The Mothertongue is Alex Caithness (Blue Blood, Razorblade Oscilloscope, My… Read Full Bio ↴The Mothertongue is Alex Caithness (Blue Blood, Razorblade Oscilloscope, My Surreal Officer).

For the last 2 years Alex has concentrated almost soley on his electronic music both as a solo artist and member of "Razorblade Oscilloscope" and "My Surreal Officer".

This is mainly because he didn't trust drummers. But then who does?

In the winter of 2006 however Alex found himself gripped by an uncontrollable urge to "get back to his roots" and play rock music. Simple, groovy, dirty rock music. So armed with a fistful of riffs (and rudimentry drum-playing ability) he entered the studio on his own and made it up as he went along.

Some time later he emerged with "The Mothertongue", a 6 track EP of rock music. No Synths, No Samples, No Bullshit.

For live duties (this time around) Alex turned to his good friends Lanky, Milo (Plastic Smile) and Shifty (Vest) who together are in the process of reinventing the recordings for a live audience.

While the band took a break for university, Alex got to work crafting a new collection of songs that were to become the second EP entitled Jury Duty. An altogether more focused opus, the four tracks blast past in a blistering 11 minutes full of heavy yet hooky riffs and the obligatory Bossa Nova (no, really.)

Jury Duty
The Mothertongue Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

This is how I deal with consequence,
By acting like a fucking fool.
Smoke and mirror/cloak and dagger ambition,
All while showing my face to the world.

I can't fuss, I did it to myself,
With no regard to other's feelings or my personal health.
Moreover we will see no reprise,

I'm such a shoddy little pacifist when time is running out for me.

So lying face up in the water,
I guess by default I'm gonna come clean.
So by the talents that I held so closely to my chest,
I guess that that's how they're gonna hang me.

I can't fuss, I did it to myself,
With no regard to other's feelings or my personal health.
Moreover we will see no reprise,
I'm such a shoddy little pacifist when time is running out!

Guilty!

Overall Meaning

The Mothertongue's song "Jury Duty" is a self-reflective piece about dealing with the consequences of one's actions. The lyrics suggest that the singer is struggling with the weight of their own mistakes and is engaging in self-destructive behavior as a means of coping. The line "this is how I deal with consequence, by acting like a fucking fool," highlights the singer's inability to handle the repercussions of their actions in a healthy way. Instead, they are resorting to superficial and self-destructive means such as using "smoke and mirrors" or "cloak and dagger ambitions" as a way to hide or deflect from their issues.

The chorus of the song emphasizes the idea that the singer has brought about their own downfall and is unable to escape the consequences of their actions. The lines "I can't fuss, I did it to myself, with no regard to other's feelings or my personal health, moreover we will see no reprise," reinforce the notion that they are facing the full weight of their own decisions and will not be granted any reprieve from their circumstances.

The final lines of the song, which simply say "Guilty!" serve as a stark acknowledgement of the singer's culpability in their own situation. It is a powerful, albeit bleak, admission that suggests the singer is facing the consequences of their behavior head-on.

Line by Line Meaning

This is how I deal with consequence,
I handle the outcomes of my actions by behaving recklessly.

By acting like a fucking fool.
I behave foolishly as a way of coping with the repercussions of my actions.

Smoke and mirror/cloak and dagger ambition,
I have a secretive and manipulative approach to achieving my goals.

All while showing my face to the world.
I maintain a facade of presenting myself in a positive light while engaging in deceitful behavior.

I can't fuss, I did it to myself,
I cannot complain about the consequences I am facing because I brought them upon myself.

With no regard to other's feelings or my personal health.
I acted without considering how it would affect both others and myself.

Moreover we will see no reprise,
There will be no relief from the consequences I am facing.

I'm such a shoddy little pacifist when time is running out for me.
I am ineffective in defending myself when faced with the consequences of my actions.

So lying face up in the water,
I am defeated and vulnerable.

I guess by default I'm gonna come clean.
I will confess due to having no other options.

So by the talents that I held so closely to my chest,
My skills and abilities that I kept secret will now be the cause of my downfall.

I guess that that's how they're gonna hang me.
My own actions will be the cause of my punishment.

Guilty!
I am acknowledging my guilt and accepting responsibility for my actions.

Contributed by Isabelle B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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