survey 3: smashing pumpkins

Back to the business at hand. Today we shall speak in Smashing Pumpkinsese. Sometimes I get the impression that liking Smashing Pumpkins is not "cool" for those who are "with it." Well, you know what I have to say to that? "Screw you, buddy! Screw you!" That's what I have to say.

You know what would be another interesting exercise? To do this with quotes from a specific poet instead of a specific band's lyrics. I don't know if I'd be up to that challenge, though. Hmm. Maybe I could pull off Eliot. Or maybe even e.e. cummings.

Some of these questions I answered several times, with different lyrics. I was tempted to do this last time, but this time the temptation was just unbearable. There's just too much to choose from with the SP. Sorry.

1. Are you male or female?

bastard son of a bastard son of
a wild eyed child of the sun
and right as rain, i'm not the same but
i feel the same, i feel nothing
(to forgive- mellon collie and the infinite sadness)

2. Describe yourself:

fool enough to almost be it
and cool enough to not quite see it
and old enough to always feel this
always old, i'll always feel this

no more promise no more sorrow
no longer will i follow
can anybody hear me
i just want to be me
when i can, i will
try to understand
that when i can, i will
(mayonaise- siamese dream)

OR

she don't know that i have
stole my smile from a cheshire cat
and all i wanted was to be a man
since i gave up
i feel free
(frail and bedazzled- pisces iscariot)

OR

everywhere you are
is everywhere you've been
just lost to the beat
punching through your skin
you don't know what to do
but still you wanna crawl
all through the broken glass
that's everywhere you are

your love must always be true
your love must always be you

and in your mind
you were alone
all this time
with everything you are
and every smile you wore
still locked in your heart
everywhere you are
(the imploding voice- machina/the machines of god)

3. How do you feel about your friends?

and once again
you'll pretend to know me well, my friends
and once again
i'll pretend to know the way
through the empty space
through the secret places of the heart
(we only come out at night- mellon collie and the infinite sadness)

4. How do they feel about you?

somewhere he pulls his hair down
over a frowning smile
a hidden diamond you cannot find
a secret star that cannot shine over to you
(here is no why- mellon collie and the infinite sadness)

OR

spaceboy i've missed you
spinning round my head

and any way you choose me
we won't belong
(spaceboy- siamese dream)

5. How do you feel about yourself?

i fear that i am ordinary, just like everyone
to lie here and die among the sorrows
adrift among the days
for everything i ever said
and everything i've ever done is gone and dead
as all things must surely have to end
and great loves will one day have to part
i know that i am meant for this world
my life has been extraordinary
blessed and cursed and won
time heals but i'm forever broken
(muzzle- mellon collie and the infinite sadness)

6. How do you feel about life?

i wanted more
than life could ever grant me
bored by the chore
of saving face

today is the greatest
day i've ever known

can't wait for tomorrow
i might not have that long
i'll tear my heart out
before i get out

pink ribbon scars
that never forget
i tried so hard
to cleanse these regrets
my angel wings
were bruised and restrained
my belly stings

today is the greatest day
(today- siamese dream)

7. What would you rather be doing?

consume my love, devour my hate
only powers my escape
the moon is out, the stars invite
i think i'll leave tonight

soon i'll find myself alone
to relax and fade away
(rocket- siamese dream)

8. Describe where you live:

freak out
and give in
doesn't matter what you believe in
stay cool
and be somebody's fool this year
'cause they know
who is righteous, what is bold
so i'm told

who wants honey
as long as there's some money?
(cherub rock- siamese dream)


9. Describe how you feel about the person you love:

lovely girl you're the beauty in my world
without you there aren't reasons left to find

and i'll pull your crooked teeth
you'll be perfect just like me
you'll be a lover in my bed
and a gun to my head

we must never be apart

lovely girl you're the murder in my world
dressing coffins for the souls i've left to die

drinking mercury to the mystery
of all that you should ever leave behind
in time
(ava adore- adore)

OR

i want something new
but what am i supposed to do
about you
i love you, it's true
(hummer- siamese dream)

OR

my honey little girl
c'mon lets go for a whirl
it's still early
the sun is sleeping
she says she wants to marry me
she says she wants a baby
it's not easy
when you're scared

whir yourself around
just to fall back down
(whir- pisces iscariot)

OR

i lay my head on her bosom
to cry myself to sleep
i seek no greater wisdom
than she has given me
(la dolly vita- pisces iscariot)

OR

dusty screams
through doors and imaginary floors
"why can't you miss me?"

alone he roams
inside the ordinary catacombs
of her waiting

with raven hands
she steals and staggers towards her man
still scorned by his demon
(the tale of dusty and pistol pete- adore)

[Do you sense some ambivalence in the lyrics I tend to pick for the one I love? I do.]

10. Describe how you love:

i'll sing for you
if you want me to
i'll give to you
and it's a chance i'll have to take
and it's a chance i'll have to break

i'll hear your song
if you want me to
i'll sing along
and it's a chance i'll have to take
and it's a chance i'll have to break
(luna- siamese dream)

OR

i'll make the effort
love can last forever
graceful swans of never topple to the earth
tomorrow's just an excuse
you can make it last forever
(thirty-three- mellon collie and the infinite sadness)

11. Share a few words of wisdom:

all your seven dreams
are closer than you believe
as your things come undone
see you are the only one

flower, the pain will wash away
when the sunshine climbs through your window
into your bed
(snail- gish)

OR

when you decide
that your life is a prize
renew and revive
it's alright honey

happiness will make you wonder
will i feel OK?
it scares the disenchanted
far away
(hummer- siamese dream)