Pomp And Circumstances
Smashing Pumpkins/Musicfire.in Lyrics
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When I was freed I fought
Now that I'm loved I'm caught
Between the rest and this tragic mess
An invited guest
Torn, broken and frayed
Oh don't we face
Oh won't you stay
For a while
We can fail in style
I can hold your smile
For a while
What was once new now gone
What was once praised now wrong
As they go, we can say we know
But what do we know
But warm sunshine and graves
Don't we see
What's bitter to taste
Torn, broken and frayed
Don't we face
War, sunshine and graves
Won't you stay
'Cause I won't tell
I won't tell a soul
That I'm mad as hell
Torn, broken and frayed
I'm torn, broken and frayed
No, I'm cold, worn out and shamed
The lyrics to Smashing Pumpkins' "Pomp And Circumstance" are quite cryptic and open to a lot of different interpretations. The first stanza seems to be reflecting on the struggles of life, with the singer feeling like they have lost from the moment they were born, and then they fought to be free, only to end up caught between the "rest" (perhaps meaning the monotony of everyday life) and a "tragic mess". The line "an invited guest" seems to suggest that the singer feels somewhat out of place or unwelcome in their current situation.
The second stanza continues this theme, with the singer feeling torn, broken, and frayed, and facing war, sunshine, and grace (which could represent different forces or emotions pulling them in different directions). They implore the listener to stay with them for a while, so they can "fail in style" and the singer can hold their smile. These lines could be interpreted in different ways, but it seems to convey a sense of wanting companionship in one's struggles and finding a small joy or solace in the midst of tough times.
The final stanza is perhaps the most striking, with the singer professing that they are "mad as hell" but won't tell anyone. They then repeat the phrases "torn, broken, and frayed" and "cold, worn out, and shamed", suggesting that they are feeling a lot of pain and turmoil but are trying to keep it hidden.
Some fans have speculated that this song is about frontman Billy Corgan's personal struggles, while others see it as a reflection of the state of the world at large. Overall, the lyrics to "Pomp And Circumstances" are very abstract and could be interpreted in many different ways, but they definitely convey a strong sense of emotional turmoil and a need for connection or companionship in tough times.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was born I lost
From the moment of birth, life took things from me
When I was freed I fought
When I gained my freedom, I had to fight to keep it
Now that I'm loved I'm caught
Now that I'm loved, there are things I'm forced to do
Between the rest and this tragic mess
Caught between a feeling of normalcy and a terrible situation
An invited guest
In this situation by choice, but still unsure
Torn, broken and frayed
Emotionally and mentally devastated
Oh don't we face
Aren't we confronting
War, sunshine and grace
The ugliness of conflict, along with moments of beauty and kindness
Oh won't you stay
Please stay with me
For a while
Just for a little bit
We can fail in style
Even if we fail, let's do it in our own way
I can hold your smile
I'll try to make you happy
What was once new now gone
The things that were once new and exciting to us are now gone
What was once praised now wrong
Things that were once seen as good are now seen as bad
As they go, we can say we know
As things change, we can pretend to understand them
But what do we know
In reality, we don't really know anything
But warm sunshine and graves
All we know for sure is the warmth of the sun and the finality of death
Don't we see
Can't we understand
What's bitter to taste
That life can be difficult and hard to endure
Cause I won't tell
I won't disclose
I won't tell a soul
I won't tell anyone
That I'm mad as hell
That I'm furious and angry
No, I'm cold, worn out and shamed
Actually, I'm feeling quite drained, exhausted and ashamed
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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@hatchetman4206667
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