Known for their energetic live shows and concept albums, The Mars Volta formed following the break-up of Rodríguez-López and Bixler-Zavala's previous band, At the Drive-In. Seeking to experiment and expand their sound, Rodríguez-López and Bixler-Zavala recruited Gardner, Isaiah "Ikey" Owens (keyboards), Jon Theodore (drums) and Jeremy Ward (sound manipulation) to form The Mars Volta. The band released their debut EP, Tremulant, in 2002, with Gardner leaving the band prior to recording their debut album, De-Loused in the Comatorium. She was replaced by Red Hot Chili Peppers bass guitarist Flea for the sessions. The Rick Rubin-produced album received widespread critical acclaim upon its release in 2003.
The band's second studio album, Frances the Mute (2005), was self-produced by Rodríguez-López and was the first to feature longterm members Juan Alderete (bass) and Marcel Rodríguez-López. The album debuted at #4 on the US Billboard 200 and became the band's biggest commercial success, selling over 500,000 copies in the US and achieving Gold certification from the RIAA. The band's third studio album, Amputechture, was released in 2006 and was the last album to feature Theodore. In 2008, the band released The Bedlam in Goliath, a concept album inspired by the band's turbulent experiences with a ouija-type talking board. The album's first single, "Wax Simulacra" was awarded a Grammy Award in 2009 for Best Hard Rock Performance. The band released its fifth album, Octahedron, in June 2009.
Following the release of their sixth album, Noctourniquet (2012), and a run of reunion shows with At the Drive-In, The Mars Volta entered a hiatus in September 2012. Rodríguez-López subsequently formed a new project, Bosnian Rainbows, and the band formally broke up after disagreements between Rodríguez-López and Bixler-Zavala. The duo repaired their friendship and reunited in 2014 for a new project, Antemasque, and further At the Drive-In tours and recording sessions.
Reuniting in secret in 2019, Rodríguez-López and Bixler-Zavala recorded a new studio album, The Mars Volta, with Gardner, Marcel Rodríguez-López and drummer Willy Rodriguez Quiñones. The band announced their reunion – after ten years of public inactivity – with an art installation called L'ytome Hodorxí Telesterion, in June 2022. For the band's live return, jazz pianist Leo Genovese and drummer Linda-Philomène Tsoungui were added to the line-up.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mars_Volta
Studio albums
De-Loused in the Comatorium (2003)
Frances the Mute (2005)
Amputechture (2006)
The Bedlam in Goliath (2008)
Octahedron (2009)
Noctourniquet (2012)
The Mars Volta (2022)
Que Dios Te Maldiga Mi Corazon (2023)
Eunuch Provocateur
The Mars Volta Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A wardrobe of eunuchs
Seconds collide
Till the Padisha scandal
The cauldrons have eyes
By way of racket and vice
A brothel's bedpan
Filled with demi - monde lice
De - loused in the comatorium
The Al Sirat hides behind
A wardrobe of eunuchs
Seconds collide
Till the padisha scandal
Tribunals installed
Now that the Provoste
Has been de - frocked
The labefaction is venal
My how these tricks turn themselves
In the wake of the inquisition
Limbless answers inoculated
I've caught Mono bobbing for barbed wire
These nasty sores of Ataxia
Will feel the sting
Of the opiate copulation
The lyrics of The Mars Volta’s Eunuch Provocateur paint a vivid picture of a mysterious setting filled with intrigue and scandal. The song speaks of the Al Sirat, a bridge that separates heaven and hell in Islamic mythology. The Al Sirat is depicted as hiding behind a wardrobe of eunuchs, adding to the eerie and otherworldly tone of the song. The lyrics describe a scandal involving a Padisha, which adds to the sense of political conspiracies and power struggles that are evoked. The imagery of brothel bedpan filled with lice adds to the atmosphere of degradation and decay.
The lyrics seem to hint at a great upheaval and change that is taking place, as tribunals are being installed and the Provoste has been de-frocked. The labefaction, or downfall, is venal, indicating that corruption and greed are at the heart of these events. The inquisition is mentioned, further emphasizing the idea of a time of upheaval and change.
The lyrics also showcase the unique language style of The Mars Volta, with lyrics filled with obscure references to history, mythology, and medicine. These references add to the surrealistic tone of the song and create a sense of a world that is both familiar and unfamiliar. The lyrics of Eunuch Provocateur are a prime example of the band’s ability to transport listeners to a completely different dimension with their music.
Line by Line Meaning
The Al Sirat hides behind
The corrupted ways of the world go unnoticed and hide behind the veil of righteousness.
A wardrobe of eunuchs
Corrupt leaders who have been castrated into submission and obedience to the higher authority.
Seconds collide
Time moves too quickly, and events are happening faster than we can keep up with.
Till the Padisha scandal
Until the day comes when the corrupt ruler's secrets are revealed.
The cauldrons have eyes
The harsh reality of war and violence is always present and watching us.
By way of racket and vice
Through the use of illegal and corrupt means of power and control.
A brothel's bedpan
The dirty and unsanitary way in which we dispose of our waste and sins.
Filled with demi-monde lice
Infested with the lowest members of society and their vices.
Dethroned by the comatorium, De-loused in the comatorium
Having been stripped of their power and brought down to the level of the common man.
Tribunals installed, Now that the Provoste
The corrupt leader is now being held accountable for their actions, facing justice in front of a court.
Has been de-frocked, The labefaction is venal
The corrupt leader has been exposed for their sins, and their downfall is due to their own immoral actions.
My how these tricks turn themselves, In the wake of the inquisition
The cunning and corrupt methods used to maintain power are now turning against the leaders themselves, as their secrets are exposed during the inquiry.
Limbless answers inoculated, I've caught Mono bobbing for barbed wire
The useless information and defense mechanisms of these corrupt leaders are being exposed, and their attempts to justify their actions are as painful and fruitless as trying to bite barbed wire.
These nasty sores of Ataxia, Will feel the sting
The corrupt leaders who have caused chaos and disorder will finally face the consequences of their actions and suffer the pain of their punishment.
Of the opiate copulation
The temporary pleasure and escape from reality that these leaders indulged in will come at a cost and ultimately destroy them.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CEDRIC BIXLER, EVA GARDNER, OMAR RODRIGUEZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind