They released their debut album, "Yes Yes Vindictive" in November 2007 in Australia and March 2008 in Germany/United Kingdom. They released their third single "Just A Song About Ping Pong" in Australia, debuting at #15 on the ARIA charts. They also released "Just A Song About Ping Pong" in United Kingdom, released their second EP Cement Cement in Australia, played Splendour In The Grass, opened for Arctic Monkeys, Kaiser Chiefs, and Maxïmo Park. Their second album Gloves came out in 2010.
Members Amandah, Tim and Chris are now focusing on other projects Bossy Love and Colour Coding but Amandah has stated in interviews that Operator Please has not broken up.
Pantomime
Operator Please Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So move me
March, march, march
To the beat of no drums
The lights are on
But way too bright
I'm on strings
Paint my
Face right
So I can be a pantomime
It's all wrong
Hey it's all wrong
Start it again
By pouring wine
Into a bottomiess cup
By shooting cheap
What do you achieve?
The same answers
Beckoned more than once
Renders the mean
That you're not listening
Paint my
Face right
So I can be a pantomime
It's all wrong
Hey it's
All wrong
Start it again
Paint my
Face right
So I can be a pantomime
It's all wrong, It's all wrong,It's all wrong
Turn a page
In a blank book
What do you read?
If the words aren't seen
Paint my
Face right
So I can be a pantomime
It's all wrong
Hey it's all wrong
Start it again
Paint my
Face right
So I can be a pantomime
It's all wrong, It's all wrong,It's all wrong.
(Merci à Marie pour cettes paroles)
The lyrics of Operator Please's song "Pantomime" speak to the feeling of being controlled or manipulated by external forces. The opening lines "I'm on strings, so move me" suggest that the singer is not in control, but rather being made to move by someone else. This theme is further developed with the lines "March, march, march, to the beat of no drums" which imply that even though the singer is being moved, there is no clear direction or purpose to this movement.
The chorus of the song, "Paint my face right so I can be a pantomime, it's all wrong" speaks to the idea of conforming to society's expectations of what is considered "right" or "normal." The word "pantomime" itself refers to a theatrical performance where the actors convey emotions and actions through exaggerated gestures and facial expressions, further emphasizing the idea of putting on a false persona for the sake of others.
The second verse of the song takes a darker turn, suggesting that turning to substance abuse as a coping mechanism may have detrimental effects on one's ability to truly listen and understand others. The lines "the same answers beckoned more than once / renders the mean that you're not listening" imply that by repeatedly seeking out the same solutions, one might miss the nuances of different perspectives and fail to truly empathize with others.
Overall, "Pantomime" is a poignant critique of societal pressure to conform, control, and perform for the sake of others.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm on strings
I am being controlled by outside forces and have no agency.
So move me
I am at the mercy of those controlling me, and have no ability to act independently.
March, march, march
I am being compelled to move in a certain direction, without any choice in the matter.
To the beat of no drums
There is no clear direction or purpose to the movements that I am being forced to make.
The lights are on
There is a sense of scrutiny or exposure.
But way too bright
The level of exposure or scrutiny is uncomfortable, excessive, or overwhelming.
Paint my face right
Create an outward appearance of conformity, regardless of what lies underneath.
So I can be a pantomime
So that I can put on a performance that meets others' expectations, regardless of my own feelings or desires.
It's all wrong
Despite my best efforts to conform, things are not going as planned or desired.
Hey it's all wrong
Emphasis that things are not as they should be.
Start it again
A desire to begin again, to have things go as intended, and to see a positive outcome.
By pouring wine, into a bottomless cup
Taking an action that has no positive outcome or solution.
By shooting cheap, what do you achieve?
A rhetorical question, suggesting that attempting to take shortcuts or use poor-quality methods leads to negative or unsatisfying results.
The same answers, beckoned more than once
Continually pursuing or accepting the same unsatisfying outcomes, despite knowing better or having had negative experiences in the past.
Renders the mean, that you're not listening
A warning that by continuing to accept negative outcomes or take shortcuts, one is ignoring the lessons learned and not truly listening to oneself or others.
Turn a page, in a blank book
Starting anew, with a clean slate or no predetermined outcome in mind.
What do you read?
What lessons can be learned from this new experience?
If the words aren't seen
If the intended outcome is not achieved or the lesson is not learned, the experience is pointless.
It's all wrong, Hey it's all wrong, Start it again
Repetition of previous lines, emphasizing the desire to begin anew with a positive or satisfying outcome.
Contributed by Wyatt Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.