Poison!
O’Brother Lyrics
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Did I trade intent for futile means in the process?
I guess there's a whole in the bottom of my head my sense has fallen out
I've seen the sickness reside in the belly of the righteous
A disease that trained a gluttonous eye to feast upon the wicked
And I could pretend that it won't but it'll be my ruin too
Will you watch me drown in a pool of my thickening blood?
My rigid limbs sprawl around. I fear that I'm going down.
Stung by the incessant drone of some siren calling me out.
Oh dear I heard the sound
Now I'm hung like an overcoat with some poison fruit in my mouth.
Oh god, It's dragging me down
Louder and louder still, spinning looms by which I am bound
This wasn't right, but it's what I needed
And I wouldn't lie, to feed my indifference
The lyrics of O’Brother’s song Poison! are a complex reflection on the nature of speech and the consequences of our actions. The opening lines reveal a desire to refrain from idle speech, suggesting a fear of thoughtlessly serving only meaningless words. The question that follows suggests discomfort at the possibility that such a focus on being mindful has left them mired in futility. This internal conflict is exposed directly in the next lines, acknowledging a sense that there is a hole in the bottom of the mind, with the implication that their focus on refinement might have led to a lack of substance.
The next section extends the chaos to the wider world, where sickness is seen to reside even within the righteous. The disease of gluttony is anthropomorphised - given an eye - which has learned to feast on the wicked. This line seems to suggest that even those who seek to do good in the world are at risk of being corrupted and, ultimately, becoming predators themselves. The final section offers a dramatic description of drowning in one’s own blood, limbs rigid as some unknowable force pulls them down. The final lines offer a telling paradox, that the singer “wouldn’t lie to feed (their) indifference”, suggesting a kind of acceptance of their inability to escape the cycle of corruption and decay.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll hold my tongue from idle speech to keep my mind fed
To maintain a healthy mind, I shall refrain from engaging in useless conversations.
Did I trade intent for futile means in the process?
In the pursuit of my goals, did I sacrifice my aims for unproductive ways?
I guess there's a whole in the bottom of my head my sense has fallen out
I might have lost my common sense, and that is proving to be a significant gap in my life.
I've seen the sickness reside in the belly of the righteous
I have witnessed the corruption hiding in the soul of those who claim to be morally upright.
A disease that trained a gluttonous eye to feast upon the wicked
This illness has taught them to relish the pain and misery of those who are not righteous like them.
And I could pretend that it won't but it'll be my ruin too
I could turn a blind eye and pretend that it doesn't matter, but it'll eventually harm me too.
(I give it all)
I'm exerting my maximum effort.
Will you watch me drown in a pool of my thickening blood?
Will you sit back and watch me suffer and die a slow death?
My rigid limbs sprawl around. I fear that I'm going down.
As I am losing control, I am scared that I will fall and perish.
Stung by the incessant drone of some siren calling me out.
I am being painfully aware that I am being summoned, but I cannot resist it.
Oh dear I heard the sound
I became aware of the signal that I was expecting, and I am not looking forward to it.
Now I'm hung like an overcoat with some poison fruit in my mouth.
I feel trapped like a coat on a hanger, with poisonous fruit in my mouth, which I cannot expel.
Oh god, It's dragging me down
I'm losing control, and I am being pulled towards what scares me the most.
Louder and louder still, spinning looms by which I am bound
I am restrained and entangled in a cycle that is becoming more and more overwhelming.
This wasn't right, but it's what I needed
The path I have chosen may not be ideal or morally sound, but it is what I felt was necessary for me.
And I wouldn't lie, to feed my indifference
I can't deceive myself and falsely claim that I am not affected by my decisions and that I do not care.
Contributed by Brayden B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jumbo // ジャンボ ch.
this band is criminally underappreciated. I've seen them 4 times now and they blow me away every time.
Sher
Josh Threeton i couldn't agree more!!!!
Chafai Simo
Same man ! What is wrong with the industry ? This song and this live particularly is a masterpiece !
Aaron Velazquez
True that man.
Fox McFly
I love them so much… and how fucking loud they are live
Fox McFly
Comparing this to the new live stream shows how much this band has grown in the past 10 years. 10 years ago this was a 10/10 and compared to the 2021 live stream it’s a 12/10. It’s amazing how much experience they gained in the years and it shows! Making an amazing song hit higher levels
W H
The shot of the bassist @6:58 is magical
Fox McFly
Anton is a god
Shanon Kallhoff
I seem to keep hearing this song in my head often, and come back to listen again. I dig it \m/,
Mais Um Flow
essa banda é pika