Song Meaning
The lyrics present a speaker offering their "diction" and "life" to an audience, framing it as a transaction where "everything means nothing, without the words." The core tension lies in the speaker's desire for understanding and connection, contingent on the audience's engagement with their "words" and "meaning." This is a direct appeal, suggesting that genuine connection or progress hinges on shared language and intent, whether the audience acts "in subversion or progress in vast herds."
The central conflict appears to be the speaker's earnest offering versus a potentially transactional or superficial reception from the audience. The repeated phrase "My diction's for you" and "My refrains is for you" establishes a one-sided dedication, but the chorus pivots to a conditional exchange: "If all you want is all I have, then all / You need is all I'll give." This suggests the speaker believes their "words" hold intrinsic value, capable of fostering understanding and collective action ("everyone would lend a hand").
A striking element is the juxtaposition of grand, almost spiritual pronouncements with a transactional framework. The speaker offers their "life is for you as from subsistence we'll part," a significant sacrifice, yet frames the exchange around "words" and "meaning." The chorus's repetition of "Everything, means nothing, without the words" acts as a mantra, emphasizing that the speaker's entire offering is validated only through shared comprehension and appreciation of their linguistic output.
This lyrical construction is effective because it creates a sense of urgent, almost desperate sincerity. The speaker is laying bare their creative output and life's work, positing it as the sole currency for genuine human connection and societal improvement. The ambiguity of "Buy Our Intention; We’ll Buy You A Unicorn" in the title, contrasted with the earnestness of the lyrics, hints at a critique of how value is perceived and exchanged in a world that might prioritize superficial gains over profound meaning.