There was a rumor that a music video was actually filmed for "Muzzle" with drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, but was never released. Billy Corgan has, however, denied this. The band went on to perform "Muzzle" for their next television appearance on Late Night with Conan O'Brien with replacement drummer, Matt Walker.
"Muzzle" reached number ten on the U.S. Mainstream Rock Tracks and number eight on the U.S. Modern Rock Tracks. It reached number one on the alternative chart in Canada.
"Written at first on the piano in my crude Lennon-ish tinker toy style, this song possibly more than any other in the collection demonstrates the power of the old band collective to convert up ideas rapidly; from doleful sea shanties into epic rockets.
It took me nearly a month to convince Jimmy to play with such joyful abandon on his fills, and I cited the great Big Star as an example where playing loose didn’t necessarily mean playing poorly. This notion opened up a whole new gateway to Jimmy’s drumming, where emotional expressionism took priority over his vaunted technical precision. Some- where in my mind I was thinking of Bobby D in repeating the core themes with variation at the end, but it was a leftover memory of a clever song device from a source I could never recall. The idea of a muzzle refers to thinking my life would be far simpler if I just kept my trap shut."
- Billy Corgan, 2012 Reissue Liner Notes
Muzzle
The Smashing Pumpkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To lie here and die among the sorrows
Adrift among the days
For everything I ever said
And everything I've ever done is gone and dead
As all things must surely have to end
And great loves will one day have to part
I know that I am meant for this world
Blessed and cursed and won
Time heals but I'm forever broken
By and by the way
Have you ever heard the words
I'm singing in these songs?
It's for the girl I've loved all along
Can a taste of love be so wrong
As all things must surely have to end
And great loves will one day have to part
I know that I am meant for this world
And in my mind as I was floating
Far above the clouds
Some children laughed I'd fall for certain
For thinking that I'd last forever
But I knew exactly where I was
And I knew the meaning of it all
And I knew the distance to the sun
And I knew the echo that is love
And I knew the secrets in your spires
And I knew the emptiness of youth
And I knew the solitude of heart
And I knew the murmurs of the soul
And the world is drawn into your hands
And the world is etched upon your heart
And the world so hard to understand
Is the world you can't live without
And I knew the silence of the world
The song "Muzzle" by The Smashing Pumpkins is a compelling exploration of the universal human experience of feeling ordinary yet uniquely blessed and cursed. The lyrics express a sense of resignation to the inevitable passage of time and the transient nature of all things, including great loves that will inevitably have to part. Despite this, the songwriter declares a deep sense of connection to the world and a sense of purpose within it. The line "My life has been extraordinary, blessed and cursed and won" acknowledges the contradictions and complexities of life, highlighting both the joys and sorrows that shape our existence.
Towards the end of the song, the lyrics take a turn towards the mystical and contemplative, drawing on powerful imagery of floating above the clouds and feeling a deep sense of connection to the secrets, mysteries, and murmurs of the soul. The world is described as both hard to understand and impossible to live without, suggesting a deep reverence and appreciation for the profound interconnectedness of all things.
Overall, "Muzzle" is a richly layered and deeply reflective song that invites the listener to contemplate their place in the world and the meaning and purpose of their existence.
Line by Line Meaning
I fear that I am ordinary just like everyone
I am scared that I am not special and just like everyone else.
To lie here and die among the sorrows
To remain in this state of sadness until I die.
Adrift among the days
Feeling lost and aimless with the passing of each day.
For everything I ever said
Every word I have ever spoken.
And everything I've ever done is gone and dead
Everything I have done and accomplished is no longer relevant.
As all things must surely have to end
Everything that exists will eventually come to an end.
And great loves will one day have to part
Even the strongest of loves will have to come to an end.
I know that I am meant for this world
I believe that my purpose is to exist in this world.
My life has been extraordinary
My life has had its ups and downs, but has been unique and special.
Blessed and cursed and won
My experiences in life have been both good and bad, but I have overcome them.
Time heals but I'm forever broken
Although time may lessen the pain, I will never fully recover from my emotional wounds.
By and by the way
In passing.
Have you ever heard the words I'm singing in these songs?
Do you understand the emotions and meanings behind the lyrics that I am singing?
It's for the girl I've loved all along
These songs are dedicated to the girl I have loved for a long time.
Can a taste of love be so wrong
Is it bad for me to express my feelings of love?
And in my mind as I was floating
As I was lost in thought and imagination.
Far above the clouds
Up high, away from reality and everyday life.
Some children laughed I'd fall for certain
Some children laughed at the idea of me being able to maintain this state of happiness.
For thinking that I'd last forever
Believing that this happiness would never end.
But I knew exactly where I was
I was aware of my physical location and emotional state.
And I knew the meaning of it all
I understood the purpose and significance of my existence.
And I knew the distance to the sun
I comprehended the vastness of the world and the universe.
And I knew the echo that is love
I understood the powerful impact that love can have on a person.
And I knew the secrets in your spires
I knew the hidden meaning and emotions behind the structures and buildings around me.
And I knew the emptiness of youth
I understood the feeling of being young and feeling empty or unfulfilled.
And I knew the solitude of heart
I experienced the feeling of being alone, even when surrounded by others.
And I knew the murmurs of the soul
I heard the quiet but intense emotions and feelings that exist within my soul.
And the world is drawn into your hands
The world and everything in it is in your control and power.
And the world is etched upon your heart
The emotions and experiences of the world are imprinted on your heart.
And the world so hard to understand
The world can be difficult to comprehend and make sense of.
Is the world you can't live without
Despite its complexity, the world is necessary and vital to live in.
And I knew the silence of the world
I experienced the quiet and stillness of the world around me.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: WILLIAM PATRICK CORGAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind