Interpol: Evil Meaning
Song Released: 2005
Evil Lyrics
Heaven restores you in life
Coming with me
Through the aging, the fearing, the strife
It's the smiling on the package
It's the faces in the sand
It's the thought that moves you upwards
Embracing me with two hands
Right will take...
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1TOP RATED
#1 top rated interpretation:It took me a while to figure this song out - extremely hard to piece together, but after reading the interpretations on the web, and reading more about Paul Banks, I think I got it. Paul Banks was fascinated with serial killers, and as a literally major in college, probably with a lot of ideas around the inner workings of people.
The references to the Rosemary West killings are pretty clear (not just her name, but the "trial", "cellmate" and "shards under the belly".
Still, it doesn't make sense that this is from Fred West until the final year of his life are looked at. He confessed to the killing pretty quickly - suggesting remorse. And he attempted to make some kind of emotional contact with Rosemary...he tried twice and failed. And a few weeks later, committed suicide.
I think this song is the story of Fred West dealing with the evil he had done, and trying to reach Rosemary...the Biblical references are pretty clear. So this is his story after he committed suicide and what he'd say to her.
The first verse of the song is about embracing Heaven and god. "Heaven restores you in life" - this is a clear reference to being alive and that there is a means to salvation in life. The rest of the verse is about what that is and if she comes with him what she gets - it's the smile on the package, the faces in the sand, the thought that holds you up, their embraces - all the good things in life...the "slow-release" (inner peace) as opposed to the instant and twisted gratification of torturing their victims.
The next verse is his message to her: Hey wait, great smile (his nickname for her?) - have faith and don't deny (Just confess and faith - don't play the victim card)...then again, "but hey who's on trial" An admission he coped out by committing suicide - so he can sympathize with her decision.
Then he confesses to her what his life was about. Being completely alone (a lifespan without a cellmate) searching for a way out...from the trap of just looking the other way to everything he did - all the suffering he caused. That's the root of his "evil". Just look the other way. What was wrong with that?
The next verse describes that world of what could be or could have been - perhaps the afterlife or fantasy existence. "I could take you places....Make a revision to a dream...."
Later on, the line, "You need something to which to care" - I think a reference to how serial killers are considered uncaring.
The next verse talks about their crimes, how they hoped to presume innocence and hope for a sympathetic jury....and whether or not they really loved each other and if that was over - "Is this motion everlasting or do shutters pass in the night"
The final verse mentions that she needs someone to take her there - perhaps him or someone else (earlier - "do you need another man"). and changes the chorus - "...play the other game" a reference to their interaction not involving the girls they tortured and murdered. Suggesting once again, his remorse. -
2TOP RATED
#2 top rated interpretation: -
3TOP RATED
#3 top rated interpretation:I'd say that the use of the car crash of a metaphor is highly plausible, and would probably make the song more credible, but I'm gonna take it at face value for my interpretation.
Firstly, I think the guy (I don't think that Paul is writing as himself - hence the use of a puppet in the vid and not a trace of the 'pol anywhere) lost his partner in a fatal car crash. I think perhaps she didn't die instantly but that she ended up in hospital and didn't make it. The song is about the guys struggle to come to terms with the loss of his partner (who I think may have been dead for some time now) in the face of feeling romantically towards somebody new - Sandy.
Right, now let's back all that up:
"Rosemary, Heaven restores you in life" - Let's everyone know she's dead right at the beginning, also shows us he believes in Heaven and believes that she may still be aware of everything that's going on. This is backed up the next few lines:
"You're coming with me, through the aging, the fear and the strife" - This line could also be a reference to the wedding vows:
"I offer you my solemn vow to be your faithful partner in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow. I promise to love you unconditionally, to support you in your goals, to honor and respect you, to laugh with you and cry with you, and to cherish you for as long as we both shall live." I only just thought about this one, but everything he says 'aging', 'fear', 'strife' it's all negative stuff, and in the wedding vows you promise to stick by each other even in times of trouble so maybe they were married and he's saying that even though she's no longer here, she's still going to be with him through all the things they promised when they got married.
"It's the smiling on the package, it's the faces in the sand, it's the thoughts that hold me upwards embracing me with two hands" - Again, I concur with what others have said - he feels her around him (the embrace - most common meaning is a huge between lovers e.g. a lovers' embrace) and sees her everywhere (sand, packaging).
Now for the next lyric I've found two different interpretations of the actual words he says. I thought it was "Right will take you places" but I've read elsewhere people think it's "Write, we'll take you places". It's almost impossible to decipher by listening so I'll interpret both.
"Right will take you places" - She lived a good life so she went to Heaven.
"Write, we'll take you places" - Stay in contact even though I'm falling for someone new, you won't be forgotten, you'll always be there with us too. This line goes better with the next one "Yeah, maybe to the beach"
"When your friends they do come crying" - Again, suggests that the person has died as her friends are also affected, it's not just the guy singing the song that has lost her.
"Tell them now your pleasure's set up on slow release" - she's going to be happy for a very long time, i.e. It will take a long time for her pleasure to diffuse because it's on a slow release. Also as he says "tell them" it suggests he's saying let them know you're happy it might help them come to terms with things.
"Hey wait, great smile, sensitive to faith not denial." - Maybe she was always a happy person, even when she was in hospital facing the likelihood she may not pull through (not denial - she wasn't in denial about how serious it was), sesitive to faith, perhaps she was believing her faith might pull her through.
"But hey, who's on trial?" - He reflects that he's just been judging her behaviour after the accident (noticing that she faced up to things and put on a brave face), but realises that it wasn't her fault, she was the innocent and she died. "But hey, who's on trial?" as in "Why am I judging your behaviour after that horrific accident, you had every right to behave however you pleased." Alternatively, after thinking about the next line, it could be that he was driving and feels responsible...
"I've spent a lifespan with no cellmate" - He's the guilty party (feels responsible) as far as he's concerned (maybe not in the eyes of the law, i.e. maybe another car hit them but he was the driver) referenced by the "cell" - prison - and he's also managed to go this far without felling anything for anyone else "mate".
"The long way back" - Could have several meanings. Perhaps that fateful night they took the long way back? Perhaps they didn't and he wishes they had? Perhaps he just means it happened a long time ago?
"Sandy, why can't we look the other way?" - Why am I having these feelings for you, when I still love and miss Rosemary?
"we speaks about travel
Yeah, we think about the land
We smart like all peoples
Feeling real tanned" - sounds like he's imitating ghetto speak. Angry at black people? Maybe it was a group of black people who were driving the other car?
"I could take you places -
Do you need a new man?
Wipe the pollen from the faces
Make revision to a dream while you wait in the van" - He starts thinking about Sandy again, and quick as a flash Rosemary comes back to the forefront of his mind:
"Hey wait, great smile, sensitive to faith not denial"
And then again, he wishes he didn't feel this way towards Sandy:
"It took a life spent with no cellmate
To find the long way back
Sandy, why can't we look the other way?"
"You're weightless, you are exotic
You need something for which to care" - This could be about Rosemary and/or Sandy. With Rosemary "You're weightless, you are exotic" - She's weightless because she's no longer a physical presence and she's exotic because she's different to everyone else. With regards tos Sandy, it could be she's extremely thin (not as goos an interpretation as with Rosemary I feel) and she's exotic - maybe she's foreign, maybe she's black and that's why he was mimicking ghetto talk earlier in the song. Maybe "you're weightless" is a reference to Rosemary and "you are exotic" is a reference to Sandy. The "you need something for which to care" could be a reference to either as well.
Then back to why is he thinking about Sandy, why can't he just forget her?:
Sandy, why can't we look the other way?"
Then he seems to start asking for to remember Rosemary and keep her with him so he doesn't feeling the wanting for Sandy:
"Leave some shards under the belly
Lay some grease inside my hand
It's a sentimental jury
And the makings of a good plan" - I think this is metaphorical, I don't think he really wants glass in his belly or grease in his hand, he just wants a permanent and prominent reminder of Rosemary so he doesn't move on.
"You've come to love me lightly" - He can feel her presence
"Yeah you've come to hold me tight" - He won't let himself move on, he allows her to hold on him still.
"Is this motion everlasting
Or do shudders pass in the night?" - Will he always feel like this, or does he just need more time to come to terms with it? Alternatively, maybe he wonders how long until he forgets about Rosemary altogether because he doesn't want to?
"Rosemary
Oh, Heaven restores you in life
I spent a lifespan with no cellmate
The long way back
Sandy, why can't we look the other way?" - I've explained this enough.
"You're weightless, semi-erotic,
You need someone to take you there
Sandy, why can't we look the other way?
Why can't we just play the other game?
Why can't we just look the other way?" - Sounds like this is all about Sandy so the other references "you're weightless, you are exotic" probably is as well. I feel here he is practically begging and pleading to forget about Sandy because he feels to consumed with guilt about what happened to Rosemary and also about letting her go. -
After listening to this song multiple times, and reading about all sorts of interpretations I can't help, but feel like the song was meant to be open to interpretation. Although, Paul Banks might have also taken inspiration from elsewhere, whether he wrote this song as a direct inspiration from the Wests aka the rapist/serial killer couple whose horrendous crimes made headlines in the UK during the 70-80s is questionable. I think only Banks and the rest of the band knows the answer to that. I have yet to find any direct sources from the band or Banks himself which expands on this idea. Most of those connections seem to be draw-out by fan theories, and assumptions made by fans linking the name 'Rosemary' to Rosemary West herself. The lyrics themselves are obscure and too cryptic to confirm this. Even the music-video seems to gear towards a different direction about the lyrics, which in itself could be intentional. The music-video seems to express a combination of the lyrics being about out-of-body experiences, love and loss, as well as survivor's guilt. They are all sorts of interesting notions, but at the end of the day maybe the band just wanted to make a creepy video about a puppet who got in a car accident without having any deeper meaning than that?
Despite that, I don't think the fans are too off about the lyrics hinting at the song being written in the perspective of someone whose not entirely "innocent." In other words, it feels like this song was written in the perspective of someone who either committed a crime, or knows they're not a very good person. Some of the recurring themes I got from simply listening to the lyrics, and trying to interpret them while also thinking about the music video is that they both share common themes. When I listen to this song I think about loss, love, and redemption. I think about a lover who knows he's a really bad person, or at least there's a level of guilt if not acknowledgement. He is chaos and corruption; whether his partner sees him as evil is up to her. He however, doesn't really care, just wants to ignore the world and live in the moment. Especially when I hear lyrics like, "You're coming with me...through the aging, the fearing, the strife," those words are not exactly asking or inviting, nor are they exactly loving in nature, it's not as to say, "yes you're my ride or die, and I want to be with you forever," but rather it's a command as to say, "It really doesn't matter. You're coming with me, and I'm not letting you go." In some ways it can come off as romantic, in other ways it can come off as toxic and parasitic. However, it can also be interpreted as someone refusing to let a loved one go...maybe he was the cause of her demise? And doesn't want to let her just yet?
This is where the idea of loss comes to mind, especially when they use the term 'Rosemary,' and the lyrics, "Heaven restores you in life." Rosemary might have some biblical reference in there, but I'm not sure which. What I do know is, ancient Egyptians would use rosemary in ceremonies and in the embalming process, and would place rosemary near tombs. They were used as an act to remember the dead. Similarly, early Europeans also used to use rosemary during funerals as a way to symbolize the dead would live on throughout their memories; rosemary incense was also used for cleansing the space and the mind. It was also interwoven in bride's wreaths during wedding ceremonies as to symbolize love, friendship, and faithfulness to each other. Not to mention it was a good insect repellent, hence the parasite connection. The herb has links to being associated with love, lust, purification, mental strength, healing, protection, and even exorcism. The idea of the lyrics talking about being "restored," goes back to him both seeking redemption for his love, but also in way dragging her down with him. She keeps embracing him, and he keeps making her promises...complementing her smile, and talks of travel and rewriting dreams, hence the "Make revision to a dream." In other words, he's wanting to make those dreams a reality, or at least ignore the bigger problems and focus on what they could be, "Sandy, why can't we look the other way? Why can't we just play the other game?"
When I hear the lines, "Hey, wait..Great smile/Sensitive to fate, not denial/But hey, whose on trial?" I think of distractions. Like someone having a conversation with someone, and saying, "Hey look, what's that behind you?!" It also reminds me of when a couple is on the verge of an argument, and one of them starts to backtrack by distracting their partner with either doing something sweet or complimenting them, it's kind of like the "Hey did I tell that you look nice today?" bit. To me, these lyrics are speaking as if the couple are both in acknowledgement that they're self-aware of what they're doing, but also not foolish enough to deny what's happening. Question is...what exactly are they doing? Are they doing 'normal' stupid things (like drinking and driving), are they committing crimes/crimes against nature (going on a murder spree), or are they both engaging in self-destructive behavior (lies, deception, toxic power-couple)?
The catchy lines, "It took a lifespan with no cellmate/The long way back," are tricky because they can be interpreted in number a ways. They can hint at the guilty party choosing the long road to redemption, as well as be interpreted as him seeking absolution not the usual route aka by not going to heaven, but instead seeking redemption by doing his time in prison. Toward the end of the song there's a level of acceptance, but also doubt whether the right choice was made. It's no longer seems like he's questioning whether "Sandy, can we look the other way?" Instead he almost seems like he's pleading to Sandy to actually look the other way as to say, "WHY can't we really just look the other way?" Hence the slight variations at the lines by adding "just" and repeating the same question in a slight variation as to try to convince her. The end of the song focusing predominately on that same question..."Can we really just look the other way?"
What's the saying..? "See no evil, hear no evil, say no evil?"
It like the song lyrics (or the voice in the song) is asking us, can we really just pretend to see no evil and look the other way?
Can we really live with ourselves, if that's the case?
The lines towards the end of the song are also a bit disturbing and somehow haunting:
Leave some shards under the belly
Lay some grease inside my hand
It's a sentimental jury
And the makings of a good plan
You've come to love me lightly
Yeah, you've come to hold me tight
Is this motion everlasting
Or do shudders pass in the night?
And also very cryptic, but can also be somewhat metaphorical. I think these lyrics pretty much paint the picture that there's something not quite right about the person. The fact that the song talks about a trial and a jury, goes back to the idea that the person himself might have actually committed a crime, or it may be a metaphor that he feels like his life has been put on trail. As in, perhaps he's waiting to see if he will ever be forgiven for what choices he's made by society, or the universe itself. "Leave some shards under the belly" can be taken either as an actual description of the body of one of his victims (if we're going with serial killer scenario) or an accident (drunk driving? If we're following the context of the video), or it can be taken as a metaphor for the pain and discomfort he feels. The saying, "butterflies in my tummy/stomach" comes to mind. It's expression used to describe feelings of being nervous or anxious, or also to describe the feelings you get when you are near someone you love or have a crush on. However, instead of butterflies, he feels shards. The imagery of shattered glass comes to mind, perhaps he's describing the aftermath of losing someone in that he feels only pain. Or perhaps he's just describing a crime scene? The grease inside his hand, just in general makes me think of describing someone slippery, but also the concept of being tainted or filthy. Perhaps that's how he feels after either committing the crime, or perhaps that how he views himself in general. Maybe he sees himself as filthy and unclean, as to link the concept of sin and sinner in the theme of redemption.
I find the last lines interesting, "Yeah, you've come to hold me tight/Is this motion everlasting/Or do shudders pass in the night?" It like he's questioning either his lover or society, and asking them if they will continue embracing/loving him despite who he really is...evil (sinner, filthy, etc.), or will he only repulse them? Hence, him describing the shudder in the night. What makes us shudder in the night? Monsters...creepy things, people who commit horrendous things...etc.
So far, this is what I get from trying to attempting analyze the lyrics. Not sure if it resonates with anyone, but those are my two cents/essay analysis lol. Take this with a grain of salt because this just another fan-theory at the end of the day. -
Well, this is a very complex one, beginning with the fact that this is based in the case of the serial killer Fred West and his beloved Rosemary, if you know something about that it´s pretty easy to get the context and understand the metaphores Paul uses all over the song.
Paul was so interested in serial killers when he was in university so he decided to read about the case and write a song about Fred's perspective.
I can say that almost the entire song are Fred´s toughts aboout how Rosemary lost interest on him, so he chose to suicide, the first, second and third pharagraph are based in the letters Fred wrote for Rosemary when he was in jail.
That´s the reason "but hey who´s on trial?" hits that way, with a pause, to remark the part about Fred feeling guilty and then realizing he'll be lonely in the process.
BTW, "Sandy" is an apology to Sandra Good, a member of the Manson family, it´s so confusing until you get to the last part of the song and understand that Paul was summarizing the motivations and toughts of serial killers who were considered monsters, so even the title of the song makes sense.
Paul was not talking about an specific crime or criminal, he was making a poethic essay about how the human being can reach that point of becoming a monster.
That why the song is called "Evil".
English is not my first language so there must be some grammar mistakes, sorry -
I always thought it was about Rosemary Kennedy after her lobotomy
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This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
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This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
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This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
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Although now i see the other meanings i thought the song was simply about Evil when i heard it.
"Rosemary" -Rosemary's baby
"Why cant we just look the other way" -Not taking the blame for a crime, just ignoring it
"Life span, with no cell mate" -Solitary Confinment
"Your coming with me" -The survivors will always be with him, they wont forget what happened, and neither will he
"When your friends they do come crying" -Funeral for the victum
Idk, i just thought of it as pure evil.
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Paul Banks was fascinated with serial killers, and as a literally major in college, probably with a lot of ideas around the inner workings of people.
The references to the Rosemary West killings are pretty clear (not just her name, but the "trial", "cellmate" and "shards under the belly".
Still, it doesn't make sense that this is from Fred West until the final year of his life are looked at. He confessed to the killing pretty quickly - suggesting remorse. And he attempted to make some kind of emotional contact with Rosemary...he tried twice and failed. And a few weeks later, committed suicide.
I think this song is the story of Fred West dealing with the evil he had done, and trying to reach Rosemary...the Biblical references are pretty clear. So this is his story after he committed suicide and what he'd say to her.
The first verse of the song is about embracing Heaven and god. "Heaven restores you in life" - this is a clear reference to being alive and that there is a means to salvation in life. The rest of the verse is about what that is and if she comes with him what she gets - it's the smile on the package, the faces in the sand, the thought that holds you up, their embraces - all the good things in life...the "slow-release" (inner peace) as opposed to the instant and twisted gratification of torturing their victims.
The next verse is his message to her: Hey wait, great smile (his nickname for her?) - have faith and don't deny (Just confess and faith - don't play the victim card)...then again, "but hey who's on trial" An admission he coped out by committing suicide - so he can sympathize with her decision.
Then he confesses to her what his life was about. Being completely alone (a lifespan without a cellmate) searching for a way out...from the trap of just looking the other way to everything he did - all the suffering he caused. That's the root of his "evil". Just look the other way. What was wrong with that?
The next verse describes that world of what could be or could have been - perhaps the afterlife or fantasy existence. "I could take you places....Make a revision to a dream...."
Later on, the line, "You need something to which to care" - I think a reference to how serial killers are considered uncaring.
The next verse talks about their crimes, how they hoped to presume innocence and hope for a sympathetic jury....and whether or not they really loved each other and if that was over - "Is this motion everlasting or do shutters pass in the night"
The final verse mentions that she needs someone to take her there - perhaps him or someone else (earlier - "do you need another man"). and changes the chorus - "...play the other game" a reference to their interaction not involving the girls they tortured and murdered. Suggesting once again, his remorse. -
This is a song about losing one's self after a trauma. It was likely inspired by the final days of Fred and Rosemary West, a British serial killer couple. While awaiting trial, Fred committed suicide, leaving his wife to serve a life sentence in prison.
Knowing that, the lyrics make a lot more sense. Look up the case notes. -
This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
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The murder of Rosemary LaBianca by the Manson Family. Hasn't Manson had a life spent with no cellmate?
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It's about watching a one time vibrant beautiful woman getting hooked on oxys
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I agree with everything said in the first interpretation, except for the way that Rosemary died. In the music video itself it starts off at the scene of a car crash. Therefore, it's easy to see that the shards are actually shards of glass, and when he talks about leaving some grease inside my hand, he's literally talking about grease from the car.
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I think its about Rosemary West aswell. She has been portrayed in the UK as one of the worlds most evil women. Evil is a word frequently used to describe her in the British media where her husband was usually described as being disturbed, perverted and crazy. During her marriage to Fred West she was photographed by him in ways where she appeared exotic. Ghosts and shadows etc could be their victims including their children. The murders were often sexual in nature involving grease and shards of wrought-iron. She was widowed early in the case with Fred's suicide. She's been on medication 'set up on slow release'.
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August 11th, 2006 09:48AM is a smart cookie. That sounds right.
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