Discography
Soundtrack to the Film “Breakfast on the Beach of Deception”, Pitch-A-Tent Records, 1987, reissue IRS Records, 1992.
The Cosmodemonic Telegraph Company, Pitch-A-Tent Records 1989, reissue IRS Records, 1992.
Meridian, Baited Breath, 1991.
The Insect God, C/Z Records, 1992.
Forgery, IRS Records, 1992.
What's Left For Kicks? magnetic, 2006
also, the band has participated in numerous compilations.
The Harbor Incident
Monks of Doom Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
His exile was now almost up
Pockets were teeming with spare change
And his mind was eating it up
He'd savored the peace that he'd had, but
Now he scans the horizon
Waiting for this storm to pass
Just biding his time
And happened on a young lady
Up from the depths of despair
She spoke with a twist on her tongue
And a marvelous look in her eye
She's said "Think before the next time
You take yourself out onto the sea
And go dancing with that grand old man
Sometimes he plays very gently
But he's just biding his time"
Into the harbor
Came once a clipper ship
Sails torn and listing severe
When (tide it had slipped)
The rats jumped ship
As if they had something to fear
The captain it seems, was buried at sea
His madess had taken its toll
The crew headed into the bars of the town
To drink away all of their cares
They had waited for this day for years
One tiny bottle that floats on the sea
Serves as a warning for those who might dream
For those who pursue their obsessions
The wind carries in it the screams
Of the journeyman lost on the ocean
Teased by a beauty who rose from the waves
A rebirth, a watery grave
Down in the depths she savors her prize
She's just biding her time
The lyrics to Monks of Doom's song "The Harbor Incident" tell a story of a man who has been in hiding for some time, and is finally coming out of exile. He has spare change in his pockets and his mind is restless. He watches the horizon, waiting for a storm to pass, always biding his time. The man happens upon a young lady who is rising from the depths of despair. She speaks with a twist in her tongue and tells the man to think before he goes out to sea and dances with an old man who plays gently, but is just biding his time.
The song then shifts to a clipper ship, torn sails and listing, that comes into the harbor. The rats jump ship and the captain, who has gone mad, is buried at sea. The crew heads to the bars in town, drinking away their cares while they wait for this day to come. One tiny bottle that floats on the sea serves as a warning for those who might dream or pursue their obsessions. The wind carries in it the screams of those who have been lost on the ocean.
The song closes with a tease from a woman who rose from the waves, a rebirth and watery grave. She savors her prize, just biding her time. The lyrics leave the listener with a sense of danger and warning, cautioning against pursuing obsessions that may lead to destruction.
Line by Line Meaning
Into the vigil from hiding
Emerging from his private sanctuary
His exile was now almost up
His temporary self-imposed separation was coming to a close
Pockets were teeming with spare change
He had a surplus of money
And his mind was eating it up
He was consumed with thoughts of how to spend it
He'd savored the peace that he'd had, but
He enjoyed the tranquility he had been experiencing
Now he scans the horizon
He is on high alert, observing the surroundings
Waiting for this storm to pass
Anticipating a turbulent time to subside
Always waiting in silence
Constantly anticipating in quietness
Just biding his time
Waiting patiently for the right moment
And happened on a young lady
Encountered a woman unexpectedly
Up from the depths of despair
Recovered from a state of hopelessness
She spoke with a twist on her tongue
Had a distinct accent or manner of speaking
And a marvelous look in her eye
Had an amazing, intriguing expression
She's said "Think before the next time
Warned him to consider the consequences of his actions
You take yourself out onto the sea
Embark on a journey without fully preparing or considering the potential dangers
And go dancing with that grand old man
Interact or become entangled with an old and experienced seafarer
Sometimes he plays very gently
Occasionally the sea is calm and peaceful
But he's just biding his time
But it's only temporary until the sea becomes treacherous
Into the harbor
Entering a safe haven for ships
Came once a clipper ship
A fast, sailing ship arrived
Sails torn and listing severe
Sails were damaged and the ship was tilting dramatically
When (tide it had slipped)
When the water level had decreased
The rats jumped ship
The crew or passengers abandoned the ship, possibly due to danger
As if they had something to fear
Scared, anxious, or apprehensive about something
The captain it seems, was buried at sea
The ship's leader died and was buried in the ocean
His madness had taken its toll
His insanity had caused negative consequences for himself and others
The crew headed into the bars of the town
The ship's crew went to drink at local establishments
To drink away all of their cares
To use alcohol as a way to forget or escape their problems
They had waited for this day for years
They had been planning or anticipating this event for a long time
One tiny bottle that floats on the sea
A small container that is carried by the water
Serves as a warning for those who might dream
Is a message of caution for those who have unrealistic desires
For those who pursue their obsessions
For those who relentlessly chase their passions or interests
The wind carries in it the screams
The breeze holds the sounds of agony or distress
Of the journeyman lost on the ocean
Of someone who is skilled, but has gone missing or perished at sea
Teased by a beauty who rose from the waves
Taunted or tempted by an attractive person who appeared from the water
A rebirth, a watery grave
A new beginning or ending that involves water
Down in the depths she savors her prize
Deep beneath the surface, she is relishing what she has earned or accomplished
She's just biding her time
She is waiting patiently for something to occur
Contributed by Allison M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.