Tempter
Stereolab Lyrics

In Stereolab's song, "Tempter," the lyrics explore the complex emotions and inner conflict of living life in the middle ground between happiness and sadness. The words "boiling but not overflowing" suggest a sense of restlessness and unease with the current state. The following line, "fails to only make a better come back, more powerful and poignant and falls again," implies a repeated cycle of success and failure, never quite reaching a satisfying balance between the two emotions.

The lyrics then delve into the "destructive lust for life," which is erected on the verge and "pricked up like a picket." This can be interpreted as a dangerous and eager pursuit of pleasure, but with a sense of fragility and vulnerability. The final line, "fearing to respond to the tempting but malevolent call of the other side," suggests a struggle to resist temptation, with the acknowledgement that giving in could have negative consequences.

Overall, the lyrics in "Tempter" convey a deep introspection and contemplation of the human experience, particularly the struggle to balance conflicting emotions and desires.