 20, 2008 in Scotland, the band would go on an 'indefinite hiatus' Singer-songwriter Nat Johnson is currently working on solo material and recently formed Nat Johnson and the Figureheads with former MSTU member Kevin Gori. Rob Dean has joined The Pete Green Corporate Juggernaut.
For more information, see the official MSTU site.
Wallow
Monkey Swallows the Universe Lyrics
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I fall asleep on your bones
Time's come and gone, it's early
The blinds are down on me
Lay still, lay deep, lay long now
Welcome all your weaknesses home now
I want to answer and you're making me come
I do not weep, you stay young
For someone might take you away
For reason for which I can't complain
So you can wallow in what I made for myself
You can wallow
Your darkest days you'll spend here
Your brightest dreams you'll leave here
My love, my one, be happy
It's only time, it's only time
Forget that – I'm nothing you want
Pretend that – I'm something you could love
I'm tired of sleep, talk to me
I do not weep, you kill me
I do not weep, you kill me
For someone might take you away
For reasons for which I can't complain
So you can wallow in what I made for myself
You can wallow
The song "Wallow" by Monkey Swallows the Universe is a melancholic ballad about the beauty and pain of a deep, intimate relationship. The lyrics depict a sense of coldness and isolation, as the singer falls asleep on the bones of their lover. The passage of time is apparent as the blinds are down, symbolizing that the outside world no longer holds any importance or relevance. The first verse ends with the plea to "lay still, lay deep, lay long now," as the singer welcomes their weaknesses and vulnerability, eventually leading into the chorus.
The chorus, "For someone might take you away, for reasons for which I can't complain. So you can wallow in what I made for myself, you can wallow," suggests a sense of hopelessness and dread at the thought of losing the one they love. The singer allows their lover to wallow in what they have made for themselves, as the outside world doesn't matter as long as they are together. The second verse continues exploring the themes of darkness and light, love and pain, with the demand to "pretend that – I'm something you could love."
The final verse is a plea, a desire for communication, "I'm tired of sleep, talk to me. I do not weep, you kill me." The song is a bittersweet ode to the beauty and sorrow of deep intimacy, the fear of loss, and the desire to hold on tight.
Line by Line Meaning
It's so cold in your arms
Being in your presence makes me feel cold and distant
I fall asleep on your bones
I feel comforted and safe in your arms
Time's come and gone, it's early
It feels like time has passed quickly but it is actually still early in the day
The blinds are down on me
I feel trapped and constrained by my circumstances
Lay still, lay deep, lay long now
Stay still and in the moment, go deep within yourself and allow yourself to feel this way for a while
Welcome all your weaknesses home now
Accept your flaws and vulnerabilities as part of who you are
I want to answer and you're making me come
I want to respond to you but you are making it difficult for me
I do not weep, you stay young
I will not cry over you and let you have power over me, I will remain strong and youthful
For someone might take you away
I am afraid of losing you to someone else
For reason for which I can't complain
I cannot complain about why someone might take you away
So you can wallow in what I made for myself
You can stay in my shadow and suffer the consequences of my decisions
Your darkest days you'll spend here
You will experience your worst days while in my company
Your brightest dreams you'll leave here
Your greatest aspirations will not be realized while you are with me
My love, my one, be happy
I want you to be happy, despite the negative effect I may have on you
It's only time, it's only time
Things will change and get better with time
Forget that – I'm nothing you want
Realize that I am not what you truly desire
Pretend that – I'm something you could love
Pretend that you could love me, even if it's not true
I'm tired of sleep, talk to me
I don't want to keep running away from our problems, let's talk about them
I do not weep, you kill me
I will not allow you to hurt me and make me cry, it feels like you are killing me
So you can wallow in what I made for myself
Again, you can suffer and take the blame for my actions and decisions
You can wallow
You can stay in this unhappy state and wallow in misery
Contributed by Abigail B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.