Mechanical Animals (song)

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This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. This article is about the song
"Mechanical Animals"
Mechanical Animals cover
Song by Marilyn Manson
Album Mechanical Animals
Released September 14, 1998
Recorded 1997–1998 at the White Room, Westlake Recording Studios in West Hollywood, California and Conway Studios
Genre Alternative rock, space rock, south rock
Length 4:33
Label Nothing, Interscope
Writer Marilyn Manson
Composer Twiggy Ramirez, Zim Zum
Producer Michael Beinhorn, Marilyn Manson

"Mechanical Animals" is the third track on the 1998 release Mechanical Animals. It was partially inspired by a North Dakota boy who killed himself. His father found him dead with Manson's Antichrist Superstar on repeat in his CD player. The father blamed Manson for his son's suicide and called Antichrist Superstar the "hand grenade" that led to the tragedy.[1] The song is a concrete example of Manson's consistency with wordplay.

Appearances[edit]

Albums[edit]

Versions[edit]

Lyrics[edit]

    We were neurophobic
    And perfect
    The day that we lost our souls
    Maybe we weren't so human
    If we cry we will rust
    And I was a hand grenade
    That never stopped exploding
    You were automatic and
    As hollow as the 'o' in god
    
    I am never gonna be the one for you
    I am never gonna save the world from you
    But they'll never be good to you
    Or bad to you
    They'll never be anything
    Anything at all
    
    You were my mechanical bride
    You were phenobarbidoll
    A manniqueen of depression
    With the face of a dead star
    And I was a hand grenade
    That never stopped exploding
    You were automatic and
    As hollow as the 'o' in god
    
    I am never gonna be the one for you
    I am never gonna save the world from you
    But they'll never be good to you
    Or bad to you
    They'll never be anything
    Anything at all
    
    This isn't me I'm not mechanical
    I'm just a boy
    Playing the Suicide King

Personnel[edit]

Trivia[edit]

  • The lyric "You were my mechanical bride" is a direct reference to Marshall McLuhan's critical study of popular culture The Mechanical Bride.
  • The lyric "I'm just a boy playing the Suicide King" has often been misinterpreted as Manson advocating suicide. The lyric is actually colloquial slang (and used on the song as such) referring to playing card The King of Hearts, whose face always feature the King impaling his head with a sword. Such an action can be seen in a diagram underneath the Mechanical Animals lyrics in the album booklet.

References[edit]

  1. Nelson, Chris (1998-06-05). "Senate To Investigate Lyrics And Warning Stickers". VH1. MTV Networks (Viacom). http://www.vh1.com/news/articles/350008/19980605/index.jhtml. Retrieved 2011-06-11.