Mark Burgess says:
"'Paper Tigers' referred to Killing Joke, we'd chased them down a corridor at a sound check and tried to kick their dressing room door in, me and Dave, they wouldn't come out. The lyrics are a reflection of my own paranoia though, I was doing wayyyyy too much whizz."
Paper Tigers
The Chameleons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Not enough and it makes me crazy
Too much makes me crazy
Not enough and it makes me lazy
Time stops just for a moment
Then again it's only an instant
Time stops just for an instant
They always keep themselves clean
Know what I mean?
You have to face them sooner or later
These tigers made of paper
Don't pay now
You have to pay later
Confront your tigers made of paper
They always keep themselves clean
I can't shake this feeling
Something's going to happen
The Chameleonsā āPaper Tigersā is a song about the emotional and psychological stress of facing the pressures of life. The lyrics refer to the difficulty of finding balance in oneās life ā too much of anything can lead to problems. The song starts with the lines āToo much makes me lazy / Not enough and it makes me crazyā, which suggest that itās hard to find a happy medium between too much and too little. Itās then followed by the refrain āTime stops just for a moment / Then again it's only an instant / Time stops just for an instant / Then again it's only a momentā, which suggests the fleeting nature of time and how important it is to take every opportunity.
The chorus of the song is about embracing one's fears and anxieties, represented by ātigers made of paper.ā The line āDon't pay now / You have to pay later / Confront your tigers made of paperā suggests that it's better to face your problems head-on rather than trying to avoid them. The songās lyrics are complemented by a hauntingly beautiful melody that captures the raw emotion and intensity of the song's message.
Overall, the song is a powerful message about facing life's difficulties, taking every opportunity and confronting one's fears head-on. The words and melody combined create a powerful, atmospheric and emotional experience for listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
Too much makes me lazy
When there's too much to do, I get overwhelmed and become unproductive
Not enough and it makes me crazy
When there's nothing to do, I become anxious and restless
Too much makes me crazy
Overloading myself with tasks leads to feelings of stress and being out of control
Not enough and it makes me lazy
Having nothing to do causes boredom and lethargy
Time stops just for a moment
There are brief moments in life that seem to pause time, where everything feels still
Then again it's only an instant
Yet these moments are fleeting and quickly pass by
Time stops just for an instant
These moments are brief and quick
Then again it's only a moment
While these moments are significant, they are also brief and fleeting
They always keep themselves clean
Some people manipulate their image to appear perfect and flawless
Know what I mean?
Do you understand the hidden meaning behind their pristine appearance?
You have to face them sooner or later
You can't avoid your problems forever
These tigers made of paper
Your problems may seem daunting, but they are not as significant as they appear
Don't pay now
It is easy to ignore your problems and push them aside
You have to pay later
However, avoiding your problems will only lead to more significant consequences down the line
Confront your tigers made of paper
You need to face your issues head-on and confront them directly
I can't shake this feeling
I can't ignore the sensation that something significant is going to happen
Something's going to happen
There is a sense of impending change or challenge on the horizon
Lyrics Ā© O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
AndrƩs Minaya
Too much and it makes me crazy
Not enough and it makes me lazy
Too much makes me lazy
Not enough and it makes me crazy
Time stops just for a moment
And then again it's only an instant
Time stops just for an instant
And then again it's only a moment
They always keep themselves clean
They always keep themselves clean
They always keep themselves clean
They always keep themselves clean
They always keep themselves clean
Clean
Know what I mean?
(Know what I mean?)
I wish that this feeling
Would go away
They're gonna get you sooner or later
These tigers made of paper
Don't pay now, you have to pay later
Confronting tigers made of paper
They always keep themselves clean
Yeah, they always keep themselves clean
They always keep themselves clean
They always keep themselves clean
They always keep themselves clean
Clean
I can't shake this feeling
I, I can't shake this feeling
No, I can't shake this feeling
Feeling
How do you feel?
slimjim45
its a big statement but i really think this is one of the greatest albums of all time. even forgetting the music, lyrics rarely get as insightful and deep and meaningful as this
Zack A.
Oh man, this band is legendary and that album is a masterpiece, each of the songs are great! I have no idea why they are so underestumated....
Ilaydwg
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sugarandspice4815
"Script of the Bridge" is one of the best debut albums ever.
D R
The songs on this album triggers my memory right back to a time and place in
My life back in the 80s I canāt thank this band enough
D R
The songs on this album triggers my memory right back to a time and place in
My life back in the 80s I want to thank this band for there amazing and incredible talent
Asthma Enthusiast
Finally got to see this performed live last night! Incredible show!
Theresa McGrory
Me too! saw them last Thursday it was incredible!
Solar M Folije za stakla
Greetings from Belgrade! ''The Chameleons'' were one of the best post punk bands ever heard! Fascinated! Besides of them,were ''The Killing joke'', ''Bauhaus'', ''Joy division'', ''Cocteu twins''!
Kjurczak
wÅaÅnie odkryÅem ten zespĆ³Å - jest niesamowity!