Founded by Creager in 1992, they have long held true to their mission of enlightening the common man as to the power and versatility of the mighty cello. Historically influenced, and constantly costumed, Rasputina keeps a small legion of incredibly passionate admirers enthralled with their earnest musicianship. Considered to be quite a pioneer and visionary, Melora and her group have inspired countless young people to pick up the cello, and have re-inspired many uninspired string players. Rasputina considers this to be the finest payment for their work.
Professional involvements have included Nirvana, Ultra Vivid Scene, Marilyn Manson, Porno For Pyros, Belle and Sebastian,and Cheap Trick.
Former Members of Rasputina:
Julia Kent (89-99)
Kris Cowperthwaite (00-02)
Zoë Keating (02-06)
Sarah Bowman (06-08)
Jonathon TeBeest (00-08)
Oh Injury
Rasputina Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He built a rotary cuff
His shoulder got smashed
He's gotta mend and repair
A device to work where
He got hit by the blast
Oh, woe is he
In front of his face
A mistreated machine
Can start acting mean
It can crack up all over the place
Oh, injury
What a nasty wound
Here--let me see
If you put metal inside of a man
He can work much faster than you can
With a toothpick, a penknife, a can opener
Oh, injury
One kind of folk,
They don't know it's broke
The others don't care
They just sit and complain
About some imagined pain
About some uncle who fell down the stairs
Since he got hurt
He don't go to work
We try to get by
He just sits in his chair
With a glazed-over stare
We can't help but ask ourselves why
Oh, injury
Oh, injury
Oh, injury
What a nasty wound
Here, let me see
If you put metal inside of a man
He can work much faster than you can
With a toothpick, a penknife, a can opener
Oh, injury
The song tells a story about a man who suffered a serious injury in his shoulder from an explosion. He is now unable to use his arm and has to repair a device that will allow him to function at work. The lyrics explore the struggles and pains of facing such an injury and how it can affect one's daily life. The singer highlights that some people are so used to feeling little or no pain that they don't understand when someone is truly injured, while others simply ignore or complain about their own trivial pains.
In the chorus, the lyrics suggest an unusual solution to the man's problem, implanting metal into his body so that he can work faster and better than he was able to before. This idea is an ironic commentary on the relationship between humans and machines, where we try to enhance our abilities by sacrificing our natural bodies. The chorus also serves as a reminder that even though physical wounds can cause deep pain and disability, they can also inspire creativity and innovation.
Overall, the song Oh Injury portrays the struggles of a man who has been seriously injured and explores the themes of pain, healing, and human-machine relationships. The lyrical imagery that Rasputina uses throughout the song is both poignant and ironic, adding depth and nuance to the message of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, my sweet love
A term of endearment refers to a romantic partner
He built a rotary cuff
He developed strong arm muscles through regular exercise
His shoulder got smashed
He sustained a serious injury to his shoulder joint
He's gotta mend and repair
He needs to recover from his injury and undergo rehabilitation to regain full function
A device to work where
He needs external support to perform tasks that require the use of his injured arm
He got hit by the blast
He suffered the consequences of an explosion or forceful impact
Oh, woe is he
An expression of sympathy or pity for his suffering
Unable to see
He is blind to his own limitations or the reality of his situation
In front of his face
His problems are right in front of him, yet he fails to acknowledge them
A mistreated machine
His body has been damaged by neglect or abuse
Can start acting mean
His body can turn against him, causing pain or discomfort
It can crack up all over the place
His body can break down in various ways, causing health issues or physical limitations
Oh, injury
A reference to the physical harm inflicted on his body
What a nasty wound
An expression of disgust or dismay at the severity of his injury
Here--let me see
A gesture of concern or willingness to assist him in his recovery
If you put metal inside of a man
A hypothetical scenario in which technology can augment or replace a person's body parts
He can work much faster than you can
An acknowledgment that technology can improve a person's ability to perform physical tasks
With a toothpick, a penknife, a can opener
A list of common household items that highlight the potential of technology to enhance a person's abilities
One kind of folk,
A reference to a certain type of people or mindset
They don't know it's broke
This group of people is unaware or ignorant of the harm caused by neglect or abuse
The others don't care
Another group of people is indifferent or apathetic to his suffering
They just sit and complain
This group of people is quick to voice their grievances without taking any action to help him
About some imagined pain
Their complaints are unfounded or exaggerated, unlike his real injury
About some uncle who fell down the stairs
An example of a trivial or irrelevant detail that has nothing to do with his situation
Since he got hurt
After his injury occurred
He don't go to work
His injury prevents him from performing his job duties
We try to get by
His family or loved ones struggle to make ends meet without his income
He just sits in his chair
He is physically limited and unable to engage in normal activities
With a glazed-over stare
He appears disengaged or in a daze due to his physical condition
We can't help but ask ourselves why
His loved ones are puzzled or frustrated by his lack of recovery or inability to adapt to his condition
Contributed by Josiah D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.