Song Meaning
The lyrics paint a stark, violent tableau, juxtaposing the delicate imagery of geishas with the brutal reality of assassins. The opening lines immediately shatter any romantic notions, warning against trusting the "smooth curves of bodies" because "knives and arrows will soon go into action." This sets a tone of deceptive danger, where beauty conceals deadly intent. The narrator appears to be observing or caught in this deadly performance, noting how weapons are hidden and the remnants of both intimacy and conflict are concealed.
The central tension lies in the duality of the figures presented: geishas who are also ninja killers. The repeated phrase "opened their fans their eyelashes" in the chorus is a striking image. It suggests a performative aspect, a graceful opening of fans that simultaneously reveals and conceals, much like eyelashes might hide intent. This action is directly linked to the "killers," blurring the lines between their aesthetic presentation and their lethal purpose. The shift from "geisha ninja killers" to "my killers" in the chorus personalizes the threat, making it more immediate and chilling for the narrator.
The imagery in the second verse is particularly visceral, detailing the aftermath of violence. The mention of "poison dripping into eyes" and "lymph spoiling from the blades" creates a gruesome sensory experience. The line "someone's pink belly and guts will fall out" is a brutal, unflinching depiction of death. This contrasts sharply with the earlier, more veiled threats, bringing the violence into sharp focus. The final lines, "Our stems unraveled, petals fell off," offer a poetic, yet somber, metaphor for destruction and decay, perhaps signifying the end of innocence or life itself.
What makes these lyrics so potent is their ability to weaponize traditional aesthetics. The geisha, an icon of grace and artistry, is re-imagined as a deadly operative. The lyrics force the listener to confront the hidden violence beneath a veneer of beauty. The chorus, with its repeated "Sayonara, sayonara," functions as both a farewell and a death knell, amplifying the sense of finality and the chilling efficiency of these assassins.