Annotations for Euphoria

Lyric: It’s been all work and no play
Annotation:
This line is in reference of the 1980 Kubrick film “ The Shining)” (or the eponymous book) in which Jack the caretaker along with his wife and son move into the empty Overlook Hotel for the winter. Jack plans on writing a book during the long isolation. But during the climax it is revealed that he only wrote “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” over and over on his typewriter. Upon his wife finding out, Jack snaps and tries to kill her and his son.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lQMjU4QHwOver the span of the movie dark, supernatural forces are hinted at and the implication is that by some dark twist of fate, Jack is condemned to repeating the circle of violence as a previous caretaker murdered his family as well.  https://tenor.com/view/work-papers-dull-boy-gif-13916372This line harks back to the themes of isolation, going mad and dark influences by unknown agents that are present throughout the album and especially in Euphoria. The pre-chorus is also a fitting description for Jacks modus operandi, ‘brooding’ over his ‘book’, yearning for the ‘satisfaction’ of overcoming writer’s block. (Before he went insane anyway). The ‘renewing’ he is waiting for being the spring, that releaves him of his caretaking duties and restarts the cycle of the years. His ‘gut reaction’ may be the snapping and turning murderous. Though admittedly this may be a stretch. In relation to the lockdowns, this line draws a parellel from the poor caretaker, losing his mind after being subject to isolation, boredom and dark forces, to the real life equivalent of people’s mental health suffering from the prolonged time at home.  Domestic violence also saw a sharp rise during lockdowns which fits in with the motif of Jack attempting to murder his family.

Lyric: So start a fire and spice up this love affair
Annotation:
The “start a fire” line could be a reference to one of two things: Drugs. During lockdown hell, many people turned to drugs as a coping mechanism — to “spice up” being kept prisoner in their own home. And of course lighting a fire is necessary to consume many drugs, from smoking to heating a spoon. Riots. The anger in the 2020 “summer of love” was amplified by the stress pandemic restrictions were putting on the populace. For many, it was the first time they’d gone outside in months. Muse could be referencing people using arson to vent their frustrations.

Lyric: And give us euphoria
Annotation:
In this song “euphoria” is being used as a metaphor for the release of restrictions allowing people to come out and “play”. In this intense excitement described in the song we forget about whatever it was that kept us back in the first place, or maybe simply no longer care, because of the primal need to escape.

Lyric: [Pre-Chorus]
Annotation:
The Pre-Chorus is very reminiscent of  “Time is Running Out”: Bury it I won’t let you bury it I won’t let you smother it I won’t let you murder it Matt  has indeed described the album  Will of the People as Muse’s Greatest Hits: It’s a montage of the best of Muse. It’s a new take on all of those types of genres that we’ve touched on in the past. It’s then likely that the tracks have references to much of Muse’s past work.

Lyric: If no one cares, then who is gonna save us?
Annotation:
This line is again from the perspective of people feeling trapped in the pandemic, getting frustrated and feeling like no leaders really care and are just trying to wait it out.

Lyric: Shut down, we are growing spiritless
Annotation:
The opening line of the song makes a clear connection to the COVID lockdown’s effect on many people; it was very draining, and everyone wanted some way out of it.

