Fly in the Ointment

Song Meaning

This track paints a picture of someone perpetually on the brink, facing inevitable disaster with a strange mix of resignation and defiance. The opening lines immediately establish a sense of desperate need and impending doom, comparing the narrator to a thirsty cactus and an anxious tree before the chop. This sets a tone of vulnerability, quickly followed by a reckless drive: "playing chicken and I ain't gonna turn," even when the conditions are clearly treacherous and lead to getting burned. The core tension lies in this self-destructive cycle. The repeated phrase "fly in the ointment" acts as a constant reminder of the flaw, the disruption that spoils any chance of peace or success. It’s the internal or external force that guarantees things will go wrong, no matter the effort. This is amplified by the imagery of a "soaring godwit on tired wings" facing a "rockslide," a powerful visual of a majestic creature being crushed by overwhelming, unavoidable forces. The lyrics masterfully use contrasting ideas to highlight this struggle. There's a desire for escape or progress – "rev up the engine," "speed to the surface" – but it’s always met with ruin. The narrator acknowledges this pattern, stating, "Always conclusive, just a matter of when." Even in the second chorus, there's a shift to "weathered but pompous," suggesting a learned resilience, but it’s still within the context of ongoing peril, like pulling up the sheets against an avalanche. Ultimately, the effectiveness comes from this raw portrayal of being trapped in a loop of self-sabotage and external misfortune. The repeated "fly in the ointment" and the relentless imagery of impending catastrophe create a palpable sense of dread, while the narrator's determined, albeit doomed, forward momentum makes their plight compelling. It’s the feeling of knowing the crash is coming, yet still flooring the gas.