After entering recovery early in his career, Wood was diagnosed with Bipolar and began treatment. He has since taken a new direction with his work, dedicated to giving back and using his music to raise money for mental health research and inspire others with their own struggles. He leads a reclusive life in Pennsylvania, rejecting social media with the exception of Patreon.
His release, “The Normal Album" is his first album following dropping "The Tapeworms" from his moniker. However the album still features Mike Bottiglieri, Mario Conte, Vater Boris, and Matt Berger. "The Normal Album" is his most polarizing, musically diverse, and lyrically dense album yet, explores the concept of normality through various lenses and alternating viewpoints, and features songs in every genre from disco to klezmer.
His last LP “In case I make It,” was released in 2022. In 2023 he released the live album “IN CASE I DIE”, before taking a hiatus from creating and releasing music which will last indefinitely.
Chemical Overeaction / Compound Fracture
Will Wood and the Tapeworms Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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
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