Lyrics You Don't Fully Understand

[bruised_fruit]

I just assumed he has orange venetian blinds.

Originally Posted by Bambi

The one that I've always intended to ask Wire about if I bump into him in the street*.....

Look through my venetian blinds
Dusting the past off my mind
Seeing orange everywhere

So....... anyone??


*my ex actually did once bump into him in the street and, rather sweetly, the first time she got to say the words 'my boyfriend' about me was to Nicky Wire of all people.

[bruised_fruit]

"Just one thing before I get to sleep
Nothing here but the stains on my teeth
No, not blood, just liquid from you
I only wish it was the truth"

All I have are these petty small stains, signs that I've not been taking care of myself.

I wish I got 'liquid' from you (could be tears), but instead I get blood (easy to conclude that is about self-harm). I'm lying to myself trying to pretend you're not bleeding/suffering.

Originally Posted by Judge_yrself

Hello! Long time lurker, very occasional poster!

Does anyone else have Manics songs where you get the general gist/meaning of the song, but the meaning of certain lines escape you?

For example, I get what No Surface All Feeling is about, but that last verse -

"Just one thing before I get to sleep
Nothing here but the stains on my teeth
No, not blood, just liquid from you
I only wish it was the truth"

- has baffled me for more years than I'd care to admit.

Also, as a complete lyric, Intravenous Agnostic has always been completely unlockable to me. I mean, I don't think I'm unintelligent haha, but this one always feels like Nicky's speaking in tongues.

Anyone else had similar Manics lyric experiences?

[Routine Builder]

Originally Posted by Bambi

The one that I've always intended to ask Wire about if I bump into him in the street*.....

Look through my venetian blinds
Dusting the past off my mind
Seeing orange everywhere

So....... anyone??

I've always just pictured it being a sunset and it being golden hour glow perhaps signifying being closer to the end than the beginning. Also the colour orange represents the union which may have significance here as the lyrics deals with themes of Wales's subordination to England/United Kingdom.

[Son of Stopped]

Did type in "What blood condition makes you see orange" and got Gilbert's syndrome.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/gilberts-syndrome/

Didn't he say he had that condition? I don't think it said anything about orange in the link as well!

[counterlanguage]

"Seeing orange everywhere" - it was explained at the time, it's about how local rivers around Blackwood turned orange as the closed mines flooded and iron ore deposits leaked into the water.

[Bambi]

Originally Posted by counterlanguage

"Seeing orange everywhere" - it was explained at the time, it's about how local rivers around Blackwood turned orange as the closed mines flooded and iron ore deposits leaked into the water.

Fascinating! So it ties back in with the water and the drowning and Wales and decay. Makes perfect sense.

Thanks for the other comments too, kids.

[Punk Skins]

Originally Posted by counterlanguage

"Seeing orange everywhere" - it was explained at the time, it's about how local rivers around Blackwood turned orange as the closed mines flooded and iron ore deposits leaked into the water.

Or he was in Portadown during marching season 🤔 🤷

[wannagetout]

Did you ever forgive her

Grey not neon, grey not real

[rosetree]

Originally Posted by wannagetout

Did you ever forgive her

Grey not neon, grey not real

I think the song is actually about Richey, the early days and Japan, probably there is a meaning, or could be just did the winter flowers forgive him?


Grey not neon, grey not real

I think indicates that it's not clear and real, but just shady, as they are not neon signs.


Actually as grey isn't black or white, just unclear, so its just thought of as unreal?

[Glyn]

Originally Posted by rosetree

Grey not neon, grey not real

I think indicates that it's not clear and real, but just shady, as they are not neon signs.

Yes, I always took it as a description of the '10 foot sign in Oxford Street'

On a PCP theme. Anyone got thoughts on 'King cigarette snuffed out by her midgets' ? Is it just a moan about cigarettes getting smaller or is there more to it ?

[raven]

Probably something about smoking bans or government health warnings...why snuffed out by midgets I've no idea....surrealism
This is an interesting piece

https://227lears.com/2021/06/30/word-limits/

[rosetree]

Originally Posted by Glyn

Yes, I always took it as a description of the '10 foot sign in Oxford Street'

On a PCP theme. Anyone got thoughts on 'King cigarette snuffed out by her midgets' ? Is it just a moan about cigarettes getting smaller or is there more to it ?

Yes I thought that too.

I don't think Richey has really explained his lyrics before though does the band know what he meant at times? Maybe the king cigarette lyric could also be a metaphor for how governments restrict freedom and rights while ignoring important issues.

It gives a sense of not knowing the difference. Amazing lyrics each time.

[rosetree]

Originally Posted by raven

Probably something about smoking bans or government health warnings...why snuffed out by midgets I've no idea....surrealism
This is an interesting piece

https://227lears.com/2021/06/30/word-limits/

Yes I'm not sure about the midgets reference too

[Routine Builder]

Maybe a reference to Court Dwarves?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Court_dwarf

I just love James's delivery of the line and the repetition of it emphasises how terrible the line is. God bless you James.

On further reflection I think that when Richey uses the word She, he's referring to the queen/royalty and the line about cigarettes stubbed out by midgets is probably about how supposedly royals have help with everyday activities that one could easily do themselves. Why Richey is mixing the nanny state with royal etiquette who knows, he was never one to shy away from being opaque.

[Marconi Delorian]

Could be mental "midgets" i.e. short sighted politicians/advisors