A Terror Way Beyond Falling
scallops hotel Lyrics


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Cue yawning zeitgeist
Wack motherfuckers flounder for limelight
Ruby Yacht's magnificence is bioluminescence
Dispersed despair, there's a terror way beyond falling
Lackeys of finance, Pullman porter of high-hats
This phone booth reserved for Clark Kent
I'm out of here on a starship, nigga
Outer space, motherfucker
Truthfully, I'm out of here on the first thing steaming
Caught you by surprise like Batista eating vegan
"No smoking, no spitting" read the sign from the management
Escapee of a prison planet where compliments were served underhanded
Nigga, it's a conspiracy to keep me ignorant
And I will exact retribution on all counts
Storm the bridge, I'm ripping banners from the wall mounts
So it go, I suppose that's how the ball bounce
Telemachus sneezed
Paranoid about my Louis bodies
Not Louis loafs, such goofy oafs
What do we hopes? What do we hopes?
What do we hopes? What do he hope? Ayy

And I know property is theft, mm
And I know property is theft, mm
But it's still some things I'm wanting
It's still some things I'm wanting
It's still some things I'm wanting
So I might take 'em, so I might, yeah
So I might take 'em, so I might, yeah
So I might take 'em
Yeah

It's Rain Man lawnmower, Tinker Toy soldier
Shit, I need a soldering iron
I'ma reverse-engineer my way out of here
I'ma reverse-engineer my way out of here, yeah
I'ma reverse-engineer my way out of here
Shade boogie rather close, and it's— yeah
I'm on that— I'm on that first thing steaming
I'm on that— ayy, I'm on that first thing steaming
So hold my train, man, hold my— ayy




Hold my train, man, hold my— yeah
Scallops Hotel

Overall Meaning

The song "A Terror Way Beyond Falling" by Scallops Hotel discusses various themes including societal and systematic oppression, the pursuit of property, and the search for freedom. The lyrics start with a reference to a "yawning zeitgeist," which could be interpreted as a commentary on how present society is tired of the same ideas and systems that have been in place for too long. The following lines take a shot at people who try too hard to gain fame and attention, calling them "wack motherfuckers" who "flounder for limelight."


The theme of oppression is touched upon with the lines "Lackeys of finance, Pullman porter of high-hats / This phone booth reserved for Clark Kent." Here, the singer is referring to the way that people in positions of power uphold the existing system, and how it can be difficult for those who feel oppressed to find a way out. The singer then goes on to declare that they are leaving on a "starship," seeking to escape the system that they feel is holding them down.


The pursuit of property is also mentioned, with the singer acknowledging the idea that "property is theft," yet still wanting some possessions for themselves. The song ends on a note of hopelessness, with the singer expressing a desire to "reverse-engineer" their way out of their situation, knowing that it is a difficult task.


Overall, the lyrics of "A Terror Way Beyond Falling" touch on themes of oppression, the search for freedom, and the desire for possessions, all with a sense of disillusionment and hopelessness.


Line by Line Meaning

Cue yawning zeitgeist
The current cultural and societal climate is mundane and predictable.


Wack motherfuckers flounder for limelight
Talentless people strive for fame and attention.


Ruby Yacht's magnificence is bioluminescence
The beauty and uniqueness of the Ruby Yacht record label is akin to the glow of sea creatures in the ocean.


Dispersed despair, there's a terror way beyond falling
There is a profound fear that goes beyond simply falling or failing, and it is causing widespread sadness and hopelessness.


Lackeys of finance, Pullman porter of high-hats
Those who serve the wealthy are like train porters, catering to their every need and wearing fanciful hats to show their subservience.


This phone booth reserved for Clark Kent
A reference to Superman's alter ego, Clark Kent, who uses a phone booth to change into his superhero costume. This suggests that the singer is also looking to make a transformation, possibly to escape their current situation.


I'm out of here on a starship, nigga
The singer is leaving their current circumstances on a metaphorical spaceship, indicating they are seeking a new beginning, leaving their past behind.


Outer space, motherfucker
The artist is emphasizing the extremity of their departure, indicating that their journey will take them to another world altogether.


Truthfully, I'm out of here on the first thing steaming
The artist is eager to leave and will take the first available transportation away from their current situation.


Caught you by surprise like Batista eating vegan
A reference to Batista, a wrestler known for his tough-guy persona, trying something unexpected and unconventional like veganism. This suggests the artist wants to do something that challenges expectations.


"No smoking, no spitting" read the sign from the management
The singer is in a space where there are strict rules and regulations, indicating that they are not in control of their current circumstances.


Escapee of a prison planet where compliments were served underhanded
The artist feels like they are trapped in a place where they are constantly being undermined and disrespected, which makes them feel like they are imprisoned.


Nigga, it's a conspiracy to keep me ignorant
The singer believes that there are forces working against them, seeking to keep them from knowledge and enlightenment.


And I will exact retribution on all counts
The singer plans to take revenge on those who have wronged them in any way.


Storm the bridge, I'm ripping banners from the wall mounts
The singer is taking aggressive action, forcibly removing symbols of the current power structure.


So it go, I suppose that's how the ball bounce
The artist is resigned to the fact that life does not always go their way, and that they must accept the way things turn out.


Telemachus sneezed
A throwaway line that suggests that even minor things can be significant, indicating that the artist is looking for signs wherever they can find them.


Paranoid about my Louis bodies
The singer is worried about the impact that their material possessions will have on others' perceptions of them.


Not Louis loafs, such goofy oafs
A play on words that highlights the singer's disdain for ostentatious displays of wealth.


What do we hopes? What do we hopes?
The artist is questioning what their aspirations should be, suggesting that they are unsure what direction to take.


What do we hopes? What do he hope? Ayy
The artist is questioning whether their hopes are appropriate, and what others around them are hoping for.


And I know property is theft, mm
The artist is aware of the anarchist slogan 'property is theft,' suggesting that they view the capitalist system as inherently unjust.


But it's still some things I'm wanting
Despite their political beliefs, the singer still desires material possessions.


So I might take 'em, so I might, yeah
The artist is admitting that they might go against their principles and take what they want, even if it goes against their beliefs.


It's Rain Man lawnmower, Tinker Toy soldier
A comparison of the singer to someone who obsessively tinkers with machines, indicating that the singer is similarly focused on fixing their situation.


Shit, I need a soldering iron
The singer requires the right tools to make the changes they desire.


I'ma reverse-engineer my way out of here
The singer plans to carefully examine and dismantle the current system, in order to free themselves from it.


Shade boogie rather close, and it's— yeah
The artist is in a tense and uncomfortable situation, indicated by the use of the word 'shade,' suggesting that they are being judged or criticized.


Hold my train, man, hold my— ayy
The artist is impatient to leave and needs someone to hold the train, indicating that they are in a rush.


Hold my train, man, hold my— yeah
Repeating the line to emphasize the urgency of the situation.




Contributed by Connor H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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