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)
Tourniquet Man
The Mars Volta Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Flicker in the sulfur
The ones who do believe me
Place your favor
Before you lay your question down
There's a matter of the payment to you
I slipped on crooked sores
In conclaves that you bothered
Let me be your tourniquet man
Let me keep you as a favor(x2)
When I hear your fingers
They will spell my name
As I trade the faces of the holders
Let me be your tourniquet man
Let me keep you as a favor(x2)
I can't diminish anymore
If I choose to dissolve in you
There's so much we can lose(x3)
The Mars Volta's Tourniquet Man is a song that packs a strong emotional punch, as it explores themes such as faith, desperation, and self-sacrifice. The opening lines, "I've seen the only living traces/Flicker in the sulfur," conjure up images of a desolate wasteland, with only the faintest signs of life. This sets the stage for the rest of the song, which is both a plea for help and a declaration of loyalty.
The singer of the song is offering themselves up as a sort of savior, a "tourniquet man" who can staunch the wounds of their lover and keep them alive. The lyrics are full of religious imagery, with references to faith and belief. The lines "The ones who do believe me/Place your favor" indicate that the singer is seeking the support of believers, and that there is some sort of bargain being struck. The idea of payment is also mentioned, which implies that there is a cost to the singer's intervention.
Throughout the song, there are glimpses of the singer's own pain and struggle. The lines "I slipped on crooked sores/In conclaves that you bothered" suggest that they have been through their own trials and tribulations, and are willing to use that experience to help others. The final lines of the song, "I can't diminish anymore/If I choose to dissolve in you/There's so much we can lose," hint at the singer's own fragility, and the potential consequences of their actions.
Line by Line Meaning
I've seen the only living traces
I have witnessed the last signs of life.
Flicker in the sulfur
This life was struggling but is now extinguished.
The ones who do believe me
Those who trust me.
Place your favor
Show me your gratitude.
Before you lay your question down
Let me address your concerns first.
There's a matter of the payment to you
I owe you something for your actions.
I slipped on crooked sores
I have stumbled on painful and corrupted experiences.
In conclaves that you bothered
Within secret gatherings that you disturbed.
Let me be your tourniquet man
Allow me to stop your bleeding and be your savior.
Let me keep you as a favor(x2)
Let me repay my debt to you.
When I hear your fingers
When I listen to your music.
They will spell my name
I feel a strong connection to your art.
As I trade the faces of the holders
As I exchange the masks of those in charge.
I can't diminish anymore
I cannot become any smaller or weaker.
If I choose to dissolve in you
If I decide to lose myself within you.
There's so much we can lose(x3)
Our connection holds so much at stake.
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION
Written by: CEDRIC BIXLER, OMAR RODRIGUEZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind