Mucky Pup began as a hardcore band formed in Bergenfield, New Jersey in 1985, when brothers John (drums) and Chris (vocals) Milnes joined up with Dan Nastasi (guitar) and former Hades member, Scott LePage (bass). The band went through various incarnations and several musical style changes while gaining minor success in both the USA and Europe. Arguably, their breakthrough moment occurred when Berke Breathed picked their songwriting contest entry for release with a 1987 Bloom County comic strip compilation. However, their European success, based on strong tours and charting for the 1989 A Boy in a Man's World album, surpassed all recognition achieved in their home country
Junkie Eyes
Mucky Pup Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
DARK AND SHINY, LIKE THE WET TAR,
ON A SIDE STREET PARKING LOT
FULL OF HOPE, LIKE A DOG IN THE POUND
BUT TRULY HOPELESS, CAUSE I WON'T HELP
I DON'T CRY FOR THEM, BUT I DO CRY
I CAN'T BABY-SIT THE WORLD, ALTHOUGH I'D LIKE TO
A HARSH REALITY THAT HURTS ME MORE EVERY TIME
I'M SORRY
THERE'S DEAD FLOWERS ON THE TABLE
THERE'S NOTHING LIKE A JUNKIES EYES
WHEN THERE'S DEAD FLOWERS ON THE TABLE
The song "Junkie Eyes" by Mucky Pup delves into the harsh and painful reality of drug addiction, as seen through the eyes of an observer. The opening lines set the scene of a dark alleyway, painted black like the setting of a horror movie. The imagery of wet tar on a side street parking lot adds to the ominous tone, setting the stage for the bleak world that the song describes. Despite this, the singer sees hope in the drug users they encounter, likening them to dogs in a pound who still have a chance at redemption. But this hope is short-lived, as the singer admits that they are truly hopeless, because he cannot help them. He feels a sense of sorrow for these individuals, reflecting on the people they once were before drug addiction took hold.
The haunting chorus emphasizes the despair of the situation, as dead flowers on a table symbolize a hopelessness and decay that pervades throughout the song. The singer repeats the phrase "there's nothing like a junkie's eyes," implying a sense of fear or discomfort that comes with witnessing the reality of drug addiction up close. Ultimately, the singer feels powerless in the face of this epidemic, acknowledging that they cannot "babysit the world" and make everything better.
Overall, "Junkie Eyes" is a poignant and emotionally charged reflection on the devastating effects of drug addiction. Through powerful imagery and a sense of helplessness, the song captures the bleak reality of this epidemic and the pain it causes for both users and those who witness it.
Line by Line Meaning
BLACK LIKE THE BEST, HORROR MOVIE ALLEYWAY
The darkness of a horror movie alleyway is personified by the color black in this comparison.
DARK AND SHINY, LIKE THE WET TAR,
The blackness of the alleyway is described as both dark and shiny, as though it were wet tar.
ON A SIDE STREET PARKING LOT
This black and shiny alleyway is located in a parking lot off of a main street.
FULL OF HOPE, LIKE A DOG IN THE POUND
A dog in a pound is hopeful to be adopted, and similarly the junkies in this alleyway may have a glimmer of hope that they'll get their next fix.
BUT TRULY HOPELESS, CAUSE I WON'T HELP
The artist realizes that although there may be hope for these junkies, they themselves are unable to provide the help that they need.
I DON'T CRY FOR THEM, BUT I DO CRY
The singer acknowledges that they don't feel sorrow for the junkies, but they still experience sadness over the situation as a whole.
FOR THE PEOPLE THEY WERE, IN A TIME BEFORE
The singer is mourning the loss of who these people were before they became junkies.
I CAN'T BABY-SIT THE WORLD, ALTHOUGH I'D LIKE TO
Although the artist wishes they could fix everything wrong in the world, they realize it's not possible for them to do so.
A HARSH REALITY THAT HURTS ME MORE EVERY TIME
The fact that they can't fix everything is difficult for the artist to accept and causes them emotional pain.
I'M SORRY
This could be an expression of the artist's own helplessness and inability to change the situation.
THERE'S DEAD FLOWERS ON THE TABLE
This line sets the scene and suggests that there has been a loss or death nearby.
THERE'S NOTHING LIKE A JUNKIES EYES
The artist is using the junkies' eyes as a metaphor for the sadness and desperation that comes with addiction.
WHEN THERE'S DEAD FLOWERS ON THE TABLE
The presence of dead flowers reinforces the idea of death and loss.
Contributed by Josiah V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
William Walker
This is one great song. No kidding, it has meaning for me. Thank you for upload.
Nitras Interactive
@mommywhatisgenocide You are very welcome, and your comment is the exact reason why I've uploaded this. Heard this back a few months ago, while I was like "damn this is me when I was a youngster". Absolutely great, -if not their best work - album.
Jb Diamond
This brings back memories...
Ilkka Kilpeläinen
A great song. Thanks for adding!
jinglemeow
still own this album
Hank Harmlos
Mucky Pup helps me to fight with my addiction. THX !!!!!
Ace R Miles
I must to missed this album hmmm... search time
TheAnalPunisher
this album sucks, their worst by far