This song has the distinction of being one of a handful of songs from the old days that got played live, and my memory is that it went off like a bomb. Point to fact, we were using “revertebrate” as our intro music and we would just launch into “forever” to open the set. The original was recorded during the hot summer of 2002 as I was trying to pick myself up after a particularly devastating break-up. There is, in the original, a particularly juvenile and nasty cut at her — on hearing it, she did ask if that was her I was referring to. I don’t recall whether or not I took ownership of it, but I didn’t think it was particularly ambiguous. The title “revertebrate” is literally implying that I am trying to get my spine back. That said, the line was juvenile and regrettable. And because I’m a different man, I will say that I’ve rewritten the line for this version, because I can’t stand behind the original approach now. The new version goes, “Now ‘Nevermore,’ so says Lenore.” It seemed appropriate to tie it to a Poe reference instead because “The Raven” is so clearly the original, goth kid break-up poem. Most of the songs on the altered project have one or two lines or words changed here and there. You live with the songs long enough, you come to know and regret their mistakes. So going back, even as a lyricist I wanted to touch them up where possible.
Lyrics:
The shoes of man
Won’t fit on me
Your mind of masses too small to see
The misanthrope
Who couldn’t cope
He found an answer on a length of rope
She saw me there
But could not speak
How do you scab the wound that wants to bleed?
The lesson learned
I am returned
To sift the ashes of that I burned
They tried to crucify me
They only deified me
Today I start again
Forever unto my death
I was beaten
And I succumbed
Left in the corner to suck my thumb
Now ‘Nevermore’
So says Lenore
But I have stitches for the flesh that’s torn
Lift up the gun
Unload the sum
My nerves will scream when they’re no longer numb
I fought with death
I did not win
Now I’ve no option but to live again
They tried to crucify me
They only deified me
Today I start again
Forever unto my death
Hope Faith Trust & Love
Hope Faith Trust & Love
Hope Faith Trust & Love
Hope Faith Trust & Love
They tried to crucify me
They only deified me
Today I start again
Forever unto my death