What We Do Is Secret

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of a group that sees itself as fundamentally outside the norm, even a flaw reflected in a broken system. They claim to have always been present, a persistent, almost obsessive force lurking beneath the surface chaos. This self-perception as 'aberrations' and 'defects' sets a tone of alienation and hidden significance. This sense of being an outsider is amplified by the assertion of influence within a specific, albeit vaguely defined, 'D.C.C.' The narrator boasts of an ability to 'lie so perfect' and maintain a 'party line,' suggesting a manipulative control or a carefully constructed facade. This control, however, is immediately undercut by the phrase 'very short circuit,' hinting at an inherent instability or a system prone to failure despite its outward appearance of power. The third verse escalates this theme of flawed progress and hidden danger. The imagery of being 'licensed to drill' with a 'torch' and 'walking on shallow water' evokes a sense of reckless ambition that treads precariously close to disaster. The idea of reaching a 'point of no distinction' and suffering from 'dementia of a higher order' suggests a profound loss of clarity and purpose, a self-inflicted mental decay born from their secretive actions and perceived influence. Ultimately, the repeated refrain 'What we do is secret' acts as both a declaration and a defense. It's the core of their identity, the source of their perceived power, and the reason for their isolation. The lyrics suggest that this secrecy, while central to their operations, also breeds a dangerous disconnect from reality and a vulnerability to internal collapse, a hidden rot within their influential facade.