It all started with "The Fratellis," Stolen Babies' original 12+ member group. Horns blared, oversized dolls jumped out of toy boxes, squabbles were had, babies were stolen, turned into flies and fed to giant spiders. Eventually, the blundering theatrics came to an end, but the four stuck together.
More misadventure, more junk food...
Taking their name from a song/skit from the early days, Stolen Babies have been described as playing prog-pop-cabaret-thrash-quirky-goth-rock. Mostly though, they would just like to think that their songs are fun to dance and fall down to.
It's nearly impossible to talk about Stolen Babies without mentioning their ongoing collaboration with graphic novelist extraordinaire Crab Scrambly. His artwork has graced their early releases, website and merch. More notably you can see Crab's original paintings that provide the otherworldly landscapes to Stolen Babies video "Push Button," and of course the artwork for the bands debut full length album "There Be Squabbles Ahead," which was recorded and produced by Dan Rathburn of Sleepytime Gorilla Museum. Which now brings Stolen Babies to...the beginning of The End.
STOLEN BABIES are:
Dominique Persi - lead vocals, face paint keeping, accordion sprinkling
Rani Sharone - electric and upright bass swapping, mental guitar playing, programming, sampling, vocals
Ben Rico - multiple keyboard reaching, beating, vocals
Gil Sharone (The Dillinger Escape Plan) - aggressive drumming
Oakland, California, USA in 2002
Gathering Fingers
Stolen Babies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd hoped to rely on something else
I'm sure it isn't right
I know someone should anchor me
But if you had heard the things I did
How anyone like that could live?
I'm sorry you had to see this side of me
A mistake has fallen on my knuckles
Desperately, my wish is to main you
And no one should ever have to feel that way
Taking over the better half of the conscience
No control, no better way to resolve it
Can't see with the blood seeping
Red and rushed, frozen speech
Stinging scales of skin scraping
Scales and skin scraping
Can't think with the heart speeding
I'm ashamed this had to be
And no one can take your place
The last thing you see will be this side of me
The lyrics of Stolen Babies's song "Gathering Fingers" seem to be about a person who is struggling with their inner demons and is about to unleash them onto someone else. The first two lines of the song suggest that the singer is feeling angry or violent and is looking for a fight. However, they are also aware that this isn't right and that they should have something or someone to anchor them.
The lines "But if you had heard the things I did / How anyone like that could live?" suggest that the singer has experienced some kind of trauma that has led them to this point. They are deeply disturbed by what they have seen or done, and are struggling to find a way to cope with it. The lines "I'm sorry you had to see this side of me / A mistake has fallen on my knuckles" suggest that the singer has already acted on their violent impulses, and is now regretting it.
The chorus of the song, with the lines "No control, no better way to resolve it / And no one can take your place / The last thing you see will be this side of me," suggest that the singer has lost control of their actions and is now consumed by their anger or violence. They are aware that their actions will have consequences, but they are unable to stop themselves. The song is a powerful exploration of the dark side of human nature and the struggle to control our impulses.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm going to start a fight, it's clinging to my eyes
I am overwhelmed with the urge to fight and it's making me feel agitated.
I'd hoped to rely on something else
I had hoped to find another solution rather than fighting.
I'm sure it isn't right
I am aware that fighting is not the correct way to handle this situation.
I know someone should anchor me
I need someone to help calm me down and stop me from starting a fight.
But if you had heard the things I did
If you knew what I had just found out, you would understand why I'm feeling this way.
How anyone like that could live?
I can't comprehend how someone could do what I just found out and still be alive.
I'm sorry you had to see this side of me
I regret showing you my angry and violent side.
A mistake has fallen on my knuckles
I made a mistake and ended up punching someone as a result.
Desperately, my wish is to main you
I have a strong desire to hurt you badly.
And no one should ever have to feel that way
No one should have to feel the desire to hurt another person.
Taking over the better half of the conscience
The urge to fight is controlling my conscience and making it difficult for me to think clearly.
No control, no better way to resolve it
I have no control over the situation and can't think of a better way to solve it.
Can't see with the blood seeping
I can't see properly because there is blood in my eyes.
Red and rushed, frozen speech
I am feeling overwhelmed and my speech is stuttering.
Stinging scales of skin scraping
I am experiencing a painful scraping sensation on my skin.
Scales and skin scraping
The scraping sensation is getting worse and I can feel it on my scales.
Can't think with the heart speeding
My heart is beating so fast that it's making it difficult for me to think.
I'm ashamed this had to be
I feel ashamed that I let my anger get the best of me and I ended up causing harm.
And no one can take your place
You are irreplaceable and no one else can fill your shoes.
The last thing you see will be this side of me
I regret that the last thing you will remember about me is my angry and violent side.
Contributed by Kennedy D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.