Waste
Norma Lyrics


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Walk around the room with a glaze in your stare.
In your tuxedo suit.
I will give it a name.
Lower your defenses.

Lower your casket.
Open the door and open your grave.
Murder.
Now you're doing the waltz with your murderer.

Mediocrity is the killer.
You find yourself helpless.
Christ is not a fashion, fleeting away.
He laid emeralds in her eyes,

But I'd already tried a bracelt made of gold
And a scarlet thread around her wrist.
Everything was wrong
So we sang sentimental songs.

"Oh how seldom we belong
But how elegant our kiss."
We painted crooked lines
But danced in perfect time

To a love so much refined,
We know not what it is until
Like a dullen wine we pour into a grief
Know before but never quite like this.

All I know now is regret,
It follows like a silhouette
Along the cobbelstone behind us,
But has nothing to say except to innocently ask,

It's voice delicate as glass,




"Do you see me when we pass?"
But I continue on my way

Overall Meaning

The song "Memphis Will Be Laid to Waste" by Norma Jean is a powerful commentary on the destructive nature of mediocrity and how it can lead to the downfall of a society. The song opens with the image of someone walking around with a vacant stare in a tuxedo, suggesting a kind of emptiness or lack of purpose. The lyrics then go on to describe the lowering of one's defenses and the opening of a grave, which could be interpreted as a metaphorical death or surrender to this sense of emptiness.


The line "Christ is not a fashion, fleeting away" speaks to the idea that true meaning and purpose in life cannot be found in fleeting trends or superficial pursuits. The imagery of emeralds in someone's eyes and a bracelet made of gold highlights the fact that material possessions cannot bring true happiness or fulfillment.


The chorus of the song is particularly powerful, with the repeated phrase "Murder. Now you're doing the waltz with your murderer." This suggests that we often become complicit in our own destruction, either by actively participating in harmful behaviors or by simply not standing up against them.


Overall, "Memphis Will Be Laid to Waste" is a deeply meaningful and thought-provoking song that encourages listeners to examine their own lives and choices in the face of societal pressures towards mediocrity and conformity.


Line by Line Meaning

Walk around the room with a glaze in your stare.
You move around aimlessly within the room, without purpose or focus.


In your tuxedo suit.
You are dressed formally in a tuxedo suit.


I will give it a name.
I will identify and define the situation in which we find ourselves.


Lower your defenses.
Let your guard down and become vulnerable to the situation.


Lower your casket.
Prepare for death and the closing of your life.


Open the door and open your grave.
Face your fears and confront your mortality.


Murder.
Violence and death are imminent.


Now you're doing the waltz with your murderer.
You are in the throes of death and cannot prevent your fate.


Mediocrity is the killer.
Living a life without purpose or passion is deadly.


You find yourself helpless.
You are powerless to change your circumstances.


Christ is not a fashion, fleeting away.
True faith and belief must be authentic and constant, not a temporary trend.


He laid emeralds in her eyes,
He bestowed upon her a precious and beautiful quality, visible in her eyes.


But I'd already tried a bracelt made of gold
A superficial attempt to convey love and affection had already failed.


And a scarlet thread around her wrist.
Another material object had been given as an attempt to show love and loyalty.


Everything was wrong
None of the previous attempts to express love were genuine or effective.


So we sang sentimental songs.
We resorted to artificial and empty expressions of emotion.


"Oh how seldom we belong
We rarely connect or feel a true sense of belonging.


But how elegant our kiss."
Despite the lack of connection, our physical embrace is flawless.


We painted crooked lines
Our attempts at building a relationship were misguided and failed to reach their mark.


But danced in perfect time
Our physical connection was choreographed and rehearsed, rather than spontaneous.


To a love so much refined,
Our concept of love is highly developed and sophisticated, but not authentic.


We know not what it is until
We have not yet experienced true love and remain unenlightened.


Like a dullen wine we pour into a grief
We engage in coping mechanisms but fail to truly process our grief.


Know before but never quite like this.
Previous experiences with sorrow and heartache do not compare to this current situation.


All I know now is regret,
At this point, I only feel regret.


It follows like a silhouette
Regret is a constant shadow accompanying me.


Along the cobbelstone behind us,
The path we have walked thus far is filled with rough patches and missteps.


But has nothing to say except to innocently ask,
Regret is a silent and passive emotion, only asking for acknowledgement.


It's voice delicate as glass,
The voice of regret is fragile and easily broken.


Do you see me when we pass?
Are you aware of the impact of your decisions and actions?


But I continue on my way
Despite acknowledging the presence of regret, I proceed with my life and journey.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@jonsar1

Brilliant video and song - Love it!!!

@andrewshadowfly

wow, it's me on every friday's evening!

@flamingrhinopoo

haaaa, that's my mom's name. awesome.

@JimmyRockDeutschland

@flamingrhinopoo Eh? Your mom's called awesome?

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