Imago
The Mars Volta (Noctourniquet 2012) Lyrics
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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