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ESSAY NOTES
“Empty escapement” -
“Mouthless shadow” -
So the second hand spins the fastest of all hands, dangerously so, at its centrepetal limit. But herein lies the paradox.
There is also the use of the term “second hand” as disposable, temporary, worthless and so on throughout the lyric. The song comes back to this thread every time.
“Another revolution” -
“Highly strung” by anxiety. Highly sprung as the clock spring. So the spring unwinds out of control and the fumbling fingers struggle to coordinate. The second hand is a blur and its fingers would be more so if it had any. Eventually the spring fatigues.
“Wind me up/Ready to go” -
So although the second hand spins out of control does it avoid centrepetal failure by realising its core strength? One's adversaries complacently focus on the obvious stereotypical indicators of one's failure. One answer to the paradox is that it gets to such a speed that a terminal rpm is reached like the vanes of a music box damper/governor. It persists and triumphs despite possessing none of the regular attributes deemed necessary for survival.
The conclusion is that their strengths are their weakness and your weakness is your strength. You are the second hand citizen.
Second Hand has a new definition.
There is no perfect opportunity. There is no unique opportunity. Wake up tomorrow and the hands will be in the same place. We cannot control time. When we get motivated, if we do, then we use the time to the best of our ability. Be aware that there will be someone next to you who has ground to a halt.
SECOND HAND
Another night of nocturnal torment
By noon I’m nothing new
Lost the lust of that empty escapement
And a mouthless shadow so mute
And I’m just your second hand
And I’ve seen
Yes I’ve seen the second hand
And I felt yes I felt so second-
I'm your second hand
I’m finding your way
Yet I fail to understand why we're
Fighting this way
Just another revolution
My hands can hide no more
Sick and tired of that simple solution
And a face I found before
Why do you discard the second hand ?
Yet you say
You say you love that second hand
So why do you scorn that second hand ?
And it seems like the second hand
Could wear you away
Scars on the second hand could
Last for a day
And they say you're so highly strung
You store the strength of that stale
Clueless coil that tires of the toil
Fight the fingers that fumble and fail
And you are your own second hand
And you've seen
Yes you've seen the second hand
And you've felt
Yes you've felt the second hand
You are your second hand
You're finding no way
So you fail to understand
Why you're fighting this way
Wind me up and I’m ready to go
I choke on that charming chime
Clasp the key like a sabre in my spine
And the seconds slip sublime
And it's not that simple to understand
And it's not unusual I fail to understand
I wonder why I ain't got a clue
Why I’m so second hand
It seems like the second hand could
Lead you astray
Minutes are so meaningless
To the length of your day
You're closer to your clockwork kingdom
You tick on my timeless tears
So forsake subvert the system
No nouth no eyes and no ears
I’m just your second hand citizen
You are your own second hand citizen
We are on our own second hand citizen
And it’s strange how the citizenis
Is starting to say
What of the citizen whose
Rights fade away
They fade away
© MOTH 1993