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)
Imago
The Mars Volta Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A persistent lie
The parasitic psychics that you push by wheel
Were spoken to me everytime
And like a charlatan
You counterfeit the vessels through flesh and time
These pacts we keep in secret
Drinking from a well that was cured by drought
My torment adores you
When my strings are tied
Out of compulsion I must decimate
The sapless embryonic miles
And like a charlatan
You counterfeit the vessels through flesh and time
These pacts we keep in secret
Drinking from a well that was cured by drought
My knives are burrowed voices
Glistened by the handles so they won't let go
These limbs are out of reaches
Extensions of a spirit that is not controlled
My heart is trapped inside
And I refuse to accept this throne
My night's unfolding
Reads like a page of test results
This sterile codex
Is missing all my last resolve
And like a charlatan
You counterfeit the vessels through flesh and time
These pacts we keep in secret
Drinking from a well that was cured by drought
The lyrics of Imago by The Mars Volta are complex and layered, as is typical of the band's music. At the core of the song is a sense of anguish and frustration, expressed through vivid and sometimes disturbing imagery. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the song, with the singer acknowledging that they have been lying to someone they care about. The meaning behind this lie is left unclear, but it is clear that it is causing them considerable mental distress.
The second verse introduces the idea of "parasitic psychics" who are "pushed by wheel." It is unclear who or what these psychics are, but they seem to be a recurring theme in the singer's life. It is also unclear whether they are a real or symbolic presence. The use of the term "charlatan" suggests that there is something fraudulent or deceptive about their nature. The verse concludes with a reference to "pacts we keep in secret" and a "well that was cured by drought," which suggests a sense of secrecy and hidden knowledge.
Line by Line Meaning
My anguish told you
A persistent lie
I misled you with my sorrowful words which were not true.
The parasitic psychics that you push by wheel
Were spoken to me everytime
You constantly imposed these deceitful and exploiting psychics on me.
And like a charlatan
You counterfeit the vessels through flesh and time
You manipulate and deceive through various means with no genuine intention or purpose.
These pacts we keep in secret
Drinking from a well that was cured by drought
We sustain ourselves with a resource that is dwindling and neglected by others.
My torment adores you
When my strings are tied
You take pleasure in my suffering and vulnerability.
Out of compulsion I must decimate
The sapless embryonic miles
I feel obliged to destroy what is weak, aimless, and far from satisfactory.
My knives are burrowed voices
Glistened by the handles so they won't let go
My sharp words cannot be easily forgotten or ignored.
These limbs are out of reaches
Extensions of a spirit that is not controlled
My actions are uncontrollable and reflect a will that transcends physical limitations.
My heart is trapped inside
And I refuse to accept this throne
I am emotionally confined, yet I reject any power or authority over myself.
My night's unfolding
Reads like a page of test results
My life events are revealed in a manner that resembles medical records.
This sterile codex
Is missing all my last resolve
This documentation of my life does not capture my most significant decisions or breakthroughs.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CEDRIC BIXLER, OMAR RODRIGUEZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind