Possible 'Faster' lyrical inspiration?

[Phil C]

Sorry if this has been spotted before I don't recall seeing anyone comment on it.

I've just read 'Manifesto' by the architect Lebbeus Woods, which he published in 1993. It's a short document, made up of a series of short statements, most of which begin with 'I'. One of them reads;

'I am an architect, a constructor of worlds, a sensualist who worships the flesh, the melody, a silhouette against the darkening sky. I cannot
know your name. Nor can you know mine.'

Now, in this case 'I am an architect' is just a statement of fact but the structure of sharp, punctuated lines beginning with 'I' and developing the point further ('a constructor of worlds'/'the Virgin, the tattered and the torn') is very similar to the first verse of 'Faster'.

Then there's an obvious comparison in terms of content. 'a sensualist who worships the flesh' could have inspired 'they call me a butcher' and 'they call me perverted', while the 'constructor of worlds' suggests the openness of the lyric, which tries to encompass pretty much everything in the universe. Equally the sheer number of personas Richey takes on in the first verse could reflect 'I cannot know your name. Nor can you know mine.'

On top of that the timing is good - 1993 which is presumably when Richey was either writing or thinking about the lyrics for 'The Holy Bible'.

Thoughts?

[UEF]

Maybe! Also thought it was a sort-of nod to Sex Pistols' Anarchy in the UK - "I am an anarchist, I am the antichrist"

Also "Don't know what I want, but I know where to get it" = "I know I believe in nothing but it's my nothing"

[Phil C]

Here's the whole manifesto; https://studio3postindustrial.wordpr...us-woods-1993/