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Perpetual emotion machine

from Man in the Mirror (2010) by Utopia Now

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about

Everybody knows the concept of a perpetual motion machine, a contraption that, once it is set in motion, never ceases to move (which, of course, is actually impossible). This is where the title comes from, because life is an incessant generator of emotions, which frequently stand in the way of reasonable behavior and thinking. It’s a song about the ancient battle between “heart and mind” (which obviously is nonsense - the heart is nothing but a muscle, a pump; it doesn't do any "feeling"). If we are under the influence of strong emotions, we are capable of incredibly unreasonable, irrational, (self-)destructive behavior and thinking.

lyrics

- Perpetual emotion machine -

There is a flower on a stone,
there’s a eulogy in grey,
there’s routine in the tone:
“My dear, how are you today?”

In the midst of fear and pain,
among the ruins of their lives,
among the bloated remains of husbands, kids, and wives
they all turn to the skies.

Chorus:
It’s running deeper than an ocean, perpetual emotion
battling the intellect.
A stunning, steady locomotion, visceral commotion,
perpetual emotion machine.

Back when their empires collapsed,
somewhere high above the Wall,
lives burned out like some cash,
they heeded gravity’s call.

All the thoughts of yesterday
disappearing in the smoke,
tomorrow fading away. The ability to cope
replaced by liquid hope.

Outro:
Grief, and love, and terror, and anger,
fear, regret, emotional stupor.
The brain, it speaks, but nobody listens.

credits

from Man in the Mirror (2010), released June 25, 2010
Music and lyrics written, recorded, and performed by Stephan Serowy.

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Utopia Now Berlin, Germany

Utopia Now started out in 2006 but had been known under the name Indigo since 2002, sharing the stage with bands such as Lagwagon, Anti Flag, A Wilhelm Scream, No Trigger, Good Clean Fun, Venerea and many more. However, the band was short-lived and split in 2007. Today the band lives on in the form of an online solo project by the band’s founder, singer, and songwriter, Stephan Serowy. ... more

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