The Man Upstairs
Sleepless Symphony: Tales of Eccentric Neighbors
Lyrics
The Guy Upstairs is such a freak,
The person upstairs is eccentric or strange.
For five years now I've had leak.
The speaker has been dealing with a leak for five years.
What does he do up there?
Questioning the activities of the person upstairs.
All day long he "sleeps all day"
The person upstairs sleeps all day.
Then he goes out and comes home
Describing the erratic behavior of the person coming home intoxicated.
In the most intoxicated way.
The person upstairs juggles bowling balls but is not skilled.
As far as I can tell, he juggles bowling ball
Observation of the person's questionable activities.
But he's not good at it
The person is not proficient at juggling bowling balls.
He moves his furniture then at six am
Describing the disturbance caused by moving furniture.
He pulls out the vacuum cleaner
The person upstairs uses a vacuum cleaner at 6 am.
To suck his room
Humorous reference to cleaning by vacuuming the room.
The guy down stairs is also crazy,
The person downstairs is also mentally unstable.
He spent some time in an institute.
Indication of time spent in a mental institution.
It did him not much good.
Little improvement from the time spent in the institution.
He's off his medication
The person is not taking prescribed medication.
And he starts screaming,
The person starts screaming and makes a blasphemous statement.
"Virgin Mary, you fucking alien!"
Explicit and irreverent remark about Virgin Mary.
According to him Jesus Christ smokes crack
Claims that Jesus Christ smokes crack and does other things.
And other sundry things.
The person upstairs has control and influence over others.
But it's the man upstairs who pulls there strings,
The person upstairs disturbs the speaker's sleep.
Won't let me sleep.
Expressing frustration and a desire for better sleep.
Please kill that man upstairs.
A plea to eliminate the disturbance caused by the person upstairs.
If you ever loved me, you''ll do this one thing,
An emotional appeal to the listener to take action.
Won't you sweetheart?
A request for help and a reminder of past affection.
Please, murder the man upstairs. If you want to be my friend
A repeated plea for action, linking it to friendship.
You'll have to prove you mean it.
Expectation for the listener to demonstrate commitment.
I used to think that rent control was a good idea
Shift in topic to the speaker's views on rent control.
Until I moved in here, Now I'm the only sucker
Expression of regret or frustration with the current living situation.
Paying more then a hundred bucks a room.
Comparison of rent paid with dissatisfaction.
And I'm surrounded by lunatics that don't
Reference to the eccentricity of neighbors without a clear purpose.
Even need a moon.
Humorous remark about lunatics not needing a moon.
But it's the man upstairs who pulls the strings
Reiteration of the person upstairs controlling the situation.
Won't let me sleep
Repetition of the disturbance caused by the person upstairs.
Then there's the lady across the hall
Introduction of another neighbor who is aware of everything.
Who always knows what's going on
Introduction of a neighbor involved in illegal activities.
And Machu Pinchu down the stairs
Reference to another neighbor, possibly mocking the name.
Who is selling crack from door to door.
Accusation of drug dealing by another neighbor.
14B are refugees and 14A transvestite whores,
Description of other neighbors with troubled backgrounds.
But you know who is coming home.
Anticipation of a specific person's return home.
He's falling up his drunken stairs.
Humorous description of someone climbing drunken stairs.
If you want to be my friend
Reiteration of the need for assistance for a good night's sleep.
You'll help me get a good night sleep.
A final plea for help and a peaceful night's sleep.
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