The Past Is a Grotesque Animal
The Past Is a Grotesque Animal

of Montreal - The Past Is a Grotesque Animal Lyrics

Alternative
Jan 23, 2007
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The Past Is a Grotesque Animal Music Video

The Past Is a Grotesque Animal Lyrics

The past is a grotesque animal
And in its eyes you see
How completely wrong you can be
How completely wrong you can be

The sun is out, it melts the snow that fell yesterday
Makes you wonder why it bothered

I fell in love with the first cute girl that I met
Who could appreciate Georges Bataille
Standing at Swedish festival discussing "Story of the Eye"
Discussing "Story of the Eye"

It's so embarrassing to need someone like I do you
How can I explain, I need you here and not here too
How can I explain, I need you here and not here too

I'm flunking out, I'm flunking out, I'm gone, I'm just gone
But at least I author my own disaster
At least I author my own disaster

Performance breakdown and I don't want to hear it
I'm just not available
Things could be different but they're not
Things could be different but they're not

The mousy girl screams, "Violence! Violence!"
The mousy girl screams, "Violence! Violence!"
She gets hysterical because they're both so mean
And it's my favorite scene
But the cruelty's so predictable
It makes you sad on the stage
Though our love project has so much potential
But it's like we weren't made for this world
(Though I wouldn't really want to meet someone who was)

Do I have to scream in your face?
I've been dodging lamps and vegetables
Throw it all in my face, I don't care

Let's just have some fun
Let's tear this shit apart
Let's tear the fucking house apart
Let's tear our fucking bodies apart
But let's just have some fun

Somehow you've red-rovered the gestapo circling my heart
And nothing can defeat you
No death, no ugly world

You've lived so brightly
You've altered everything
I find myself searching for old selves
While speeding forward through the plate glass of maturing cells

I've played the unraveler, the parhelion
But even apocalypse is fleeting
There's no death, no ugly world

Sometimes I wonder if you're mythologizing me like I do you
Mythologizing me like I do you

We want our film to be beautiful, not realistic
Perceive me in the radiance of terror dreams
And you can betray me
You can, you can betray me

But teach me something wonderful
Crown my head, crowd my head
With your lilting effects
Project your fears on to me, I need to view them
See, there's nothing to them
I promise you, there's nothing to them

I'm so touched by your goodness
You make me feel so criminal
How do you keep it together?
I'm all, all unraveled

But you know, no matter where we are
We're always touching by underground wires

I've explored you with the detachment of an analyst
But most nights we've raided the same kingdoms
And none of our secrets are physical
None of our secrets are physical
None of our secrets are physical now

Writer(s): KEVIN BARNES
Copyright(s): Lyrics © BUG MUSIC OBO APOLLINAIRE RAVE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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What is the Meaning of The Past Is a Grotesque Animal?

The best song of Montreal ever gave us, totally depressive and dark, yet so creative regarding its references, so rich in deeper meanings and lyrics that are going to kick me in the head one by one every time it plays - and I would like to hear it playing for ages. In fact, if I needed a soundtrack for my life, this would be it.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Who wrote 'The Past Is a Grotesque Animal'?

    'The Past Is a Grotesque Animal' was written by Kevin Barnes, the frontman of the band of Montreal.

  2. What album is 'The Past Is a Grotesque Animal' from?

    'The Past Is a Grotesque Animal' is from the album 'Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?', which was released on January 7, 2007.

  3. How long is 'The Past Is a Grotesque Animal'?

    'The Past Is a Grotesque Animal' is approximately 12 minutes long and serves as the turning point of the album 'Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?'.

  4. What significant themes are present in 'The Past Is a Grotesque Animal'?

    The song delves into themes of emotional turmoil, relationships, self-destruction, and existential reflections. It also references cultural elements like Georges Bataille's novella 'Story of the Eye'.

  5. Who inspired some of the lyrics in 'The Past Is a Grotesque Animal'?

    Some lyrics were inspired by Kevin Barnes’ relationship with his wife Nina. They met at a music festival in Oslo where they discussed Georges Bataille’s novella 'Story of the Eye'.

  6. What transformation occurs during 'The Past Is a Grotesque Animal'?

    'The Past Is a Grotesque Animal' marks Kevin Barnes’ transformation into their glam rock alter ego Georgie Fruit. This persona continues through the rest of the album and into two subsequent LPs.

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