Song Meaning
The lyrics paint a picture of something imperfect, perhaps a flawed aspect of oneself or a situation, that is nonetheless present and alive. There's a sense that this "tiny bit nasty" part, though not outright "evil," needs attention or correction, framed by the question, "Have you the time to make it right?" The narrator seems resigned to letting this aspect "fly," suggesting a release or acceptance, even if it's not ideal. The core tension lies between acknowledging a flaw and the struggle or decision to either fix it or let it be.
The repeated, almost chant-like lines, "Like siz the well known water / Like siz the well known war," are particularly striking. The phrase "well known" implies familiarity, perhaps even inevitability, with both water and war. This repetition creates a sense of cyclical struggle or a fundamental, recognized aspect of existence that the narrator is grappling with. It suggests that the "nasty" part being discussed might be as ingrained and unavoidable as these elemental forces.
The effectiveness of these lyrics stems from their abstract yet evocative imagery and the deliberate ambiguity. The contrast between the "tiny bit nasty" and the potentially destructive "well known war" is subtle but powerful. The narrator's own position, stating "Lord knows I'm gonna let it fly," positions them as an observer or a reluctant participant, choosing a path of release rather than confrontation, which makes the underlying emotional weight of the situation palpable without explicit detail.
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