Cheeking Tongues

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a disorienting, almost nightmarish landscape where internal turmoil manifests in bizarre, visceral imagery. The opening verse introduces a sense of deep, hidden unease, with "eels in lungs" and "stomachs wail" suggesting a profound, perhaps physical, sickness or regret over something lost or gone "astray." This creates an immediate atmosphere of mystery and distress, hinting at a hidden sickness within. The central tension revolves around a betrayal or deception, embodied by the "cheeking tongue" and "cheating lunge." The repeated, almost desperate question, "Were you there?" underscores a desperate need for confirmation or perhaps an accusation directed at someone. The declaration that "It's all history" feels less like resolution and more like a resigned dismissal, a way of shutting down the painful inquiry. The second verse plunges further into this surreal confusion, with "delirious vandals" and a "cheek tango with liters." These phrases evoke a sense of chaotic, almost drunken recklessness, where actions are nonsensical and associations are fragmented. The imagery of things appearing "on parade" suggests a forced, perhaps embarrassing, public display of these internal struggles or past mistakes. Ultimately, the lyrics seem to grapple with the aftermath of deceit and the difficulty of confronting uncomfortable truths. The final verse dismisses any pretense of order or meaning with "It doesn't rhyme, it didn't matter," suggesting a cynical acceptance of the absurdity and insincerity of the situation. The "soundtrack for your silence" implies that the true impact of these events is felt in the unspoken, the things left unsaid, leaving the listener with a lingering sense of unresolved unease.