Chlorpromazine
The Agonist Lyrics
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So, I went to a neuro-surgeon inquisitively
to see what she could see.
But she only knows what she's taught
so I turned to a tree to see what he thought.
And he asked: when does three equal one plus one.
The answer is birth – life's creation.
Green turned to black, and life turned to ash.
Because I believe in everything,
I'm convinced of nothing.
United we ran – divided we crawl.
It just takes a common enemy
to make a friend.
Marry hope and fear, invent a color.
And so, it's gone as quickly as it came.
Raging tides galloped forth to extinguish the flames,
and, thus, was born a cloud above.
But all else was gone, and one plus one equaled one.
Because I believe in everything,
I'm convinced of nothing.
United we ran – divided we crawl.
It just takes a common enemy
to make a friend.
In harmony with gravity
always bring everything down.
Tear out your mother-tongue
chlorpromazine incursion
(the rights of the voiceless will be revealed)
Flesh is food and bone is stone.
A grey matter case for inner demons microphones.
Fields of shells that lurk in murky waters.
A bed of nails for less traumatic slumber.
Logic's taught but brains are sweet,
we've served ours up for the demons to feed.
Project loathsome apathy redefines reality.
Paranoid self-victimization
in a cage of skin rage
and intimidating lack of control
bring a once bright life to stone and ice.
The lyrics of The Agonist's Chlorpromazine are full of imagery, wordplay, and depth that require a keen sense of interpretation. The song appears to be discussing the complexity of human existence and the struggles that come with it. The opening lines "I awoke to a complex chemistry" may refer to the idea that humans are made up of various parts, both physical and emotional. The singer of the song seeks understanding and turns first to a neurosurgeon, but finding limited answers, then to a tree, which represents the natural world. When the tree asks the question, "when does three equal one plus one" the answer is birth, underscoring the value of life's creation.
The song then turns to the power of others and the concept of community. The lines "because I believe in everything, I'm convinced of nothing" suggest that while the singer has faith in the world around them, they are not entirely sure of anything. The chorus speaks to the importance of unity and finding common ground, even if it takes a common enemy to achieve it. The lines "marry hope and fear, invent a color" suggest that hope (positive) and fear (negative) must be balanced like two colors that when mixed together, create something entirely different.
The song continues with darker imagery, such as "tear out your mother-tongue" and "chlorpromazine incursion," which may be interpreted as speaking to the suppression of individuality and voice. The lines "flesh is food and bone is stone" and "a bed of nails for less traumatic slumber" suggest that the world can be a painful and unforgiving place. The song concludes with the idea that humans are often trapped by their own emotions and the lack of control to change them.
Line by Line Meaning
I awoke to a complex chemistry.
I woke up feeling overwhelmed by the complexity of my own biochemical makeup.
So, I went to a neuro-surgeon inquisitively to see what she could see.
I sought out a neurosurgeon to learn more about my brain and its functions.
But she only knows what she's taught so I turned to a tree to see what he thought.
The neurosurgeon could only provide textbook answers, so I turned to nature for a different perspective.
And he asked: when does three equal one plus one. The answer is birth – life's creation.
The tree posed a riddle about the creation of life and the answer was the moment of birth.
Then suddenly flames rushed past. Green turned to black, and life turned to ash.
A sudden catastrophe destroyed everything in its path, leaving destruction and death in its wake.
Because I believe in everything, I'm convinced of nothing.
I have an open mind and am willing to consider all possibilities, however, I am not set in my beliefs.
United we ran – divided we crawl. It just takes a common enemy to make a friend. Marry hope and fear, invent a color.
When faced with a common adversary, we can come together and form alliances. Combining positive and negative emotions can lead to new perspectives and solutions.
And so, it's gone as quickly as it came. Raging tides galloped forth to extinguish the flames, and, thus, was born a cloud above. But all else was gone, and one plus one equaled one.
The disaster ended as quickly as it began, leaving behind only the aftermath of destruction. All that remained was a new formation in the sky and the realization that many things are only truly understood when they are gone.
In harmony with gravity always bring everything down.
Everything eventually succumbs to the natural law of gravity, leading to a state of decay and destruction.
Tear out your mother-tongue chlorpromazine incursion (the rights of the voiceless will be revealed)
Speak out against oppressive forces that seek to silence you, and fight for the rights of those who cannot speak for themselves.
Flesh is food and bone is stone. A grey matter case for inner demons microphones. Fields of shells that lurk in murky waters. A bed of nails for less traumatic slumber.
The physical world is filled with objects that can harm or metaphorically consume us, while our own minds can be sources of inner turmoil and negativity.
Logic's taught but brains are sweet, we've served ours up for the demons to feed. Project loathsome apathy redefines reality. Paranoid self-victimization in a cage of skin rage and intimidating lack of control bring a once bright life to stone and ice.
Our education may teach us rational thinking, but our own minds can often succumb to the forces of negativity and pessimism. These forces can turn our once vibrant selves into a lifeless, frozen shell.
Because I believe in everything, I'm convinced of nothing. United we ran – divided we crawl. It just takes a common enemy to make a friend.
Reiteration of the earlier verses emphasizing the importance of keeping an open mind and forming alliances against common adversaries.
Contributed by Skyler E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.