The Breeders is an alternative rock band based in Dayton, Ohio, USA. The ba… Read Full Bio ↴The Breeders is an alternative rock band based in Dayton, Ohio, USA. The band was first formed by Kim Deal and Tanya Donelly in 1989. Originally intended as a side-project for Deal and Donelly while still in their full-time bands Pixies and Throwing Muses, respectively, The Breeders quickly became Deal's primary recording outlet. The original line-up also included bassist Josephine Wiggs of The Perfect Disaster, and drummer Britt Walford of Slint. The band has had several lineup changes over the years, with frontwoman Kim Deal being the band's sole continuous member; Deal's twin sister Kelley Deal joined in 1992, and has remained in the band ever since.

Mad Lucas
The Breeders Lyrics

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Idiots and palsied
Blink in corners we leave

Know you like to be seen
Moral insanities

Arise, wash your face
From cinder and soot

You're a nuisance
And I Don't like Dirt

Tale of cities
Hermit of Redcoat's green

Hermit of Redcoat's green
Open Sesame

Eternal Providence
Open Sesame

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of The Breeders' song Mad Lucas encapsulate a narrative that is highly evocative of the mental state of an individual who is grappling with issues like anxiety or depression. The opening line 'Idiots and palsied. Blink in corners we leave' could be interpreted as an allusion to the sense of detachment and alienation that such individuals often feel from the rest of the world. The line that follows, 'Know you like to be seen/Moral insanities' reflects the double-edged sword that is the desire for visibility, wherein the same scrutiny that can bring validation can also amplify one's sense of vulnerability.

Line by Line Meaning

Idiots and palsied
People with intellectual and physical disabilities

Blink in corners we leave
Are ignored and neglected by society

Know you like to be seen
You crave attention and recognition

Moral insanities
Your actions go against the norms and ethics of society

Arise, wash your face
Get up and clean yourself up

From cinder and soot
From the dirt and grime of your surroundings

You're a nuisance
You are causing inconvenience and annoyance to others

And I Don't like Dirt
The filth and dirt around you is repulsive

Tale of cities
Stories of urban areas

Hermit of Redcoat's green
A person who lives in isolation in a park named Redcoat's Green

Open Sesame
A magical phrase used to open a door