Paquet left the band in 2005, with drummer Hamelin replacing him as guitarist and Julian Blais replacing Hamelin as drummer. In 2010, Paquet returned to the band and Blais left, reverting the band to their original lineup.
Gender Bombs
The Stills Lyrics
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The sorted way allotted phrases infiltrate your skull
Images are strong, impulses are strong
And logic will break your heart forever, be brave
Massive suicide dreams
The fear of war and love
The girl will scold you
The girl will...
The carcass bleeding gaming for self ten loves in a row
The drunken Sunday evening's would just be in your way, no
Massive Suicide dreams
The fear of war and love
The girl will scold you... [8x]
The Stills’s song, Gender Bombs, is a heavy and introspective reflection on the complexities and contradictions of gender politics. The song's lyrics present a series of images and emotions that suggest an insidious sense of tension and instability. The opening lines “Brains, on a brick wall, when gender bombs would fall” evokes the image of an explosion that obliterates the traditional, binary understanding of gender: a construct that is deep-seated and firmly embedded in society’s frame of thinking. The "sorted way allotted phrases infiltrate your skull" could be interpreted as societal conditioning that enforces these constructs. The song further alludes that it's an issue that runs deep, and it will take a lot of courage to redefine these constructs.
The song goes on to explore the conflict between passion and rationality, and the ways in which logic can often lead to heartbreak. The lines "Images are strong, impulses are strong, and logic will break your heart forever, be brave" indicate the weight of emotion and how it can overshadow rationality. The song also touches on the idea of self-destruction through the lyrics "Massive suicide dreams" and "The fear of war and love," suggesting the vulnerability and fragility of the human psyche. And, the lines “The girl will scold you” are repeated eight times, representing the deep-seated societal conditioning that is difficult to overcome and the consequences of trying to be different.
Line by Line Meaning
Brains, on a brick wall, when gender bombs would fall
When society's constructed gender norms are shattered, they penetrate your mind
Images are strong, impulses are strong
Social programming has a powerful influence on our actions and thoughts
And logic will break your heart forever, be brave
Trying to conform to gender expectations will lead to heartbreak, be bold and true to yourself
Massive suicide dreams
The overwhelming desire to escape societal pressures and expectations may lead to suicidal thoughts
The fear of war and love
The struggle between conforming to societal norms and pursuing genuine love causes anxiety and distress
The girl will scold you
Society punishes those who deviate from prescribed gender roles, especially women who criticize this system
The carcass bleeding gaming for self ten loves in a row
The abusive and objectifying portrayal of women in media reinforces harmful gender stereotypes
The drunken Sunday evening's would just be in your way, no
The self-destructive tendencies and numbness caused by societal pressures and expectations can hinder genuine human connection and joy
Massive Suicide dreams
The overwhelming desire to escape societal pressures and expectations may lead to suicidal thoughts
The girl will scold you... [8x]
The societal punishment for those who defy gender norms and critique the system will be harsh and repetitive
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: DAVID ALEXANDRE HAMELIN, OLIVIER CORBEIL, TIMOTHY DAVID FLETCHER, GREGORY PAQUET
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Craven Morehead
Brains, on a brick wall, from gender bombs would fall
The sordid way allotted phrases infiltrate your skull
Images are strong, impulses are strong
And logic will break your heart forever, be brave
Massive suicide dreams
The feel warm and long
The girl will school you
The girl will...
And could this be the gaining force of ten loves in a row
The drunken Sunday evening's would just be in your way, no
Massive Suicide dreams
The feel warm and long
The girl will school you... [8x]
Joseph Moriarty
Massively underrated band
chabrastamepues
This song perfectly captures the feeling of a lonely, overcast, Saturday afternoon in the winter when there's nothing to do, and even if there was, no one has the energy to get up and do anything. This song keeps you glued to your seat and listening to it in a very relaxed manner. I love it!!!
Aaa 940
Really underrated band and album. Takes me back to high school, but the album holds up very well. Great songwriting
rickack8
These STILLS guys are total superstars to me. I’m no musician but I do listen and I hear sincerity, contentment, gladness. AND they write all their own stuff! Sheer genius.
Elijah Kamali
I need more bands with a mood like this pleeeaaassee
Reece Wagner
Elijah Kamali come to Canada
Haneluca
If you've never heard of Interpol, they're probably the closest I can think of. They're definitely a darker tone vocally, but the instrumentation is similar.
Craven Morehead
Brains, on a brick wall, from gender bombs would fall
The sordid way allotted phrases infiltrate your skull
Images are strong, impulses are strong
And logic will break your heart forever, be brave
Massive suicide dreams
The feel warm and long
The girl will school you
The girl will...
And could this be the gaining force of ten loves in a row
The drunken Sunday evening's would just be in your way, no
Massive Suicide dreams
The feel warm and long
The girl will school you... [8x]
SmoothChino
this whole album is great.
Kerrie Stirling
Best first half of an album, ever (second half ain't bad, but The Bends is better).
Saw them in Oxford live. Fucking brilliant. I think my uncharacteristic "dancing" got noticed by the band and I got a shout out. As a stereotypical denizen of the home counties, I avoided eye contact and eventually the bald guy in front of me took credit. To my eternal gratitude, the lead singer after (what seemed like) an eternity moved on and played the next song. Gotta love the inbuilt manners of the Canadians.