The Final Cut
The Cotones Lyrics


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You’re a nine to five job
You're a butcher that's been slain
You’re a high-brow low-life midwife
You’re a cross that's up in flames
You’re a leper that’s been euthanized
You’re an ass that went lame
You’re an alcoholic mom
Who's drunk on cheap champagne
Don’t you love that you made
Made the final cut?
The movie’s playing forwards
Now the door's been shut
Don’t you love that you made
Made the final cut?
The scars have been healed
I even pity you somewhat
You’re a bible-beltist preacher
You’re the spit that’s out of spite
You’re the raging, fucking lunatic
That Congress can't indict
You’re the shit beneath my boot
You’re a J without a light
You’re a carcass to me now
You're just a character I write
Don’t you love that you made
Made the final cut?
The movie’s playing forwards
Now the door's been shut
Don’t you love that you made
Made the final cut?





You're older and you're sorry?
Well I couldn't give a fuck

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "The Final Cut" by The Cotones present a vivid tapestry of societal archetypes, embodying what can be considered the darker traits and struggles of humanity. The opening lines explore conventional roles—like a nine-to-five job or a butcher—suggesting that these personas are trapped in a cycle of monotony or suffering. The mention of being a “butcher that’s been slain” evokes the idea of someone who is tasked with taking life but ultimately becomes a victim themselves. The following lines depict an amalgamation of conflicting identities: a “high-brow low-life midwife” signifies a contradiction, as midwives typically facilitate life while embodying a lowly existence. This duality continues with references to destruction and decay—like a “leper that’s been euthanized” and an “alcoholic mom” drowning in cheap wine, underscoring social issues and personal demons. These images create a poignant commentary on how individuals often fail to live up to their potential or fade into insignificance, feeling like mere characters within a story they didn’t author.


The chorus, "Don’t you love that you made the final cut?" introduces a reflective and somewhat sardonic tone. This phrase may imply a sense of forced acceptance regarding one’s plight; the “final cut” suggests a level of resignation to one’s fate or the end of a narrative arc where the subject becomes aware of their role in the story. The juxtaposition of the movie playing "forwards" while the "door's been shut" denotes a sense of hopelessness, as if time continues to move on, yet opportunities and possibilities are sealed off. It hints at a loss of agency, emphasizing that the choices and changes one could have made are now unavailable. The singer seems to celebrate an ironic victory in seeing someone reach this finality, even as they express mock pity toward them, reinforcing the complexity of human relationships and perceptions.


As the song progresses, the lyrics delve into even more polarizing characterizations—the “bible-beltist preacher” juxtaposed with a “raging, fucking lunatic” who operates outside the law evokes a critique of hypocrisy within moral and religious frameworks. These lines serve to reflect the chaos that often permeates societal institutions and highlight the struggle between man’s purported virtues and his vices. The stark contrast of being “the shit beneath my boot” denotes an utter disregard for individuals who embody these roles, suggesting contempt for personas that lack depth or authenticity. In stating “you’re a carcass to me now,” the singer detaches themselves emotionally from the discussed figures, emphasizing that they have reduced them to mere subjects in their narrative—a reflection on how modern society can lead to emotional numbness and objectification.


Ultimately, the concluding lines—“You're older and you're sorry? Well I couldn't give a fuck”—emphasize a burgeoning indifference or burnout from the singer. This statement encapsulates themes of disillusionment in personal and societal relationships. It captures the essence of a speaker who has grown weary of the struggles inherent in human existence and carries a sense of liberation in rejecting sympathy for those who have failed to change or seek redemption. Rather than embracing sorrow for the struggles of the individuals recounted, the singer exhibits a readiness to move on, reinforcing a narrative that challenges notions of empathy and shared humanity. In this, "The Final Cut" emerges not just as a personal lament but as an indictment of complacency, apathy, and the inevitability of the roles we play in life’s complex drama.


Line by Line Meaning

You’re a nine to five job
You represent the monotonous routine of everyday work.


You're a butcher that's been slain
You embody the idea of someone who has faced their own destruction or downfall.


You’re a high-brow low-life midwife
You are someone who pretends to be sophisticated but is actually beneath that facade.


You’re a cross that's up in flames
You symbolize something sacred that is being destroyed or desecrated.


You’re a leper that’s been euthanized
You represent someone marginalized, whose suffering has ultimately led to their end.


You’re an ass that went lame
You are someone who has lost their ability to carry their burdens, becoming useless.


You’re an alcoholic mom
You encapsulate the image of a neglectful caretaker caught in addiction.


Who's drunk on cheap champagne
You indulge in superficial pleasures that lack true value or satisfaction.


Don’t you love that you made
Do you feel pride in what you've accomplished, despite its nature?


Made the final cut?
You've succeeded in being selected for something significant, perhaps at a personal cost.


The movie’s playing forwards
Life continues to move ahead, regardless of past choices.


Now the door's been shut
Opportunities have closed and cannot be revisited.


Don’t you love that you made
Again inviting reflection on your sense of achievement amid consequences.


Made the final cut?
Reiterating your success in a way that carries its own burden.


The scars have been healed
Visible wounds may have mended, but the emotional impact lingers.


I even pity you somewhat
Despite everything, there is a lingering sense of compassion for your plight.


You’re a bible-beltist preacher
You represent someone who is rigid in beliefs, possibly hypocritical.


You’re the spit that’s out of spite
You are an act of contempt or negativity, the result of resentment.


You’re the raging, fucking lunatic
You are characterized by extreme, uncontrollable behavior.


That Congress can't indict
Your actions are reckless and out of reach of conventional accountability.


You’re the shit beneath my boot
You are the lowest form of filth, unworthy of consideration.


You’re a J without a light
You are a lost soul, lacking direction or purpose.


You’re a carcass to me now
You have become empty and devoid of meaning or life.


You're just a character I write
You exist merely as a narrative device in my story rather than a person.


Don’t you love that you made
Once again questioning the pride in your existence amid the chaos.


Made the final cut?
Encouraging contemplation on the significance of your accomplishments.


The movie’s playing forwards
Life is continuing on, detached from past grievances.


Now the door's been shut
No return to previous chances or opportunities.


Don’t you love that you made
Again probing your feelings about your journey.


Made the final cut?
Inviting reflection on the bittersweet nature of your success.


You're older and you're sorry?
You acknowledge the passage of time and resulting regrets.


Well I couldn't give a fuck
Your feelings of remorse are of no concern to me anymore.




Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Luke Frees

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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