When I heard this song the first time, I was getting ready for school and it came up on shuffle or something on my iPod. I listened and I was like "...wait what?" It immediately struck me as odd: for one thing, it was so clear. I could understand every word, and the melody was so straightforward. And...I had no idea what it was about. I thought vaguely that perhaps it was referencing something I wasn't familiar with. For example, I had just finished the book Glass by Ellen Hopkins, and armed with my new knowledge that glass is a term for crystal meth, I thought maybe this song was about someone's struggle with drug addiction, hence the "monster made out of glass."
Then I left it alone for a while. A while later, I came across it again, and decided to see what the internet thought about it. I found out that this song was originally supposed to go on the album The Definitive Act, but was pulled at the last minute. I found some forum somewhere were someone posted a statement by Agent M (the lead singer) that it was about the issues the band was having with their record company at the time. Think "4 Robots and an Evil Scientist" style. Furthermore, that person quoted Agent M as saying "I think the song makes it obvious who wins the fight." I tried really really hard to find that forum again, or maybe the original quote from Agent M, but no luck. So...take my hazy memory with a grain of salt?
A year or so later, I was on the bus back to Mom's house from Boise, staring out the dark window with my iPod on shuffle. This song came on. I thought some more, and realized that this is a totally open metaphor. It can literally be applied to nearly any situation where someone is struggling against an adversary. I thought it interesting that the band, if what I found on that forum is true, narrowed down their intention to something so specific when they made the song so open.
So I wonder, was the band so focused on their own issues that they didn't realize their song could be applied elsewhere? Also, I thought the quote from Agent M was interesting because I don't think the winner is clear at all. If the song is about their issues with their record company, they lost that battle and broke up soon after, I think, in which case TB lost the fight in the song. The last instrumental has a feel of a battle to it, and it also ends on a kind of melancholy couple of notes. But that's very subtle, and I don't think it makes the winner at all "clear."
...So those are my musings, sister. Seeing as how you have a much fresher perspective on this than me, what do you think?
Love, Dory
Edit:
It occurs to me that this post might benefit from me posting lyrics for easy reference...
Thought that you would be our guide
Through this big jungle--
I'm wondering why
Your teeth are sharp and you have hungry eyes...
Where did you take us?
Your family honor is weak--
Balloon of loyalty has got a leak.
How can I trust you when
I know you'll sell me?
You're not more than a monster made out of glass;
We see the truth.
And since you're not more than a,
A monster made out of glass,
We'll shatter you!
We'll shatter you!
I have so many friends who deserve so much more.
By helping each other, we gain the force
Of a wrecking ball,
Smashing up all your teeth...
Soon you'll be helpless, and
We'll be free!
I know that we disagree,
Because I believe in integrity.
That word is omit from your library
Of quarterly proceeds!
Your not more than a monster made out of glass;
We see the truth.
And since you're not more than a,
A monster made out of glass,
We'll shatter you!
We'll shatter you!
Love, Dory (take 2)
...also, p.s.: Don't you just love that bass line? :D
