Within the alternative world, Seven Mary Three have often been compared to … Read Full Bio ↴Within the alternative world, Seven Mary Three have often been compared to the mainstream-sounding, garage/arena rock of post-Ten Pearl Jam, but the group insists that their refusal to alienate themselves from the rest of the world makes them different. Instead, Seven Mary Three offer songs concerning self-discovery and true outsiders isolated from society. Based in Virginia (where the bandmates attended the College of William and Mary), Seven Mary Three signed to the Mammoth label after releasing a self-produced album, Churn, in 1994. The album -- particularly its gritty lead single, "Cumbersome" -- generated a healthy buzz in Florida, and radio stations in Orlando began devoting significant airtime to the band. Seven Mary Three relocated to the Orlando area and re-recorded their old songs, which were packaged alongside two new cuts to round out the band's proper debut, 1995's American Standard. With "Cumbersome" enjoying national success, the album went platinum and won the group a contract with Atlantic Records. Rock Crown followed in 1997, and a year later Seven Mary Three returned with their third LP, Orange Ave. Neither record enjoyed as much recognition as American Standard, but the band continued to release albums into the following decade, issuing The Economy of Sound in 2001 and Dis/Location three years later. Seven Mary Three signed with New York's Icon Records in late 2007, and the following year saw the release of their sixth effort, DAY&NIGHTDRIVING. Steve Huey, All Music Guide

Lamé
Seven Mary Three Lyrics

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There's a tall, a mulatto. boy I know
And he comes to every party - he stands alone
Viewing them the rest, from the corner of his glance
It gets so clear, he's not judging anyone

The way his arms float around his cage, he's caged
Canary sings, silently brings, his voice to rage
The way they stop and stare, the way they turn their heads

It's enough to make him want to run away
But he stays, he stands his ground

And I'm so lame
The way I condescend without ever knowing his name
He keeps it in a box, hangs it from his ear
Looks at everyone without the slightest fear
It's making me so ashamed

Slender body, slip through his glance
I don't give him a single chance
The way he's rocking back and forth
Makes a buzzing in my ear
Constantly reminding me that I never stop to hear
Him say hello, hello

And I am so lame
Like a moth bumping off his godless flame
I cannot condescend or even apprehend, what comes over me
When I see his shameless face

So rage, please rage against me
Beat me down, beat me down, forgive me

For what I've done, I'm so lame, I'm so lame, I'm so lame
So lame, so lame, so lame

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Seven Mary Three's "Lame" speak to a sense of shame and self-awareness in the singer as he observes a tall, mulatto boy at a party. The boy stands alone, observing the rest of the partygoers, seemingly not judging anyone. However, the singer realizes that he himself is condescending towards the boy without even knowing his name. He is ashamed of how he perceives the boy as being caged and restrained, with a voice that silently rages against those who stop and stare.

Despite this shame, the singer is unable to overcome his own biases and prejudices. He sees the boy as rocking back and forth, making a buzzing in his ear that reminds him of his own failure to truly hear and connect with others. It is clear that the boy is unashamed of who he is, and this lack of fear makes the singer all the more aware of his own shortcomings.

Ultimately, the singer begs for the boy to rage against him, to beat him down and forgive him for his lameness. The song reflects a sense of self-awareness and a desire for change in the singer, while also highlighting the struggles of those who may not fit into societal norms.

Line by Line Meaning

There's a tall, a mulatto. boy I know
I know a tall mixed race boy

And he comes to every party - he stands alone
At every party he attends, he's always standing by himself

Viewing them the rest, from the corner of his glance
He watches the others discreetly and quietly from a distance

It gets so clear, he's not judging anyone
It becomes evident that he isn't passing judgement on others

The way his arms float around his cage, he's caged
The way he moves his arms shows that he feels trapped and restrained

Canary sings, silently brings, his voice to rage
He sings inwardly, allowing himself to express and release his anger and frustration

The way they stop and stare, the way they turn their heads
The way everyone else fixes their gaze on him and avoids him

It's enough to make him want to run away
He feels so uncomfortable and isolated that he considers leaving

But he stays, he stands his ground
Despite his discomfort, he stays where he is and doesn't let others push him out

And I'm so lame
I feel embarrassed and inadequate

The way I condescend without ever knowing his name
I realize that I've talked down to him without even bothering to learn his name

He keeps it in a box, hangs it from his ear
He wears his identity and individuality like a badge of honor

Looks at everyone without the slightest fear
He gazes at others unafraid and with confidence

It's making me so ashamed
I feel ashamed and regretful of how I've treated him

Slender body, slip through his glance
His gaze glides over the slender bodies in the room

I don't give him a single chance
I don't give him the opportunity to be seen or heard

The way he's rocking back and forth
His nervous and restless movements

Makes a buzzing in my ear
It sends a feeling of unease through my mind

Constantly reminding me that I never stop to hear
It brings to light the fact that I never stop and listen to him

Him say hello, hello
When all he wants is for someone to acknowledge him and be friendly

And I am so lame
I realize how ignorant and insensitive I've been

Like a moth bumping off his godless flame
My misguided arrogance blinds me like a moth to his lack of religion

I cannot condescend or even apprehend, what comes over me
I can't understand or explain why I treat him the way I do

When I see his shameless face
When I see how unaffected and resilient he is in the face of adversity

So rage, please rage against me
I plead for him to unleash his full anger and resentment on me

Beat me down, beat me down, forgive me
I beg for him to punish me and then forgive me for my behavior

For what I've done, I'm so lame, I'm so lame, I'm so lame
I take full responsibility for how I've treated him and feel immense shame for it

So lame, so lame, so lame
I repeat how remorseful and ashamed I am for my behavior

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SCOTT RUSSO, ROBERT BREWER, STEVEN MORRIS, WADE YOUMAN, JOHN P. BELL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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