Meltdown
Steve Taylor Lyrics

Meltdown at Madame Tussaud's, the queen is losing face
The wax figures at Madame Tussaud's are melting, causing the Queen's figure to literally lose its face, which is a national embarrassment.

Meltdown at Madame Tussaud's, a national disgrace
The melting wax figures are a disgrace to the country, as Madame Tussaud's is a popular tourist attraction that reflects British culture.

It's the middle of the night at the London shrine
The events are taking place at a late hour at the museum.

Could have been the janitor, could have been divine
The cause of the melting could have been anything from a simple mistake by the night staff to an act of divine intervention.

Someone said the thermostat never did work
One possible cause of the melting is that the thermostat in the museum failed to regulate the temperature.

Now we've got the temperature going berserk
As a result of the malfunctioning thermostat, the temperature inside the museum is rising rapidly and uncontrollably.

Celebrities, statesmen, history's elite
The wax figures include those of famous people from various fields, such as politics, entertainment, and history.

They're dripping in the hallways, they're starting to secrete
The wax figures are melting to the point of dripping wax-like sweat in the museum's corridors.

They're pouring out the pores, they're shrinking on the spot
The heat is making the wax figures lose their shape, and they are melting from their pores.

Someone take a photograph, get 'em while they're hot
Witnesses are urged to document the melting wax figures, as this is a once-in-a-lifetime event.

Meltdown at Madame Tussaud's, the president looks alarmed
Even the wax figure of the President of the United States wears an expression of anxiety as he melts down.

Meltdown at Madame Tussaud's, a general's been disarmed
The melting wax figure of a general, a symbol of power and authority, appears vulnerable and helpless.

Feverish at Fleet Street, story of the year
The news of the melting wax figures is creating a sensation in the media.

"Get the Facts, House of Wax Photo Souvenir"
The tourist industry is now selling photo souvenirs of the wax figures as they melt down.

"Shameful" Says the Times. "Maybe Done By Vandals"
Some blame the melting on vandalism, and there is a sense of shame and outrage in the press.

Panic on Wall Street, put your stock in candles
The financial market is reacting to the news by speculating in candles, a symbol of the historic power failure in the city.

I thought I heard a ghost say
The artist is now shifting to a metaphorical level and implies that the events he describes have a deeper, spiritual meaning.

"had my hands in my pockets on the Judgment Day
The ghost speaker is admitting to not living up to a higher calling or principle and being passive in his actions.

Nobody told me there's fire in the hole
The singer is expressing despair at the realization that there are hidden dangers in the world that can cause chaos and destruction.

Had the world by the tail but I lost my soul"
The artist feels he has lost something valuable even though he had everything one could wish for.

Meltdown at Madame Tussaud's, a rock & roll hotel
Even the wax figures of rock and roll legends are not immune to the meltdown; the artist metaphorically refers to the museum as a "hotel" for the wax figures on display.

Meltdown at Madame Tussaud's, they're blending very well
As the different wax figures melt, their identities start to merge, and they lose their individual characteristics.

Elvis and the Beatles have seen a better day
The once-popular wax figures of rock and roll icons are now melting and losing their power of attraction.

Better off to burn out than to melt away
The artist implies that it is better to make an epic, short-lived impact than to slowly deteriorate.

Dylan may be fillin' the puddle they designed
Even the figure of Bob Dylan, a symbol of non-conformity and rebellion, is melting down.

Is it gonna take a miracle to make up his mind?
The singer wonders whether Dylan's wax figure melting is a metaphor for the musician himself changing his stance on his art and values.

Meltdown at Madame Tussaud's, athletes on the floor
The melting wax figures include those of athletes.

Meltdown at Madame Tussaud's, they're running out the door
People are leaving the museum in a state of panic and shock.

Bad boy McEnroe couldn't keep his cool
Even the wax figure of the famously temperamental tennis player John McEnroe is melting down.

Now he's with the rest of 'em, wading in the pool
The once-distinct wax figures are now blending together in a pool of melted wax.

"Howard Hughes, Billionaire" says the written guide
The singer is reading the description of other melting wax figures, including the billionaire Howard Hughes.

Pity that his assets have all been liquefied
The pun portrays the irony of the situation: even though Howard Hughes's empire of wealth once seemed unshakeable, his figure has now melted down.

"Celebrity status only got in the way
The artist - likely the ghost figure from earlier - argues that being famous can be a hindrance or a distraction from following a higher calling.

You can't take it with you, there's fire in the hole
The artist is suggesting that material possessions, including fame, are ephemeral and that there are unpredictable forces in the world that can cause ruin.