Vasoline by Stone Temple Pilots Lyrics Meaning – Dissecting the Gritty Anthem of Disillusionment
Lyrics
What’s real and what’s for sale?
Blew a kiss and tried to take it home
Isn’t you, isn’t me
Search for things that you can’t see
Going blind out of reach
Somewhere in the vasoline
Two times and it has rendered me
Punch drunk and without bail
Think I’d be safer all alone
Flies in the vasoline we are
Sometimes it blows my mind
Keep getting stuck here all the time
Isn’t you, isn’t me
Search for things that you can’t see
Going blind out of reach
Somewhere in the vasoline
You’ll see the look
And you’ll see the lies
You’ll eat the lies
And you will
Flies in the vasoline we are
Sometimes it blows my mind
Keep getting stuck here all the time
Isn’t you, isn’t me
Search for things that you can’t see
Going blind out of reach
Somewhere in the vasoline
In the pantheon of grunge anthems that define the 90s, Stone Temple Pilots’ ‘Vasoline’ stands out, not only for its relentless guitar riffs and Scott Weiland’s unmistakable vocal style but for its enigmatic lyrics that seem to tap into a profound sense of disconnection and unease. The song, a single from the band’s second album, ‘Purple,’ has long been the subject of speculation and interpretation by fans and critics alike.
To understand ‘Vasoline,’ it is essential to delve into the psyche of a band that constantly skirted the line between triumph and tragedy. It’s a piece that speaks to the human condition, to the smearing of clarity into confusion, and the struggle to grasp onto something real and tangible amidst the chaos of existence.
A Thick Sludge of Discontent: The Metaphor of Vasoline
The title ‘Vasoline’ itself is a metaphor, evocative of something slick, slippery, and nearly impossible to grasp—a substance that, when applied, causes objects to slide past one another without clear connection. Through this oily imagery, the Stone Temple Pilots encapsulate the feeling of disorientation and the search for grip in a post-modern world where reality and materialism often blend into a mess that is hard to separate, much less understand.
The allusion to the greasy ointment extends to the idea of being stuck but simultaneously unable to hold onto anything meaningful. It represents a state of limbo where individuals are left floundering for certainty in a world that sells falsities as reality, highlighting the alienation that comes with recognizing the difference between what’s real and what’s for sale.
Unveiling the Veil: The Hidden Meaning Behind the Melodies
Beyond its grunge exterior and memorable guitar licks, ‘Vasoline’ is a song fraught with introspection. There’s a philosophical quandary at its core, a reflection on the nature of perception and the limitations of the senses. The line ‘Going blind, out of reach, somewhere in the vasoline’ succinctly captures the frustration of seeking truth in an opaque world, where sight and grasp are both compromised.
This hidden meaning suggests a broader commentary on the human condition, the struggle against the constraints of our own awareness, and the often futile pursuit of understanding within the arenas we find ourselves—be it personal relationships, societal structures, or even within one’s sense of self.
Echoes of a Generation: Interpreting the Memorable Lines
The song’s haunting line ‘Two times and it has rendered me/Punch drunk and without bail’ conjures the repeated attempts to find stability in a world that continually knocks you down. Like a boxer dizzied by blows, the character in the song feels trapped by a system that keeps one incapacitated, possibly metaphorical of addiction, depression, or simply the human struggle against the existential angst.
Then there’s the chorus that repeats ‘Flies in the vasoline we are/Sometimes it blows my mind/Keep getting stuck here all the time.’ It’s a striking visual, comparing humans to flies trapped in the slippery substance, speaking to the repetitive and maddening cycle of trying—but inevitably failing—to escape the stickiness of life’s complications.
The Anthem of the Unseen: Searching for What Cannot Be Seen
‘Isn’t you, isn’t me/Search for things that you can’t see’—these lyrics from ‘Vasoline’ needle into the psyche of the unseen, the unknown, and the unfound. They encapsulate the universal quest for meaning, for the hidden truths beneath the surface of our day-to-day existence. It’s an urge to decipher the indecipherable, to understand what lies beyond the veil of perception.
The phrase is a stark reminder of the invisible boundaries that confine our understanding, and the persistent human endeavor to transcend these barriers, even if the effort seems doomed to futility. The song captures a snapshot of the inner turmoil that arises when faced with the inaccessibility of deeper knowledge or connection.
From Lies to Lies: The Cyclical Dilemma of ‘Vasoline’
The Stone Temple Pilots don’t just stop at metaphors and existential queries; they confront the idea of deceit head-on with ‘You’ll see the look and you’ll see the lies/You’ll eat the lies and you will.’ These lyrics lay bare the resignation to a cycle of deceit, perhaps within the music industry or the wider media, where appearances and falsities are consumed as truth.
It’s a vicious cycle of realization, consumption, and resignation—drawing the listener into the song’s bitter acknowledgment that, even armed with the knowledge that what you’re being fed is false, escape isn’t always possible. ‘Vasoline’ isn’t just a song; it’s a mirror reflecting the often unpalatable realities we encounter and, with a mix of defiance and despair, sometimes have no choice but to accept.
