The band immediately retired to the studio to begin work on a follow-up. Towards the end of these sessions, The Mercy Cage signed a deal with NZ label Mediatrix, home to FEARvLOATHINC, Jordan Reyne & Shemsu Hor among others. 18 months in the making, Rust: A Fiction:stories from the black room was released in late 2001. a concept album melding a number of musical styles into a cohesive package, the CD has gone on to become the best selling release in the labels history. Rust: A Fiction was followed by two remix singles for the songs Needle Marks (& Scars) & the club hit "M",& an E.P containing reworkings of unreleased tracks from the Rust:A Fiction sessions entitled Valium:Toxicity v2.0.
augmented with guitars, acoustic drums & extra synthesis, The Mercy Cage became a live entity in 2002. a tour with labelmates N.U.T.E followed, & incendiary headlining performances at New Zealand's two biggest dark-end festivals, Vampyre 2003 & Darkness Gathering IV established The Mercy Cage as one of the premier live draws on the underground circuit.
2003 also saw the widespread availability of Rust:A Fiction internationally, with Metropolis online, The DSBP (U.S.A) & G.U.P (Australia) picking up the album for international distribution. also in 2003, the release of CDs by Diverje, Krushed Opiates, Project Auryn, N.U.T.E & Abney Park all containing remixes by The Mercy Cage.
After extensive remodelling of The Mercy Cage's own Virus Event Theatre Labs studios in early 2003, the band commenced work on their 3rd album. tentatively entitled Scree:Transmissions, it's a conceptual affair on "communication, the media, sex, death & the politics of identity".
Requiem
The Mercy Cage Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You take the pain away
Trapped under glass
Pining for you
Yearning to join you
You are my torch...
We can dose up on cigarettes & speed
Same scene, different day
Let's numb the pain for old times sake
& we sing...
Oh lord & we sing
Words like armour
We dance among the debris
This concept of failure
Inhales & prays for relief
Something wrong
Somehow under siege
More man than machine
& maybe inside i feel old, i feel ugly
& maybe the outside is clawing back in
The wires that i severed i never said leave
The lies that i told you to make you believe in me...
I'm coming home
Believe in me.
The song "Requiem" by The Mercy Cage tells a story about a protagonist who is trapped under glass or stuck in a place that is unescapable. The singer finds solace in someone who is described as a torch that takes the pain away. It could be interpreted as someone who offers comfort or help to ease the singer's suffering. The singer yearns for this torch and wishes to join them as the torch has become the only way to extinguish their pain.
In the next stanza, the song takes a darker turn as the singer and their companion decide to numb their pain through cigarettes and drugs. They wander the same empty streets as they have done before and sing as they seek temporary relief from their miseries. The lyrics "words like armor" could signify the defense mechanism the singer uses to shield themselves from the harsh reality. They dance amongst the debris, seeking solace in each other's company.
The final stanza reveals a sense of hopelessness and defeat. The singer admits they feel old and ugly on the inside, and the outside is clawing back in. It seems like they tried to sever the wires that keep them attached to their misery, but they were unsuccessful. They lied to their companion to make them believe that they would change, but it was just a ploy. Despite all the deception and hopelessness, the singer still believes that they can come back home if their companion believes in them.
Line by Line Meaning
You are my torch
You are the source of light that guides me in my darkest moments.
You take the pain away
Your presence and love bring comfort and alleviate my suffering.
Trapped under glass
Feeling stuck and suffocated, unable to reach you or escape my situation.
Pining for you
Longing and yearning for your love and companionship.
Yearning to join you
Desiring to be reunited with you in the afterlife or a better place.
We can dose up on cigarettes & speed
We have the option to indulge in harmful habits to temporarily forget our problems.
& trawl the mainstreet again
We can roam aimlessly and impulsively, seeking distractions and thrills.
Same scene, different day
Our monotonous and mundane daily routine continues unchanged.
Let's numb the pain for old times sake
We should dull our emotions and senses to reminisce about the past without feeling lingering regrets or sorrows.
& we sing...
Despite our hardships and struggles, we try to find solace and joy in music and singing.
Words like armour
We use language and self-expression as a form of protection and defense against emotional harm and adversity.
We dance among the debris
Despite the wreckage and chaos around us, we try to find moments of beauty and grace in our lives.
This concept of failure
The idea or fear of not succeeding or achieving our goals weighs heavily on us.
Inhales & prays for relief
We desperately seek comfort and release from our suffering.
Something wrong
An overwhelming sense of unease and dissatisfaction plagues us.
Somehow under siege
We feel like we are under attack or threat, vulnerable and exposed to dangers.
More man than machine
Despite our flaws and frailties, we are human beings with emotions and souls, not just cold and heartless machines.
& maybe inside i feel old, i feel ugly
Internally, I may feel worn out and unattractive, struggling with my self-esteem.
& maybe the outside is clawing back in
My physical appearance and external circumstances may also be impacting my mood and outlook.
The wires that i severed i never said leave
I regret disconnecting from certain people and things in my life, wishing I could bring them back.
The lies that i told you to make you believe in me...
I deceived others to gain their trust or affection, but now feel guilty and ashamed of my actions.
I'm coming home
I am returning to the safety and comfort of my loved ones and familiar surroundings.
Believe in me.
Despite my imperfections and mistakes, I want those close to me to have faith in who I am and who I can become.
Contributed by Jake B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.