Felicity's Surprise
Wellwater Conspiracy Lyrics
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Borrowed diamonds, send in new recruits
Loose change falling through the room
Wearing cement wings
And the noose it strains on the weighted end
And the fears of flood describes him again
And it don't make sense, ah ha
Feeling dirty on dry land
Gravedigger in the morning haze
Looks up to see it's his own name engraved
And it's a long parade
And there's a one man band
And the sun is setting
I've been you and I've been me
Why the surprise, Felicity?
I am torn, so let's go home
When heads are turning, tails go first
Underground making right hand turns
And the news is old but the paper's new
Above the clouds afford a view
Is 39 days, changing his face
Requisitioned
I've been you and I've been me
Why the surprise, Felicity?
You seem torn, so let's go home
The song "Felicity's Surprise" by Wellwater Conspiracy talks about various situations and characters that all seem to be struggling in one way or another. The first few lines describe someone who is pretending to be something they are not, wearing borrowed diamonds and shoes that give the illusion of being taller or more powerful. They are also carrying a heavy burden, represented by the cement wings, and the possibility of impending doom, represented by the noose. Despite all of this, the weight of their struggles is not immediately obvious; they look clean and put-together, but they feel dirty and overwhelmed.
The second verse talks about a gravedigger who sees his own name engraved on a tombstone, which could represent either a literal or figurative death. The long parade and one man band could symbolize a callous attitude towards death, or perhaps the feeling of being alone in the face of it. The setting sun adds further emphasis to the impermanence of life. The chorus, which repeats twice throughout the song, asks Felicity why she is surprised by the chaos and sadness around her, yet doesn't offer any real answer.
Line by Line Meaning
Devil's grin in platform shoes
Someone with a sinister smile wearing fancy shoes
Borrowed diamonds, send in new recruits
New people with borrowed prestige being brought in
Loose change falling through the room
Coins drop around the place
Wearing cement wings
Feeling weighed down and stuck in place
And the noose it strains on the weighted end
The burden of a problem is causing stress
And the fears of flood describes him again
Past fears are haunting them again
And it don't make sense, ah ha
This situation is confusing and irrational
Feeling dirty on dry land
Feeling unclean and uncomfortable in a familiar place
Gravedigger in the morning haze
A person digging graves in the early morning mist
Looks up to see it's his own name engraved
Discovers his own name on a tombstone
And it's a long parade
Life is a long journey with many participants
And there's a one man band
An individual trying to accomplish everything alone
And the sun is setting
The day is coming to an end
I've been you and I've been me
I've been in different situations and perspectives
Why the surprise, Felicity?
Why are you surprised? (Felicity is likely a placeholder for anyone surprised)
I am torn, so let's go home
Feeling distressed, so let's leave this place
When heads are turning, tails go first
In an unpredictable situation, the worst outcome happens first
Underground making right hand turns
Navigating in a hidden, obscure situation
And the news is old but the paper's new
New packaging for old information
Above the clouds afford a view
A higher vantage point provides a better perspective
Is 39 days, changing his face
Changing identity for 39 days
Requisitioned
Commandeered or forcefully taken
You seem torn, so let's go home
You appear distressed, let's leave here
Contributed by John J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Capricorn Sister
Devil's grin in platform shoes
Borrowed diamonds, send in new recruits
Loose change falling through the room
Wearing cement wings
And the noose it strains on the weighted end
And the fears of flood describes him again
And it don't make sense, ah ha
Feeling dirty on dry land
Gravedigger in the morning haze
Looks up to see it's his own name engraved
And it's a long parade
And there's a one man band
And the sun is setting
I've been you and I've been me
Why the surprise, Felicity?
Now your torn, but let's go home
When heads are turning, tails go first
Underground making right hand turns
And the news is old but the paper's new
Above the clouds afford a view
Is 39 days, changing his face
Requisitioned
I've been you and I've been me
Why the surprise, Felicity?
You seem torn, so let's go home
Jonathan Ilardi
This is a song that brings immense joy to me everytime I listen to it.
Little neddy goes to war
Only every time
Matt Kennedy
great band, great tune, great guest vocalist, Mr. Wes C. Addle.
Capricorn Sister
Devil's grin in platform shoes
Borrowed diamonds, send in new recruits
Loose change falling through the room
Wearing cement wings
And the noose it strains on the weighted end
And the fears of flood describes him again
And it don't make sense, ah ha
Feeling dirty on dry land
Gravedigger in the morning haze
Looks up to see it's his own name engraved
And it's a long parade
And there's a one man band
And the sun is setting
I've been you and I've been me
Why the surprise, Felicity?
Now your torn, but let's go home
When heads are turning, tails go first
Underground making right hand turns
And the news is old but the paper's new
Above the clouds afford a view
Is 39 days, changing his face
Requisitioned
I've been you and I've been me
Why the surprise, Felicity?
You seem torn, so let's go home
Capricorn Sister
@JohannGambolputty99 I heard him sing this live in a small dive bar. Eddie is a great mumbler. But I did get to meet him and Matt Cameron after the show!
JohannGambolputty99
I always heard «There was Glenn in platform shoes» :-)
David Pollak
Beautiful song that should be played at every pearl jam show
reag.a weib
I'm not knowing just what it takes to get into this song
Little neddy goes to war
best of the best from ed and matt. unreal. still today
Little neddy goes to war
don’t mean to slight the guitar arrangement. genius too