Teeth
Prosaics Lyrics
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Familiarity contempt
Seven scrolls baring teeth
Insult and injury
Cipher above which an
Ecumenical pose is struck
A loss of sleep ad nauseam
A loss of peace
A loss of sleep ad nauseam
Apocryphal lament
Familiarity contempt
We preach wine
And drink water
Cipher above which an
Ecumenical pose is struck
A loss of teeth
A loss of sleep ad nauseam
A loss of peace
A loss of sleep ad nauseam
We preach wine
And drink water
The lyrics to Prosaics' song Teeth capture a tone of mournful disillusionment with social and religious systems. The first lines of "Apocryphal lament, Familiarity contempt" suggest that the singer is addressing falsehoods or myths, while the following lines about "seven scrolls baring teeth, insult and injury" point to an ominous, threatening force. The "cipher above which an ecumenical pose is struck" could refer to the use of coded language or symbols in a hypocritical way by those in power.
The refrain "A loss of teeth, a loss of sleep ad nauseam, a loss of peace" implies a sense of hopelessness or exhaustion, and the juxtaposition of "we preach wine and drink water" highlights the singers' frustration with those who claim to offer spiritual or societal nourishment but do not live up to their promises. This could be read as a commentary on the hypocrisy of religious or political leaders, or on the disillusionment of individuals who feel let down by institutionalized systems.
Overall, the lyrics to Teeth convey a sense of frustration and disillusionment with established systems, highlighting the contrast between what is promised and what is delivered.
Line by Line Meaning
Apocryphal lament
A sorrowful expression that is not genuine or authentic
Familiarity contempt
Dislike or disrespect due to excessive familiarity or overexposure
Seven scrolls baring teeth
Seven written works that are aggressive and confrontational
Insult and injury
Offensive language and harm inflicted
Cipher above which an Ecumenical pose is struck
A code or message that has a unifying appearance, but is actually divisive
A loss of teeth
The physical or symbolic loss of power or influence
A loss of sleep ad nauseam
Continuous anxiety or worry that causes sleeplessness
A loss of peace
A state of unrest or conflict
We preach wine
We promote and encourage indulgence and pleasure
And drink water
But we ourselves abstain from those same pleasures
Contributed by Amelia A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@woodard75
What happened to these guys?
@suddenlyxsuicide
Joel Woodard I read that a full-length was recorded for Matador, but nothing ever surfaced and the band seemed to have parted ways. Vocalist, Andrew Comer, but out an album under the name Bloody Amateur in 2013. Doesn't sound like Prosaics.
@woodard75
suddenlyxsuicide That's a bummer. I loved this EP. Listened to it all the time when it came out.