The Wizard of Menlo Park
The Wizard's Beat: Unraveling Time with Chumbawamba
Lyrics
"Mary had a little lamb, its fleece was white as snow, and everywhere that Mary went the lamb was sure to go."
Mary's lamb, symbolic of innocence, follows her everywhere.
Old Thomas Edison mixing up the medicine
Reference to Thomas Edison, suggesting a connection to innovation or disruption.
Messing up time from Accrington to Amazon
Edison's influence from Accrington to Amazon, indicating widespread impact.
See them all come with their wires and booms and their itchy little thumbs saying "Play your funky drum!"
People with technology (wires, booms) urging musicians to be creative.
Each jump in the dark we claim as our own
Claiming uncertain actions as our own in the darkness.
We know it's a lie; we never acted alone
Admitting deception; denying acting alone in the claimed actions.
Each jump in the dark, each jump in the dark
Repetition of the theme of uncertain actions in the dark.
The machine became the star, beats to the bar, poor Gus Dudgeon lying in his car
The machine takes the spotlight, negatively impacting Gus Dudgeon.
Down in the basement messing with the moment
Experimentation in the basement with the present moment.
Alchemy and elements smashing up your instruments
Alchemy and elements symbolize the destruction of traditional instruments.
Old Thomas Edison mixing up the medicine
Reiteration of Edison's role in disrupting time.
Messing up time from Accrington to Amazon
Continuation of the theme of Edison's influence.
See them all come with their wires and booms and their itchy little thumbs saying "Play your funky drum!"
People with technology pressuring musicians to be creative (repeated theme).
A foot in the past, a head in a book, a soup of opinion, a ladle of luck
Being simultaneously in the past and present with diverse influences.
Each jump in the dark, each jump in the dark
Repetition emphasizing uncertain actions in the dark.
Old Thomas Edison mixing up the medicine
Reiteration of Edison's disruptive role.
Messing up time from Accrington to Amazon
Continuation of the theme of Edison's influence.
See them all come with their wires and booms and their itchy little thumbs saying "Play your funky drum!"
People with technology encouraging musicians to be creative (repeated theme).
From starlight to flashlight, sorting out the copyright
Transition from celestial to man-made light, dealing with copyright issues.
It takes a little time but the contract's airtight
Highlighting the time-consuming but secure nature of contracts.
Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
Philosophical question about the origin of things.
The money's in the black but the needle's in the red
Financial success in the black, but creative strain represented by the red needle.
"One, two, one, two, check, Wednesday, Wednesday, Mississippi, yeah..."
Random phrases, possibly representing the chaotic nature of creativity.
Old Thomas Edison mixing up the medicine
Reiteration of Edison's disruptive role.
Messing up time from Accrington to Amazon
Continuation of the theme of Edison's influence.
See them all come with their wires and booms and their itchy little thumbs saying "Play your funky drum!"
People with technology encouraging musicians to be creative (repeated theme).
Comment