Posted March 30, 2007 at 12:45 pm by Severed Head
Bumblefoot-Normal
Normal brings you into the world of an insane musician who takes medication and experiences what it’s like to be ‘normal’ for the first time – but the medicine silences his ability to make music. Eventually he must choose which life he wants. The songs on Normal follow his journey, leaving you to ponder, “What’s ‘normal,’ anyway?”
This is the text about the album on Bumblefoot’s website, and it’s a good decsription of the album, but really fails to grasp the true beauty of the album. This insane musician decides whether it’s worth changing himself or not for the rest of the world, and I will go into that in detail when I review this album!
Normal is one of my favorite albums, because it really helps me when I’m feeling down, and it really helps me see the light at the end of the tunnel, I guess you’d say. I will include all of the lyrics to a song if I feel it is necessary, or none, or just an excerpt. Really though, you should get the album yourself and listen along!
1. Normal
I just got a new medication
After years of hibernation
I can walk outside for the first time
And let the sunshine touch my head
Never went an hour without
Mutilating from the inside out
Now everything’s fine for the first time
I feelin’ like I’m born again
I try but can’t explain it – I say too much
I feel so liberated – feels like love
It’s so nice to be normal – to be normal for a change
I used to stare up at the sky
And watch the little worm in my eye
But now all I wanna do is look at you
And fill your darkest room with light
I try but can’t explain it – I say too much
I feel so liberated – feels like love
It’s so nice to be normal – to be normal for a change
It’s so nice to be normal – but it still feels kinda strange
The noise has left my head
The voice inside is dead
Now I don’t hear a sound
Never knew silence could ever be so loud
It’s so nice to be normal – to be normal
It’s so nice to be normal – but it still feels kinda strange
The guitar on this song is very poppish for a while, but damn catchy, and has some really clever voicing things trading off with the vocals, especially the “worm” verse. The background vocals are very anthemic. And the solo! Beautiful. Anyway, this one’s fairly self-explanatory. He first starts taking drugs, and feels really happy because he’s “normal”, and though he clearly misses the music, and has a lot of doubts
2. Real
Okay, this song is just fucking awesome. The guitar is so amazing. It really makes you go “How the HELL does he do that!?” The way it speeds up quicker and quicker is just amazing. It’s really an insane song. Just fucking good old rock!
Your left hand got the finger on the button
Your right forgot how to feel
Your head don’t know what either one is doin’
Ya turn nothin’ into such a big deal
I’ve been gettin’ all the signals and the signs
And I’ve been watchin’ how ya cheat and steal
And then you try to spin my name into a lie
Now won’t anybody tell me what is real
Are you listening – do you hear a thing
Even through your own shit so deafening
Up on my own feet – you can’t make me drop
Try to pull me down – I’ll still be on top
Now you started something that you can’t stop
There’s a fine line and you think you can cross it
Rollin’ along on your entitlement wheel
Who will remember you for self-importance?
At least I got to know what the fuck is real
Well you can keep all your dirty little secrets
Of all the scapegoats you forced to kneel
I saw the world through Jesus-colored glasses
Now won’t anybody tell me what is real
At first it seems like he’s arguing with someone, but it occurred to me that maybe he’s talking to himself, or to his new self who is trapping away his insane voice. And this song is entirely from his insane voice. The music would definitely indicate that.
3. Turn Around
Today I lost my poetry, intensity
Somewhere in-between entropy, atrophy
In quiet harsh, this grind
Of distract left my mind
I spit dust, but I feel fine
Another pill goes down
Today I found my sanity, empathy
Just underneath simplicity, memory
Thus with a kiss I die
I’ll let go, you hold tight
This change is not goodbye
Sins thrown in the sea floating away now
Waiting and hoping so far away now
Eyes keep on burning, heads keep on turning around
They turn around
Not all of the lyrics, this time, just a section. I really like the solo of this song because it has a few clearly defined stages. So does the song. I love how when he says “Another pill goes down”, the music quiets down a lot. Anyway, I think him just flipping his vision of whether he really wants to take these drugs that make him normal or not.
4. Rockstar For A Day
I’m not sure if all of these apply for a rockstar as much as a pop star or a famous actor or something. Anyway, I think this might be about how, previously, as musician, he didn’t care about success as much, but now that he’s “normal”, he aspires to be what so many aspire to, this ass hole rock star type of thing.
So tell me tell me tell me – am i great?
Will you tattoo my CD cover on your face?
So do you wanna win a date with me?
We can talk all night about me me me? me?
Sitting by candlelight telling stories about by care
Because you care
About the product in my hair
About the clothes I’m gonna wear
To the event where we congratulate ourselves
I wanna be a rockstar for a day – I want my 15 minutes of fame
But I’ve got face that’s made for radio – And my body’s a disgrace
I wanna be a rockstar for a day – I wanna get botox in LA
‘Cause I’ve got a face that’s made for radio – And a voice that’s made for… I don’t know
But you’ll love me anyway
The rhythm guitar on the verse is pretty subtle, but it’s really cool. I just noticed it for the first time. I really love though, how Bumblefoot holds out “care” in “Because you care”, and you think that someone really cares, only to find out that it’s about totally superficial things. I really love the bridge, which is a speech as if he were at an award show:
I just want to thank everybody for uh… Yeah.. Thanks.”
5. Overloaded
Never cared for this song much at all. I also don’t understand how it fits into the theme of the album at all.
Sometimes I’m feeling like, there’s something in the air
That kicks us up into a fight – why do we go there
Is it biology or fucked up chemistry
The whole world seems to be caught in its own misery
Or is it that I only see reflections of me
And that I think there’s nothing beyond my line of trees
I think it’s time to let it go , yeah I know…
‘Cause it’s too short, this thing called life – and I need you in mine
I’m spillin’ over with some much love for the whole world to take that it blows my mind
Yeah I’m overloaded – I’m overflowin’ – it feels like my soul is pouring out my eyes
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oooh, yeah
Take and take as much as you can – it’s all that’s left of me
It seems to again, be some sort of conflict, but I’m not sure who/what he’s talking about when he says “I need you in mine”. I guess it’s him doubting whether or not he should be doing this, because doing this is allowing him to block something/someone out. Maybe.
6. Pretty Ugly
You’re such a pretty pretty pretty girl
Stuck in a pretty pretty shitty world
But girl, you were meant for me
You’re so pretty ugly
Ya got such pretty pretty stupid friends
You know they’re gonna screw ya in the end
So run away with me
We’ll be pretty ugly
I don’t know if he means physically unattractive, but maybe just someone who’s lost as he is, who is going through something really similar to what he was going throguh. Or you could see it as literally as possible.
Ya really got a pretty fucked up life
Someday you’re gonna be my fucked up wife
We match so perfectly
I’m pretty you’re ugly
We got nothin’ but the rest of time
If I could I’d spend it all holding you tight
Cause no other girl can make me feel so fine
And now you’re pretty ugly and you’re mine
You’re pretty ugly and you’re mi-mi-mine
You’re such a pretty pretty pretty girl
Stuck in a pretty pretty shitty world
We’re pretty ugly – just like everything
The “I’m pretty you’re ugly” line, indicates this theme even more to me. Now that he’s on medication, he’s “pretty”, but she’s living his old “ugly” life.
7. The Color Of Justice
Definitely one of my favorites on here, this is a very heavy song. I love how there is no guitar in the verse at first, except the raking rhythm thing. And it just gets more and more cohesive, and the themes really build on themselves.
Good luck in the afterlife – don’t forget to rot in your empty shell
Good luck in the afterlife – don’t forget the way you made this life Hell
Thank you for the taste of blood pressed from the life between my teeth
When right and wrong were chewed away – and you left the taste of grief
Remember all the people you showed no love to
Remember all the people you drove to hate you
Remember all the people you were a disease to
Remember all the people you wouldn’t say please to
Remember all the people that offered compassion
Remember all the people that you turned your back on
Remember when you sold your last decency
When you’re done, remember me
Obviously just a really angry song. I don’t know whom this is aimed at because it seems to be some enemy, whom is never really brought up in any other songs.
8. Breaking Away
This song seems really emo at first. Hardly Bumblefoot at all, especially after the last song. This is a lot more sweet. Doesn’t even sound like Bumblefoot’s voice.
Why do we go so far
Till it’s too far to turn back
When we take it so far
We lose so much more
We lose it all
Stop me if I go too far
It’s so hard to turn back
Don’t let me take it all
Away from you
From you
So don’t let go now
Please show me how
To stop this breaking away
From you
The lyrics though, I can really relate to. And I guess this is him finally beginning to realize that he made a bad decision, and realizing he took things too far, and is sitting back looking at his life in sad acceptance, but with some hope for the future.
In a way, I think a lot of these are love songs, but they’re all songs to himself. His old, insane self, at least, the one that could write music and bear his soul and whatnot. This is a really sweet solo too. The melody of it, that is. But this album is really great because it works on so many levels. Either way, it’s best as a concept album with all the songs tied, but it works as a love thing, works as a medication thing, and whatever else. I think, generally recovery is the point.
9. More
I always interpreted this as a love song, but again, it may be to himself. His old self that he misses.
There’s more to you than what I see
There’s more to you than I can be
There’s something, that something
That makes me feel like I’m more
There’s more than life inside your heart
There’s more than music in your song
There’s something, that something
That makes me feel like I’m more
Than I am when I’m with you
A better man when I’m with you
I love who I am when I’m with you
But I love you more than you could ever know
So much more than I could ever show
How much higher we can make it go
The whole “more than music in your song” bit indicates to me that it’s to himself. This song has always meant a lot to me though.
10. Awake
Again, a song that really means a lot to me. I guess I consider myself to be going through something really bad, and a lot of this album is about recovery and seeing the light, and so, that’s probably why. The lyrics are just really great. Anyway, this is him deciding between the drugs, more than anything. Maybe also about love. Or both. Really ambiguous, but awesome, in that manner.
I miss me
Miss the noise
Miss the colored dreams
And rings
And screams
Miss the pain of love and tragedy
It’s time to decide
How should I live each tomorrow – like the first day or the last
With silence in the sunshine or music in the darkness
Either way I’ll be ok as long as when I get there I’m with you
You make me wanna live again
But what is life without knowing who I am
It’s time to decide
How should I live each tomorrow – like the first day or the last
With silence in the sunshine or music in the darkness
This peace inside is killing me – I think it might be time to leave
Feel the floodgate start to break and crash away the wall
And I awake with you
The first sight in these eyes I want is you
The lyrics are a lot harder to hear on this one at first, but the chorus is really beautiful and uplifting I think. Another theme that I think may be throughout this album is that he gets on the drugs, stops feeling the “pain of love and tragedy”, but meets someone who makes him want to live, someone he really wants to love, but he can’t fully experience this because of the drugs.
11. Life Inside Your Ass
Okay, I’m not sure at all how this applies to the concept I’ve been thinking of. The only thing I can see really is the “suffocation” bit. Really fucking clever and funny lyrics though.
I wanna tell ya what’s on my mind
But I’m hopin’ baby you can read between the lines
I got this vibe that I hope aint true
But the things ya say don’t line up with the things you do
I’m always waitin’ for your shit to pass
And it’s gettin’ like I’m livin’ life inside your ass
Ya think you’re keepin’ me in the dark
But I’m seein’ more more more than I want to
Ya want me in a place where I can’t read your face
But I’m gettin’ what ya got deep inside you
You may act like everything’s alright
But down here at the bottom it’s gettin’ kinda tight
You don’t listen to a word I say
I’m just a piece of something you keep locked away
Ya pull me out when you need a man
But I want more than to kill your bugs and lift your bags
Yeah, you keep makin’, I keep takin’ out your trash
And it’s gettin’ really crowded up inside your ass
(Chorus)
I got your asshole around my neck
Still I’d rather suffocate than smell what’s on your breath
You’re so retentive and I’m in the queue
Just waitin’ for your heart to come passin’ through
But the more I stir it up the more it stinks up fast
And it’s gettin’ hard to breathe up here inside your ass
(Chorus)
I don’t know how long I’m gonna last
I need somethin’ to hold, not a bunch of gas
I’m down here waitin’ and it’s so frustratin’
Guess this is what it’s like to live inside your ass
Yeah, you know where to find me – up inside your ass
I don’t know how long I’m gonna last
One of the reasons I never liked the music in this song as much because there are few breaks in the singing. There is no room to breathe. But I just realized how much that goes with the whole theme of the song. Brilliant!
12. Shadow
A really beautiful song, that echoes themes of Normal, lyrically at least. Brings it back to the question of being “normal”. He’s back off of the drugs, and it’s beautiful!
I can hear the sound again
Voices dancing in my head
Smile wide – drowning slowly as the echoes rise
Angels pounding at my door
They want to take away my war
I won’t let them carve away the edges anymore
No more…
I can feel my face changing
Every day must have its night
Every curse is a blessing
Like a shadow in the light
Life is beautiful and crazy
Isn’t it just like you and I
It’s alright – like a shadow in the light
Her ear pressed to my chest
She can almost hear my breath
Don’t you cry – it’s ok – I chose it all this time…
Every story has an ending
Even though words never die
Every curse is such a blessing
Like a shadow in the light
Winter won’t last forever
And neither will I
It’s alright…
Thank you God for all these choices
In the boundaries of your game
Through the silence and the voices
All my love will never change
It was so nice to be normal
To be normal for a change
So strange…
It was so nice to be normal – but what’s normal, anyway?
It’s about finally being off the drugs and realizing what life is really about, and how it’s a really beautiful thing. I really love the line “Life is beautiful and crazy; isn’t it just like you and I?” This is one of the most beautiful songs I have heard. Really quite inspiring, in a lot of ways, I think. Finally, something great for this musician. Letting the light in. Or whatever. When he says “Every curse is such a blessing”, I wasn’t sure quite what he meant before. I mean this album talks about dualities and stuff a lot, but I think that that’s really saying that it’s better to actually have these curses instead of pretending they don’t exist and being on whatever medication and blocking them out. And that those things really put this all in perspective. And I think he’s still really happy to have gone on the medication “It was so nice to be normal”, because it showed him what he really wants.
13. Thank You
Another really beautiful song.
Thank you for being such a friend
You’re by my side through thick and thin
And when these days come to an end
I know I’ll be with you again
For all the times we’re up and down
You know you never let me down
We’ve turned the page so many times
There’s still so much more left to write
Thank you for all you let me be
And for euphoric memories
For the 15 minutes of fame
And all the pretty ugly things
For filling empty rooms with light
And for the sins thrown in the sea
For flowing in and out my eyes
And the taste of life between my teeth
I’ll say it now while I still have the opportunity to breathe
I suffocated for so long and then you gave my heart its beat
We may be oceans far apart but deep inside you’re still with me
I know we’ll always be together every time I hear you sing…
A spinning world that never stops
The pushin’ pushin’ till we drop
The miracle of endless days
Music that never goes away
It keeps my spirit livin’ on
With you in every song
So thank you and goodnight
Till I see you again on the other side
This song references almost every song on this album, I think, as well as making a few more allusions. Again, he is really happy about his life in general. This is definitely a great “recovery” song. The anthemic “Oh”‘s are really great too. This, and Shadow, are definitely the two most beautiful songs on the album, that I think pretty much everyone should hear. Watch out for the secret track at the end too. I didn’t realize it until just now, when I turned the volume up, but there is a humming sound throughout all of the silence between the end of this and the secret track.
This is a really great album, especially if you are going through a particularly hard time in your life. It’s easy to relate to quite often, and it really says a lot. It’s extremely intelligent. It’s a bloody masterpiece, I must say. I would recommend this to anyone, and everyone. I mean some of the heavier songs maybe aren’t for everyone, but some of the melodies on here are great enough, that I think everyone should experience them. As I said too, all these lyrics could be applied to a lot of stuff, not just the medication thing. It could also be about recovery in general, from depression, from a bad relationship, from what the fuck ever. Or not even recovery, it could be about some good aspect of life. It’s really lovely, I think.