The Tiger Lillies are a three-piece band, formed in 1989 by singer-songwrit… Read Full Bio ↴The Tiger Lillies are a three-piece band, formed in 1989 by singer-songwriter Martyn Jacques and based in London.
Currently Martyn Jacques, Adrian Stout, Adrian Huge (Past member Phil Butcher)

Their surreal style has been described as dark, darkly humorous, strangely humorous, Brechtian, and gypsy cabaret. They are also notorious for singing controversial songs involving bestiality, prostitution and blasphemy.

The Tiger Lillies were originally buskers, playing songs about the criminals, pimps and whores of Soho, London, England. Over time, the band became involved in several theatrical productions around the world, including the critically acclaimed Shockheaded Peter. Known for their intense, outlandish, and dark performances, they have garnered both controversy and critical acclaim.

Also "The Tiger Lillies", "The Tigerlilies" and "The Tigerlillies" may refer to Indie rock band from Cincinnati, Ohio that formed in 1989.

Bio:
Cincinnati's power pop stalwarts the Tigerlillies formed in 1989 and set out to fuse glam rock, roots rock, and post-punk into an aesthetic they called "More Pop than Jesus." Led by vocalist/guitarist Pat Hennessy, the band also included former members of the Chrome Cranks, the Candy Snatchers, and G.G. Allin & the Murder Junkies before settling on the lineup of Hennessy, guitarist/vocalist William Weber, bassist Brian Driscoll, and drummer/vocalist Steve Hennessy.

Discography:
Deep (1992)
Space Age Love Songs (1997)
Ceci N'est Ces Pop (2003)

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Rotten Flesh
The Tiger Lillies Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

So there amongst the rotten corpses
penance you must bear
Smell the rotten flesh
on decay you stare

The putrid smell as you drift
on a dead sea
The curse of dead men’s eyes

that cannot see

So ponder well
on this rotting flesh
Let your penance eat you up
till vanity does rest

Those corpses will come to life
and on you seek revenge
Unless through your penance
your vanity does end

So in total solitude
decay you do breathe
The loneliest place on earth
on that cruel sea

And when at last
your purgatory does end
Then with King Neptune
you will face the end

The curse of these dead men
the breaking of the spell

Well ancient mariner
you’ll not go to Hell

Overall Meaning

The Tiger Lillies' song "Rotten Flesh" is a hauntingly chilling piece that uses vivid imagery of death and decay to explore themes of guilt and redemption. The opening lines set the stage for the song's ominous tone, as the singer finds himself amongst a pile of "rotten corpses" for which he must bear "penance." The use of the word "penance" suggests that he is being punished for some sort of transgression, and that he must endure the stench of decay as atonement for his sins.

As the song progresses, the vision of death becomes more vivid. The singer is adrift on a "dead sea" with only "dead men's eyes" to keep him company. The repetition of the phrase "rotting flesh" throughout the song emphasizes the dark, macabre tone, and the concept of decay is wielded as a metaphor for the gradual deterioration of the human soul. The final lines bring the theme of redemption to the forefront, as the singer is informed that his penance will end only when he has conquered his own vanity. If not, the corpses around him will come back to seek revenge.

Line by Line Meaning

So there amongst the rotten corpses
Amidst the deceased and decaying bodies

penance you must bear
You must suffer for your misdeeds

Smell the rotten flesh
Experience the putrid odor of decay

on decay you stare
You are confronted with the sight of decomposition

The putrid smell as you drift
As you float aimlessly, the repulsive odor is pervasive

on a dead sea
On a body of water without life

The curse of dead men’s eyes
The damnation of lifeless eyes that cannot see

that cannot see
The eyes are void of vision

So ponder well
Consider deeply

on this rotting flesh
Reflecting on these decaying bodies

Let your penance eat you up
Allow your self-punishment to consume you