Fits & Starts

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of a group under strict command, initially enjoying a period of calm, described as being covered in "sweet rime." This idyllic state, however, is disrupted by an authority figure, the "commandant," and a governing body referred to as the "FSO." The narrator notes that this authority "got it all wrong," creating a tension that builds to an explosive release. The central conflict arises from being "wound so taut" by the FSO, a state of extreme tension that makes the group "champing to go." This implies a suppressed energy or desire that is being held back. The shift from the controlled "promenade" and the "fine time" to being "all broke loose" signifies a dramatic change from order to chaos, or from restraint to freedom, albeit an uncontrolled one. The repeated phrase "In fits and in starts" is the core of the song's narrative and emotional arc. It captures the erratic, uncoordinated nature of their release. The imagery of being "covered in a sweet rime" and then "sweating out a sweet rime, unshelled" suggests a transformation from a delicate, frozen state to one of intense, perhaps uncomfortable, exertion. The use of "apparat" and "apparatchik" adds a layer of bureaucratic or political undertones to this controlled environment. This lyrical construction is effective because it juxtaposes a seemingly pleasant, almost frozen, initial state with a chaotic, energetic breakout. The tension built by the FSO's mismanagement directly leads to the fragmented, unpredictable "fits and starts" of the group's action. It’s this cause-and-effect, from rigid control to wild release, that gives the song its driving force and memorable, almost frantic, energy.