Delirium
Motion City Soundtrack Lyrics
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I wanna soak, wanna scrub, wanna clean (anymore?)
But all the nurses are refusing to let me out of bed
And my eyes are pouring nightly
There's a crowd, there's a crowd, there's a crowd on my ward
I'm full of joy, full of glee, jubilation and more
These crazy stupid mother fuckers never leave me alone
There's a buzz, there's a buzz, there's a buzzing of bugs
From flower beetles, yellow jackets, silverfishes to slugs
It's always raining caterpillars from the circular fan
And my heart is pounding brightly
I swim in pharmaceuticals
I swim in pharmaceuticals
The medicine deactivates the things I take
I swim in pharmaceuticals
I swim in pharmaceuticals
The medicine deactivates the things I take
There's a voice, there's a voice, there's a voice in my head
It's rather soothing and it tells me I'd be better off dead
But if I beat maybe punch it even kick it away
Then everything will be (all rightly?)
I swim in pharmaceuticals
I swim in pharmaceuticals
The medicine deactivates the things I take
I swim in pharmaceuticals
I swim in pharmaceuticals
The medicine deactivates
I didn't know it was hot in the middle
I touched it once then I touched it a second time
'Cause I am that naive
A myriad of bright ideas
I didn't know I'd get caught in the middle
I touched it once and I touched it a second time
'Cause I am that naive
A myriad of bright ideas
I swim in pharmaceuticals
I swim in pharmaceuticals
The medicine deactivates the things I take
I swim in pharmaceuticals
I swim in pharmaceuticals
The medicine deactivates
I didn't know it was hot in the middle
I touched it once then I touched it a second time
'Cause I am that naive
A myriad of bright ideas
I didn't know I'd get caught in the middle
I touched it once then I touched it a second time
'Cause I am that naive
A myriad of bright ideas
The song Delirium by Motion City Soundtrack is a vivid portrayal of the distorted reality experienced by a patient in a hospital. The song opens with the line "There's a stain, there's a stain, there's a stain on the floor" which highlights the unsanitary conditions of the hospital. The singer expresses a strong desire to clean up the mess around them but is unable to do so because of the restrictions placed upon them by the nurses. The repetitive nature of the song's structure reflects the feeling of being stuck in a state of constant confusion and repetition.
The second verse of the song shows a shift in tone as the singer begins to express pleasure at the presence of a crowd around them. The previously mentioned restrictions of the nurses and hospitals have driven the singer to isolation, and the presence of a crowd brings a sense of relief. However, this pleasure is short-lived as the singer is unable to get rid of the bugs that surround them, symbolizing the mental turmoil the singer is experiencing. The chorus of the song emphasizes the way in which the singer relies on pharmaceuticals to ease their pain and confusion.
The song's bridge is characterized by the line "I didn't know it was hot in the middle, I touched it once then I touched it a second time 'Cause I am that naïve, a myriad of bright ideas". This line can be interpreted as the singer's attempt to make sense of their reality, despite their confusion, by experimenting with different ideas. Ultimately, the song portrays the intensity of the delirium-induced by hospitalization, and the desperation for relief from pain and confusion.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a stain, there's a stain, there's a stain on the floor
There is a visible blemish on the floor
I wanna soak, wanna scrub, wanna clean (anymore?)
I want to remove this stain by any means necessary
But all the nurses are refusing to let me out of bed
The healthcare providers are preventing me from taking action to clean the floor
And my eyes are pouring nightly
I am shedding tears frequently
There's a crowd, there's a crowd, there's a crowd on my ward
There are large groups of people constantly present on my hospital ward
I'm full of joy, full of glee, jubilation and more
Despite my circumstances, I feel happy and excited
These crazy stupid mother fuckers never leave me alone
The people around me are bothersome and I wish they would go away
And my lungs are wheezing slightly
My breathing is labored and making a soft whistling sound
There's a buzz, there's a buzz, there's a buzzing of bugs
There is a persistent sound of small insects buzzing around me
From flower beetles, yellow jackets, silverfishes to slugs
Various kinds of insects are present in my environment
It's always raining caterpillars from the circular fan
Caterpillars are falling on me constantly from a rotating fan
And my heart is pounding brightly
My heartbeat is strong and fast
I swim in pharmaceuticals
I am taking a lot of medication
The medicine deactivates the things I take
The medication is canceling out the effects of other substances I am putting in my body
There's a voice, there's a voice, there's a voice in my head
I am hearing an internal voice
It's rather soothing and it tells me I'd be better off dead
The voice is calm and reassuring, suggesting that I should commit suicide
But if I beat maybe punch it even kick it away
I believe that I can physically eliminate this voice
Then everything will be (all rightly?)
I hope that overcoming this voice will improve my situation
I didn't know it was hot in the middle
I was not aware that this thing was dangerous or risky
I touched it once then I touched it a second time
I acted recklessly, ignoring the potential danger
'Cause I am that naive
I am inexperienced or gullible
A myriad of bright ideas
I have many creative and innovative thoughts
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jesse Mack Johnson, Joshua Allen Cain, Justin C Pierre, Matthew Scott Taylor, Tony Richard Thaxton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind