I am Kyle's self-indulgence

After writing my last post I needed a little something to restore my faith in humanity, and I was reminded of an interview I heard with Wayne Coyne recently at PiratePods.com.

The interviewer asks a question about one of her favorite Flaming Lips songs (and one of my personal favorites as well), Evil Will Prevail. It's an uncharacteristically pessimistic title, coming from a band famous for their sunny outlook and celebratory performances complete with confetti, balloons, animal costumes, hand puppets, and Santa Claus.

I always thought the lyrics were an odd fit for the song itself: Wayne gleefully wails the lines "Evil will prevail" over a happy melody. I've thought this seeming contradiction is at least interesting and I don't think the most melancholy lyrics in the world could detract from the optimism inherent in every note of The Flaming Lips' music.

But after hearing Wayne's explanation in this podcast it all makes a lot more sense to me. He says that if we're honest with ourselves we must admit that good doesn't always win out in the end--that the reason people persist in cheating and killing and torturing others is that it works. We are not guaranteed justice in this life. We are not promised that goodness and mercy will triumph.

But the message of "Evil Will Prevail" is of someone who is able to face this harsh reality and still greet the world with love and mercy and goodness anyway, even if they're destined to lose in the end.

That's a beautiful thought.

Here are the lyrics to the song. For the full effect you really need to hear the music that accompanies them. Imagine an upbeat and excited rhythm, loud guitars, and bombastic drums.

With loving hands
and their arms are stretched so wide they can't seem to take a breath
knowing evil will prevail,
and a million people seems like a lot,
and a million people can't be wrong...

With loving smiles,
and their mouths are stretched so wide they can't even take a breath,
knowing evil will prevail,
and the magic bullet is the glowing mother ship,
and the mother zaps you dead...

with loving hands knowing evil will prevail
knowing evil will prevail
knowing that evil will prevail
knowing evil will prevail
knowing that evil will always win...