Chemical Overeaction / Compound Fracture
Will Wood and the Tapeworms Lyrics


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Nettles on my saddle and a badge on my vest, better bet I'll never settle and I never could rest
Till the sunrise dies and sets in the west, a rattlesnake bite and a bullet in my chest
I won't stop to drop to draw a line in the sand, ‘cause I'll be picked apart to pieces by coyotes
I'm a lizard in the hand of the medicine man who is the wizard of the land on wild peyote. Woah

cye aye, I eye my eyes, I'm taking action
cye aye, I eye my eyes, I'm gaining traction
cye aye, I eye my eyes, no more distractions
I'm done relaxing. I am a chemical reaction


Bienvenidos a la villa de arañas españas, where the sentimental value of the city around you is deleted obsolete and still completely will stun you
I'm tripping like a klutz and I'm rolling like thunder
I'm a snot nosed pothead playing with matches, a rotten spot of mold with my hands on a cactus
My mouth is dry and my eyes are red, I'm chewing on sand ‘cause the desert's in my head

cye aye, I eye my eyes, I'm taking action
cye aye, I eye my eyes, I'm gaining traction
cye aye, I eye my eyes, no more distractions
I'm done relaxing. I am a chemical reaction


Wretch and pule this panoramic, stretched out view is fat with panic
Precognition lacks in hindsight, we caught the illness back before the twilight




I might be a saint worth steeples, I might be the brain of evil
Bad things happen to good people, good things happen to me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Will Wood and the Tapeworms's song "Chemical Overreaction/Compound Fracture" depict the intense and chaotic feelings experienced by the singer. The opening lines, "Nettles on my saddle and a badge on my vest, better bet I'll never settle and I never could rest," suggest that the singer is always on the move, unable to stay in one place for too long. They seem to relish the danger and unpredictability of their situation, as illustrated by the lines "I won't stop to drop to draw a line in the sand, 'cause I'll be picked apart to pieces by coyotes."


The second verse introduces a new setting - the "villa de arañas españas" - which is described as disorienting and overwhelming, "where the sentimental value of the city around you is deleted obsolete and still completely will stun you." As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the singer is under the influence of drugs (likely peyote), which heightens their sense of disorientation and chaos. The repeated chorus of "I am a chemical reaction" reinforces this theme of chemical-induced overwhelm.


Overall, the lyrics suggest a narrator who is grappling with their own sense of identity, purpose, and place in the world. They are drawn to danger and chaos, perhaps as a way of escaping an internal sense of boredom or malaise. The use of drug imagery and references to the wild west add a surreal quality to the song, inviting the listener to join the singer in their hedonistic and unpredictable journey.


Line by Line Meaning

Nettles on my saddle and a badge on my vest, better bet I’ll never settle and I never could rest
Despite being uncomfortable, with obstacles to face, I will never give up or settle, always striving to keep moving forward


Till the sunrise dies and sets in the west, a rattlesnake bite and a bullet in my chest
Through any danger or hardship, I won't stop until the sun sets and a metaphorical or real bullet takes me down


I won’t stop to drop to draw a line in the sand, ‘cause I’ll be picked apart to pieces by coyotes
I won't waste time or energy on meaningless actions, as it will only lead to harm or destruction caused by others


I’m a lizard in the hand of the medicine man who is the wizard of the land on wild peyote. Woah
I am under the guidance of the medicine man, who is the master of this psychedelic experience, with no control over my own existence


Aye aye, I eye my eyes, I’m taking action
I am focused and ready to take on whatever challenges come my way


Aye aye, I eye my eyes, I’m gaining traction
I am making progress and moving forward towards my goals


Aye aye, I eye my eyes, no more distractions
I will not be deterred or sidetracked from my path


I’m done relaxing. I am a chemical reaction
I am done with being passive and unproductive. Instead, I am taking action and producing results


Bienvenidos a la villa de arañas españas, where the sentimental value of the city around you is deleted obsolete and still completely will stun you
Welcome to the spider town in Spain, where the city's nostalgia is lost but the surroundings still have a breathtaking effect


I’m tripping like a klutz and I’m rolling like thunder
I am unstable and disoriented, but also powerful and unstoppable


I’m a snot nosed pothead playing with matches, a rotten spot of mold with my hands on a cactus
I am reckless and immature, putting myself in danger for no good reason


My mouth is dry and my eyes are red, I’m chewing on sand ‘cause the desert’s in my head
I am suffering from dehydration and exhaustion, both physically and mentally


Wretch and pule this panoramic, stretched out view is fat with panic
This beautiful but overwhelming view is causing me to feel anxious and overwhelmed


Precognition lacks in hindsight, we caught the illness back before the twilight
Even though we couldn't predict the future, we are aware now that we made bad choices in the past


I might be a saint worth steeples, I might be the brain of evil
I have the potential for both good and evil, and it is up to me to choose which path to take


Bad things happen to good people, good things happen to me
Despite the injustice of the world, things seem to work out in my favor




Lyrics © Songtrust Ave
Written by: WILLIAM JOSEPH COLLIGAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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