Dancin’ With Manson
Story Behind The Song by Andy Cairns (Aug 20th, 2003)
Charles Manson is a touchy subject (figuratively speaking). He was the end of the sixties, along with Altamont.
I made Fyfe drink beer again. We’d both been listening to Minor Threat. Straight edge. Fyfe was going straight edge. No two ways about it, he wasn’t gonna drink.
I turned up at his house with a tray of Budweiser. T.V. was showing a documentary on the ‘Manson Family Murders’. This was our kind of thing, being car crash watchers, how could we/he refuse.
Stretched out on his bedroom floor after the documentary, empty Bud cans on the floor, we had written the lyrics. We wanted to know what it was like, giving away all your control to someone else. Letting them steer your life. Over that case of Bud we put ourselves into ‘Charlie’s’ head. And went mad.
“Her/your foetus is dead dripping down your dress.”
It wasn’t exactly Can’t Buy Me Love but the sentiment wasn’t that far away either. We were on a roll.
Musically, I already had a riff prepared for a song dedicated to trophy indie-girl/whore of the day, Winona Ryder. I saw the light and realised she did not warrant my cavalcade of praise (I want you here, I want you now… Winona Ryder).
The end result was one of our best drum sounds and one of our best guitar riffs ever. Me and Fyfe had started working on (god forbid) vocal harmonies. We wanted the track to sound like one of Charles Manson’s audition tapes for The Monkees or the Beach Boys. Unwittingly, we came up with a noise/pop fest that would be a pointer for Troublegum.
“I don’t fit, take me out of here.”
This was before Radiohead. The music grew around the lyrics like weeds. At the end there is a Stairway To Heaven section. We had no shame but we had a killer guitar sound. Next time we play this tune it is dedicated to René. Only he knows the pain of leading a new brigade of soldiers to war. ‘Dancin’ With René’, the Teethgrinder of the Apocalypse.
P.S. Bass players out there… I dare you to be able to play the bass line like Mister Michael McKeegan.
Lyrics
Take the knife on up the hill, lover, and kiss the girl goodbye
Your foetus is dead dripping down your dress
And her life now means to me even less
In her head the knife that he put inside
Is only the knife that he couldn't find
Can't get him out of your system
Lead and I will follow, lead and I will follow
Get him out of your system
Lead and I will follow, lead and I will follow
This family I've looked for all my life
Is killing everything I've ever loved
He tells me to give my first born up
I love him, he's all I ever want
Can't get him out of your system
Lead and I will follow, lead and I will follow
Get him out of your system
Lead and I will follow, lead and I will follow
Get him out of your system
Lead and I will follow, lead and I will follow
Can't get him out of your system
Lead and I will follow, lead and I will follow
I don't fit, take me out of here
I don't fit, take me out of here
I don't fit, take me out of here (Can't get him out of your system)
I don't fit, take me out of here (Get him out of your system)
(Get him out, get him out, get him out, can't get him out)
I don't fit, take me out of here
(Get him out, get him out, get him out, can't get him out)
I don't fit, take me out of here
(No, you can't get him out)
(No, you'll never get him out)
(Get him out, can't get him out)
(No, you'll never get him out)