MAGAZINE
Pedro The Lion (Original Masters) Lyrics
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And on the one side
And on the one side
The bad half live in wickedness
And on the other side
And on the other side
The good half live in arrogance
And there's a steep slope
This line is metaphysical
And there's a steady flow
Moving to and fro
Oh look you earned your wings
Are you an angel now
Or a vulture?
Constantly hovering over
Waiting for a big mistake
Oh my God, what have I done?
Wouldn't you love to be
On the cover of a magazine?
Healthy skin and perfect teeth
Designed to hide what lies beneath
And I feel the darkness growing stronger
As you cram light down my throat
And how does that work out for you
In your holy quest to be above reproach?
Wouldn't you love to be
On the cover of a magazine?
Healthy skin and perfect teeth
Designed to hide what lies beneath
What lies beneath
The song “Magazine” by Pedro the Lion is a thought-provoking commentary on the dichotomy of good and evil that exists in society. The lyrics suggest that there are two sides to every person, and two sides to society as a whole. On the one hand, there are those who live in wickedness, while on the other hand, there are those who live in arrogance. The metaphor of the steep slope with a short rope suggests that the balance between the two sides is fragile, and any misstep can result in a fall. The line “Oh look you earned your wings, are you an angel now or a vulture?” highlights the idea that even the most virtuous among us can become predatory when they have power over others.
The chorus of the song is a critique of the unrealistic and harmful standards that society imposes on individuals through the media. The desire to be on the cover of a magazine with healthy skin and perfect teeth is juxtaposed with the reality that these images are designed to hide what lies beneath. The darkness growing stronger in the lyrics represents the negative impact that the pursuit of these unattainable standards has on people’s mental health.
Line by Line Meaning
This line is metaphysical
The following lines describe a concept that is beyond the physical world.
And on the one side
This is one aspect of the concept being described.
And on the other side
This is another aspect of the concept being described.
The bad half live in wickedness
One aspect of the concept is evil or bad and is characterized by wickedness.
The good half live in arrogance
The other aspect of the concept is good, but reveals its arrogance or self-righteousness.
And there's a steep slope
This is an obstacle or challenge in the way of understanding or acceptance of the concept.
With a short rope
This is a reference to an inadequate means for resolving the obstacle or challenge.
And there's a steady flow
Despite the obstacles, the concept continues to move forward.
Moving to and fro
This movement is not always linear, but moves back and forth in the journey of understanding.
Oh look you earned your wings
Congratulations, you have been rewarded for behaving well.
Are you an angel now
Does this reward make you an angel?
Or a vulture?
Or does it make you a scavenger, always waiting for a mistake?
Constantly hovering over
Always present and watching.
Waiting for a big mistake
Ready to swoop in and capitalize on someone else's failure.
Oh my God, what have I done?
An expression of regret or guilt over past actions.
Wouldn't you love to be
On the cover of a magazine?
A rhetorical question wondering if it is desirable to attain fame or recognition by appearing on a magazine cover.
Healthy skin and perfect teeth
Designed to hide what lies beneath
A critique of society's emphasis on superficial appearance, which often conceals deeper insecurities or issues.
And I feel the darkness growing stronger
Negative emotions or tendencies are increasing in intensity.
As you cram light down my throat
Someone else is trying to coerce or force positivity or change on the singer.
And how does that work out for you
In your holy quest to be above reproach?
A challenge to those who try to present an image of perfection, suggesting that it is not a sustainable or realistic goal.
What lies beneath
The true nature of a situation or individual, which is often hidden or unknown.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DAVID SHANNON BAZAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@VictorSantos-mb2so
This line is metaphysical
And on the one side
And on the one side
The bad half live in wickedness
And on the other side
And on the other side
The good half live in arrogance
And there's a steep slope
With a short rope
This line is metaphysical
And there's a steady flow
Moving to and fro
Oh look you earned your wings
Are you an angel now
Or a vulture?
Constantly hovering over
Waiting for a big mistake
Oh my God, what have I done?
Wouldn't you love to be
On the cover of a magazine?
Healthy skin and perfect teeth
Designed to hide what lies beneath
And I feel the darkness growing stronger
As you cram light down my throat
And how does that work out for you
In your holy quest to be above reproach?
Wouldn't you love to be
On the cover of a magazine?
Healthy skin and perfect teeth
Designed to hide what lies beneath
What lies beneath
@BradFazner
this song gives me chills every time...i love the drums so much
@benjaminsanders7786
What magazine would that be?
@thricex05
why doesn't this video have more views. david bazan is the greatest.
@VictorSantos-mb2so
This line is metaphysical
And on the one side
And on the one side
The bad half live in wickedness
And on the other side
And on the other side
The good half live in arrogance
And there's a steep slope
With a short rope
This line is metaphysical
And there's a steady flow
Moving to and fro
Oh look you earned your wings
Are you an angel now
Or a vulture?
Constantly hovering over
Waiting for a big mistake
Oh my God, what have I done?
Wouldn't you love to be
On the cover of a magazine?
Healthy skin and perfect teeth
Designed to hide what lies beneath
And I feel the darkness growing stronger
As you cram light down my throat
And how does that work out for you
In your holy quest to be above reproach?
Wouldn't you love to be
On the cover of a magazine?
Healthy skin and perfect teeth
Designed to hide what lies beneath
What lies beneath
@asaturn
this album (control) is so underrated. the live playing is good but the album is great.
@broken_disco_ball
This needs millions of views. What an incredible performance — and so wonderfully produced video-wise. 👏
@GarrettIsTheDinosaur
David's guitar is gorgeous and I love watching that drummer. Great band.
@jobbailon2951
Simple little masterpiece
@janregular
great musicians! awesome song
@indiecalms
Solid drumming