Come Alive (The War of the Roses)

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“Come Alive (War of the Roses)” is an aggressive, hard rock-inspired song in Monáe’s genre-bending ArchAndroid. It is driven by an electric bass guitar hook, and features… Read More

May. 18, 20101 viewer17.4K views

Come Alive (The War of the Roses) Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Tommy thinks the crazies are back in my mind
Tommy says the children are clouding my head
When everything is wrong I dance inside my mind

[Chorus]
That's when I come alive like a schizo running wild
That's when I come alive now let's go wild

[Verse 2]
We're kicking at your window and keeping you up
And if you come to find me I'll color you red
We're dancing in the dungeon every Monday night

[Chorus]
That's when we come alive like a schizo running wild
That's when I come alive now let's go wild

[Bridge]
You want to see me crazy taking my meds
And wipe away the noises you think I'm a mess
Take me six feet under, but while your roses died, I came alive

[Verse 3]
You better leave the town I'm coming for you
Call the Tommy up and tell him come help you out
I'm getting wild on you you better go and call the law

[Outro]
When Tommy thinks the crazies are back your mind
When Tommy says the children are clouding your head
When everything is wrong, just dance inside your mind
And you'll come alive

About

“Come Alive (War of the Roses)” is an aggressive, hard rock-inspired song in Monáe’s genre-bending ArchAndroid.

It is driven by an electric bass guitar hook, and features moments where Monáe completely lets loose vocally.

In “Come Alive (War of the Roses),” Cindi Mayweather expresses her influence as the Messiah-like figure of Metropolis. Her growing emotional capacity as an android is at conflict with Metropolis society. In this song, Monáe compares her previous robot brain to humans on psychiatric medication. Mental health patients often describe these treatments as numbing.

In relation to the album’s concept, this partially symbolizes her growing frustration as an android in the year 3005. It also makes a connection to The Palace of the Dogs Asylum where she is a resident in present time. The “Tightrope” music video takes place at this asylum.