Degenerate
The Jesus & Mary Chain Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was a car smash
She was a car smash
We did the car crash
I said the police
I kiss the police
I killed the police man
My mother kill my darkend soul
My mother kill my darkend soul
My mother lit my darkend soul
I got the stone look
I done the stone truck
I got the stoned look in my eye
Disease yeah
A disease yeah
A disease yeah
My lover touch my darkened soul
My lover touch my darkened soul
My lover lit my darkened soul
And now I know just where to go
I was a whore hound
I was a snake hound
I was a coke hound
I was the bad scene
I was the bad gene
I was the bad dream
My lover touch my darkened soul
My lover touch my darkened soul
My lover lit my darkened soul
And now I know just where to go
The Jesus & Mary Chain's song "Degenerate" is a haunting expression of self-destruction and primal desires. The song starts with a subject who seems to be obsessed with car crashes and police officers. The lyrics "I was a car smash, She was a car smash, We did the car crash, I said the police, I kiss the police, I killed the police man" demonstrate the warped desire of a person who wants to experience excitement by doing things they shouldn't. The next set of lyrics describe how this person's mother possibly contributed to their messed up psyche: "My mother kill my darkened soul, My mother lit my darkened soul."
The chorus of the song consists of only one word: "disease." Perhaps this is a commentary on the human condition or a reflection of the singer's self-loathing. The next set of lyrics detail the singer's addiction to drugs and bad behavior: "I was a whore hound, I was a snake hound, I was a coke hound...I was the bad scene, I was the bad gene, I was the bad dream." However, there is a glimmer of hope in the final lines of the song as the singer's lover touches and lights up their "darkened soul" and they figure out where to go.
Overall, "Degenerate" is a dark and complex exploration of self-destructive tendencies and the possibility for redemption.
Line by Line Meaning
I was a car smash
I was a complete disaster or mess
She was a car smash
She was also a complete disaster or mess
We did the car crash
We intentionally caused or engaged in a car accident
I said the police
I had interaction with the police
I kiss the police
I had a physical encounter with the police
I killed the police man
I ended a relationship or interaction with the police due to my actions
My mother kill my darkend soul
My mother caused me to feel deeply sad or distressed
My mother lit my darkend soul
My mother provided me with a solution or sense of hope for my sadness or distress
I got the stone look
I had a blank, unresponsive facial expression or attitude
I done the stone truck
I experienced a state of emotional numbness or unresponsiveness
I got the stoned look in my eye
I appeared like I was under the influence of drugs, with glazed or unfocused eyes
Disease yeah
I have a condition that negatively affects my physical or emotional wellbeing
A disease yeah
This condition I have is particularly severe or problematic
My lover touch my darkened soul
My partner (a source of comfort or love) attempted to help me with my sadness or distress
My lover lit my darkened soul
My partner was successful in helping me achieve a sense of hope or relief from my sadness or distress
And now I know just where to go
I am now aware of what path or action to take in order to find a sense of meaning or purpose
I was a whore hound
I engaged in promiscuous behavior with a disregard for ethics or morality
I was a snake hound
I was manipulative or untrustworthy in my interactions with others
I was a coke hound
I struggled with addiction to cocaine
I was the bad scene
I was an unpleasant or problematic situation
I was the bad gene
I had problematic or faulty traits that were genetically inherited
I was the bad dream
I was a source of regret or unpleasant memories
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rockgardner
I was a car smash
She was a car smash
We did the car crash
I said the police
I kiss the police
I killed the police man
My mother kill my darkend soul
My mother kill my darkend soul
My mother lit my darkend soul
I got the stone look
I done the stone truck
I got the stoned look in my eye
Disease yeah
A disease yeah
A disease yeah
My lover touch my darkened soul
My lover touch my darkened soul
My lover lit my darkened soul
And now I know just where to go
I was a whore hound
I was a snake hound
I was a coke hound
I was the bad scene
I was the bad gene
I was the bad dream
My lover touch my darkened soul
My lover touch my darkened soul
My lover lit my darkened soul
And now I know just where to go
@LivyathanAD
One of THE greatest songs of all time.
@vladimirlatinovic7494
Supppperrr!!!!??
@johnbatcheller258
There goes a quiet, relaxing evening. Now my ears are ringing.
@vannjunkin8041
Ikr. Sucked in the fucking vortex
@mollys1439
everything about this song is great
@user-zm6on1fo4o
私がジザメリを初めて聴いたライブのオープニングの曲でした。
その時からジザメリといえばこの曲です❤️
@Jairuin1
Fukin love this album!!!
@sergiabreu
what a fucking tune man
@vasdecabeza2
Great!. That reminds me "TV Eye" song by The Stooges.
@Itsa6stringthang
The Stooges were the greatest rock and roll band of all time! My hometown legends....