Annotations for Megalomania

Lyric: Who are you?
Annotation:
The prevailing uncertainty extends to the persona’s perception of self. He does not yet know who he is and what he represents as the new agent of his life (replacing an expired religious foundation).

Lyric: And paradise comes at a price
 That I am not prepared to pay
 What were we built for?
 Will someone tell me please?
Annotation:
When Matt Bellamy was on the search for the perfect organ to play in the song, he wanted to use the grand church organ of St. Mary’s church in Bathwick, England. The priest actually asked to read the song lyrics before giving his permission. Now because the lyrics themselves weren’t actually done at the time, Matt gave him some fuzzy-wuzzy feel good lines that obviously were  not the actual lyrics. Oddly enough, the Priest wanted to ensure the band wasn’t a bunch of Devil worshippers. So in retrospect, the completed song and lyrics, which directly question faith, beg the question  why a church organ? Could it be irony or size?

Lyric: When I am gone, it won’t be long
 Before I disturb you in the dark
Annotation:
This line might be saying that Matt doesn’t believe in an afterlife, that we are doomed to walk as shades in eternal darkness; no fire or pain or suffering, just –  nothing

Lyric: Useless device, it won’t suffice
 I want a new game to play
Annotation:
Matt refuses to subscribe himself to religion, as he believes its an empty vessel that really doesn’t reveal anything worthwhile about human nature or purpose – he wants to find something else to explain humanity’s traits

Lyric: What are they for? They’ll just grow up
 And break the laws you’ve loved
Annotation:
Matt wonders what the point of having children even is, considering that they often grow up and do all the things they are told not to do in their childhood. Is there really any point in following this pretense of righteousness and decency if no one can ever live up to it?

Lyric: What were we built for?
 Could someone tell me please?
Annotation:
What is the purpose of humanity on this earth? Religious texts offer some people guidance on that front (the Abrahamic Bible says to “be fruitful and multiply”), but since Matt doesn’t believe that gods exist, he’s left to find his own meaning for the age-old question “why are we here?”

Lyric: Paradise comes at a price
 That I am not prepared to pay
Annotation:
Matt doesn’t like the idea of submitting to a divine being and/or its laws in order to reach the afterlife (if one exists) or to find true happiness

Lyric: Take off your disguise
 I know that underneath it’s me, ooh
Annotation:
Matt believes that our notions of “God” or the divine are just man-made illusions designed to (poorly) deal with our immorality and mortality

