Will by Mouth

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a visceral picture of consumption, driven by a frantic, almost desperate energy. We open on "piles of lustrous packages," suggesting a world of tempting, desirable goods, but the phrase "too precious little time" immediately injects a sense of urgency and scarcity. This isn't leisurely enjoyment; it's a hurried, almost violent act of taking in, described with unsettlingly physical terms like "aerated, glazed look" and "impregnated," before the blunt command to "cram it in, run on by." The core tension seems to lie in the conflict between a primal, instinctual drive and a manufactured, perhaps even harmful, experience. The phrase "harnessing will by mouth" is particularly striking, implying a forced or manipulated desire, a will that's not entirely one's own but is instead channeled through the act of consumption. This is reinforced by the imagery of "shoot on instinct in the gut, jabbed bluntly to the throat," which evokes a raw, almost involuntary reaction that's nonetheless directed and forceful. The lyrics then pivot to a critique of this system, suggesting a deliberate deception at play. The narrator appears to resign "the populace to a diet of nitrates and dioxins," a stark contrast to the initial "lustrous packages." This isn't just about personal consumption; it's about a wider societal conditioning where the populace is "defraud[ed]" and forced to ingest "shit." The repeated "will by mouth" takes on a more sinister tone here, suggesting a controlled, unhealthy appetite that benefits those in power. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics stems from their jarring, almost industrial imagery and their unflinching portrayal of a consuming hunger. The language is sharp and physical, forcing the listener to confront the less appealing aspects of desire and satisfaction. It's a potent, if bleak, commentary on how easily our instincts can be exploited, leaving us with a manufactured appetite for things that might ultimately be harmful.