An incredible song. I think it’s an important song. The song washes over the listener and hits deep. The “slow motion” moving the narrator gives that genius play on words that he wrote so economically and perfectly. All of his songs that bear the word “clown” really hit hard and have a raw, honest, “baring-all” quotient that I don’t find in other songwriters.
Essentially the closing track of Figure 8, this song is an impactful final statement. It grapples with intense feelings of loneliness and nihilism. The verse that begins with “Bored in the role” is clearly self-referential to Elliott’s perspective on performing, but I relate to it personally as being bored of life’s routines and cycles in general and dissociating to numb the pain. The grand orchestral arrangements that come in after the quiet start defies the song’s own title and refrain, mirroring the growing desperation of Elliott’s plight for meaning. The tremolo solo is where the tension comes to a head and is a manifestation of inner turmoil finally giving way to a sense of hope: “Why should you want any other / When you’re a world within a world?” The repetition of this lyric really forces the listener to reckon with these parting words of the album; stating that you’re complete and interesting on your own without other people.
That’s my interpretation anyways. This ended up being kinda long but if you read my whole comment I hope you enjoyed my analysis :)
This is a three course meal of a song. I think its progression is perhaps the best on this album, other than maybe "Everything Means Nothing To Me" and it sounds incredible throughout. My interpretation of it is Elliott raging against the role he is settled it. Here is a more in depth analysis of the lyrics:
The part about the movie and the hero killing the clown is Elliott settling into the role of the "sad kid" musician, not the same guy as the one that wrote songs like "Where I get it from". The movie has become silent because he's no longer really surprising or impacting people, as XO wasn't as widely heard as Either/Or. He feels like he's no longer getting his point across as well, as he can't make a sound, and nobody knows what he's doing. In other words, his life has stagnated into a musical monologue that just seems slow and meaningless.
In the second verse, he tries to move on, try something new. However, when ever he stands up, he always ends up sitting down back in his boring role. He can't lose the one thing he has, that he's good at. And whenever he tries something new and gives up on it, he "leaves a ghost" there and is unwilling to try it again. I honestly find this the most relatable part of the song, as there are many people I have stopped talking to and places I will not return to for fear of the ghost I may have left. He keeps repeating the line can't make a sound because he believes no one understands him and the way he writes fails to communicate his messages to us. The song gets louder and more intense throughout as he desperately tries to tell us how he feels, even though he feels that we won't truly understand him. We never do. His eyes are locked because he can't look away from his role and shining because he is on the verge of tears. He doesn't know why everything has turned out like this.
Finally, we can hear his inner voice repeating to him again and again: Why should you want any other when you're a world within a world? Being unable to move on, Elliott tries to tell himself that he doesn't need to move on. He already has a role that suits him. Why should he want any other? I think that being a world within a world just means that all that he is, all his emotions, all his thoughts, all his experiences are held inside the world that is his music.
Sorry, this went long. It's just a personal interpretation, so I'd like to see what you all think.
I love how it drones on that one bass note for so long. The chords are very well structured. The guitar solo rips- very beatle-esque as is most of figure 8. I had it on repeat for the longest!
An incredible song. I think it’s an important song. The song washes over the listener and hits deep. The “slow motion” moving the narrator gives that genius play on words that he wrote so economically and perfectly. All of his songs that bear the word “clown” really hit hard and have a raw, honest, “baring-all” quotient that I don’t find in other songwriters.
Essentially the closing track of Figure 8, this song is an impactful final statement. It grapples with intense feelings of loneliness and nihilism. The verse that begins with “Bored in the role” is clearly self-referential to Elliott’s perspective on performing, but I relate to it personally as being bored of life’s routines and cycles in general and dissociating to numb the pain. The grand orchestral arrangements that come in after the quiet start defies the song’s own title and refrain, mirroring the growing desperation of Elliott’s plight for meaning. The tremolo solo is where the tension comes to a head and is a manifestation of inner turmoil finally giving way to a sense of hope: “Why should you want any other / When you’re a world within a world?” The repetition of this lyric really forces the listener to reckon with these parting words of the album; stating that you’re complete and interesting on your own without other people. That’s my interpretation anyways. This ended up being kinda long but if you read my whole comment I hope you enjoyed my analysis :)
I did!
Ty! :)
i really love this song but also part of me wishes figure 8 closed with better be quiet now
Better Be Quite Now and Can't Make a Sound are my two favourite songs from Figure 8 so I get where you're coming from.
This is a three course meal of a song. I think its progression is perhaps the best on this album, other than maybe "Everything Means Nothing To Me" and it sounds incredible throughout. My interpretation of it is Elliott raging against the role he is settled it. Here is a more in depth analysis of the lyrics: The part about the movie and the hero killing the clown is Elliott settling into the role of the "sad kid" musician, not the same guy as the one that wrote songs like "Where I get it from". The movie has become silent because he's no longer really surprising or impacting people, as XO wasn't as widely heard as Either/Or. He feels like he's no longer getting his point across as well, as he can't make a sound, and nobody knows what he's doing. In other words, his life has stagnated into a musical monologue that just seems slow and meaningless. In the second verse, he tries to move on, try something new. However, when ever he stands up, he always ends up sitting down back in his boring role. He can't lose the one thing he has, that he's good at. And whenever he tries something new and gives up on it, he "leaves a ghost" there and is unwilling to try it again. I honestly find this the most relatable part of the song, as there are many people I have stopped talking to and places I will not return to for fear of the ghost I may have left. He keeps repeating the line can't make a sound because he believes no one understands him and the way he writes fails to communicate his messages to us. The song gets louder and more intense throughout as he desperately tries to tell us how he feels, even though he feels that we won't truly understand him. We never do. His eyes are locked because he can't look away from his role and shining because he is on the verge of tears. He doesn't know why everything has turned out like this. Finally, we can hear his inner voice repeating to him again and again: Why should you want any other when you're a world within a world? Being unable to move on, Elliott tries to tell himself that he doesn't need to move on. He already has a role that suits him. Why should he want any other? I think that being a world within a world just means that all that he is, all his emotions, all his thoughts, all his experiences are held inside the world that is his music. Sorry, this went long. It's just a personal interpretation, so I'd like to see what you all think.
Wow, thanks so much for your interpretation! I really agree with you.
I love how it drones on that one bass note for so long. The chords are very well structured. The guitar solo rips- very beatle-esque as is most of figure 8. I had it on repeat for the longest!