A Perfect Circle Songs - Passive Lyrics

A Perfect Circle - Passive

A Perfect Circle - Passive Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Emotive
Released: 2004

Passive Lyrics

Dead as dead can be
The doctor tells me
But I just can't believe him
Ever the optimistic one
I'm sure of your ability to become
My perfect enemy

Wake up (why can't you)
And face me (come on now)
Don't play dead (don't play dead)
'cause maybe (because maybe)
Someday I'll walk away and say
You disappoint me
Maybe you're better off this way

Leaning over you here
Cold and catatonic
I catch a brief reflection
What you could and might have been
It's your right and your ability
To become my perfect enemy

Wake up (why can't you)
And face me (come on now)
Don't play dead (don't play dead)
'cause maybe (because maybe)
Someday I'll walk away and say
You disappoint me
Maybe you're better off this way

Maybe you're better off this way [Repeat: x3]

You're better off this
You're better off this
Maybe you're better off

Wake up (why can't you)
And face me (come on now)
Don't play dead (don't play dead)
'cause maybe (because maybe)
Someday I'll walk away and say
You fucking disappoint me
Maybe you're better off this way

Go ahead and play dead
I know that you can hear this
Go ahead and play dead

Why can't you turn and face me [Repeat: x4]

You fucking disappoint me

Passive-aggressive bullshit [Repeat: x12]

Writer/s: KEENAN, MAYNARD JAMES/REZNOR, TRENT/HOWERDEL, BILLY
Publisher: EMI Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, THE BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Passive

There are 3 persons in this song: Maynard Keenan, the Doctor, and the Dead Man. The setting int stated, but since the Dead Man is lying down (Maynard leans over him) it could be in a hospital most likely. We just know there is a doctor. The first event is the passing of the Dead Man (where and when, who knows), and the second event is the span of the song recounting Maynard's attempts at a resuscitation of sorts. Now, the questions should be: Are the 3 participants representing any particular people or groups of people? What motivates Maynard to awaken the Dead Man? How do you reconcile passive-aggression with being dead? These questions will lead you to the meaning of this song. Understanding passive-aggression and what that type of strategy stems from will give you insight into this song. The tragedy for Maynard's character is that it was his own antagonism for the Dead Man that caused the Dead Man's eventual killing of Maynard.

This song began as a creation of the Maynard James Keenan/Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails) project known as Tapeworm.