Vegan in Furs
of Montreal Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I used to think it black while at my country seat
Now I'm peaking in so many ways
The gloom is in retreat
Yes the dark epoch is over I've found my efeblum
Then passed Ernst's mausoleum defended by a rook
Who shot a look so virulent it pierced me like a hook
The palaver of Solipsists exploding in my skull
Yeah and we both despise all of the academic swine
Who made the author of "Discus Ulysses" benign

So what if Wednesday finds us
Wearing rabies parachutes
Foaming like the melodies of sea foam fairy flutes
The atmosphere is viscous we're sticking to the brine

Yeah and we both despise all of the academic swine
Who made the author of "Discus Ulysses" benign

When the lanterns fill with finches
So begins the brawl
'Cause their brains are like porcupines
And mine's a paper ball
I know they don't understand they don't get us at all




Their moss mangles polyanthus
And mine's a paper ball

Overall Meaning

The song "Vegan in Furs" by of Montreal has a cryptic and surrealistic tone that makes it difficult to decipher the meaning of the lyrics. The opening lines, "I used to think it black while at my country seat, Now I'm peaking in so many ways, The gloom is in retreat", seem to suggest that the singer used to have a dark view of the world, but has since found a more positive outlook. However, it's unclear what specifically caused this change.


The song then takes a more bizarre turn with the lines, "Yes the dark epoch is over I've found my efeblum, Then passed Ernst's mausoleum defended by a rook, Who shot a look so virulent it pierced me like a hook, The palaver of Solipsists exploding in my skull". These lines are full of obscure references, such as the mention of Ernst's mausoleum (possibly a reference to Max Ernst, a surrealist artist), and the use of the word "efeblum" which is not a real word. The line about the "palaver of Solipsists exploding in my skull" suggests a struggle with subjective reality and the existence of an external world.


The song continues with lines like "So what if Wednesday finds us, Wearing rabies parachutes, Foaming like the melodies of sea foam fairy flutes", which continue the surrealistic and nonsensical themes of the lyrics. The repeated line "Yeah and we both despise all of the academic swine Who made the author of ‘Discus Ulysses' benign" suggests a frustration with academia, although the meaning behind the reference to ‘Discus Ulysses' is unclear.


**Interesting facts about 'Vegan in Furs':**


* The song's title is a nod to the classic novel ‘Venus in Furs' by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, which is famed for its exploration of sadomasochism.
* The lead singer of of Montreal, Kevin Barnes, has cited the band 10cc as a major inspiration for the song's sound.
* 'Vegan in Furs' was released as a B-side for the single 'Id Engager'.
* The song's lyrics were reportedly inspired by Barnes' experiences with nomadic vegan communities in Northern California.
* The line "The atmosphere is viscous, we're sticking to the brine" was reportedly inspired by Barnes' fascination with jellyfish.
* The song's music video features a psychedelic, animated interpretation of the song's lyrics.
* ‘Vegan in Furs' was originally intended to be included on the album ‘Skeletal Lamping', but was cut from the final tracklist.
* The song was later included on the ‘Icons, Abstract Thee' EP.
* The final line of the song, "Their moss mangles polyanthus and mine's a paper ball", may be a reference to the idea of being true to oneself, even if it sets one apart from others.
* The chords for the song are Am, F, G, and C, with a capo on the third fret.


Chords:


Intro: Am F G Am


Verse: Am F G Am


Chorus: F G Am F G Am G Am.


Line by Line Meaning

I used to think it black while at my country seat
In the past, I used to see everything in a negative light while living in the countryside.


Now I'm peaking in so many ways
Currently, I am experiencing many positive changes and personal growth.


The gloom is in retreat
My negative feelings are subsiding and giving way to more positive emotions.


Yes the dark epoch is over I've found my efeblum
The time of widespread darkness and negativity has ended, and I have found my own source of positivity.


Then passed Ernst's mausoleum defended by a rook
I walked past Ernst's grave, which was being guarded by a crow.


Who shot a look so virulent it pierced me like a hook
The crow looked at me with intense hostility, making me feel like I had been stabbed with a sharp object.


The palaver of Solipsists exploding in my skull
The philosophical arguments of solipsists are constantly running through my mind and causing confusion.


Yeah and we both despise all of the academic swine
We share a mutual dislike of the pretentious and elitist academics.


Who made the author of "Discus Ulysses" benign
These academics turned the author of "Discus Ulysses" into a harmless figure, removing the true meaning behind their work.


So what if Wednesday finds us
We don't care if it's a weekday, we'll still do what we want.


Wearing rabies parachutes
We don't care if we look ridiculous, we'll wear whatever we want.


Foaming like the melodies of sea foam fairy flutes
Our excitement and enthusiasm is overflowing, like the sound of fairy flutes made of sea foam.


The atmosphere is viscous we're sticking to the brine
The environment around us feels thick and heavy, and we are having trouble separating ourselves from it.


When the lanterns fill with finches
As night falls and the lanterns are lit, the area becomes filled with finches.


So begins the brawl
This sets the stage for a chaotic scene to unfold.


'Cause their brains are like porcupines
The finches are difficult to understand, as their small brains are like prickly porcupines.


And mine's a paper ball
Meanwhile, my own thoughts and ideas seem simple and fragile.


I know they don't understand they don't get us at all
I am aware that others don't understand us and find us confusing.


Their moss mangles polyanthus
The finches' presence damages the flowers in the area, causing them to become tangled and mangled.


And mine's a paper ball
In contrast, my ideas and thoughts seem delicate and easily damaged.




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: KEVIN BARNES

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found