What's with this recurring theme all throughout Mellon Collie? Zero, Lily, X.Y.U. I've never been able to figure it out.

Got me... I'm missing how you think the songs are connected, but there's a place near where I live called Lilly's Court and I always wondered what it was. I imagined it to be a park or public gardens or something. Then one day I drove past with my family and it turned out to be a cemetary Sorry to be no help what so ever.

Fuck, that's depressing...
And as for your question, I have no idea

lily is just billy's cat if I remember correctly

"My one and only" is in each song, thats the connection. I don't know the story behind it tho.

PumpkinPieces link=topic=1321.msg20272#msg20272 date=1177636258]
"My one and only" is in each song, thats the connection. I don't know the story behind it tho.


D'oh! That's right. I can't imagine how I ever could have missed that! I don't think Billy was ever big on explaining his lyrics so I'm not sure there is an offical story behind it DorkUSA but we could guess one up for you if you'd like...assuming the songs are even suppose to be connected - triptych style I suppose.

I always assumed it was about a girlfriend of his that he eventually broke up with, and in each song it's mentioned portrays a different time he had with the person--X.Y.U. being the last straw of something. Zero being some freaky obsession. I'll have to look more into it.

Does that sound way off?

It looks like these 3 songs might not be that different in theme. The character that Billy represents does not seem to connect well with his One and Only. There is deffinitly a reoccuring theme of unrequited love.

The strange thing about trying to group these three together is the pace of the songs; The real trick lays in the switch between why he seems agressive in Zero and X.Y.U and then like a love sick puppy who is rejected in Lilly. If we could figure that out it might make more of a "story".

billy needs to write a book someday he is so f'n smart.

I thought he was working on a novel, i heard that somewere.

corganvision link=topic=1321.msg20293#msg20293 date=1177651198]
billy needs to write a book someday he is so f'n smart.


Because he said "My one and only" 3 times? Maybe he just likes that lyric and maybe since he was recording about 5000 songs for the album he didnt think all 3 would end up making the final cut - but they did.

Sorry - but am i the only one who thinks Billy is a human being?

I think Billy's a human being too. Yeah, a pretty smart and talented one, but so are lots of people...

There are other themes (or whatever you want to all them) running through the songs... like "disconnected". He says that a lot, it seems. Or maybe it's not that much, but I just always notice it, or something. Meh.

Good call on the "disconnected" theme. I never noticed that one. I also never noticed how dark Mellon Collie is until a couple months ago.

Also he has a thing about spiders. Honeyspider, Tarantula, White Spyder, and in many lyrics of Machina I and II he also talks about them.

DorkUSA link=topic=1321.msg20332#msg20332 date=1177694921]

Also he has a thing about spiders. Honeyspider, Tarantula, White Spyder, and in many lyrics of Machina I and II he also talks about them.


As she counted the spiders as they crawled up inside her.

What's your interest in these connections DorkUSA?

It's always seemed to me to be a progression of emotions, the turning point being Cupid de Locke

corganvision link=topic=1321.msg20293#msg20293 date=1177651198]
billy needs to write a book someday he is so f'n smart.

I think he should write a book cause his life is quite...interesting? I dont know how to put it. He's smart and allbut I'd rather read a book of his life than his ideas.

"My one and only" also features in By Starlight. Although I always assumed he just liked the lyric, I think your theory: DorkUSA link=topic=1321.msg20276#msg20276 date=1177638688]
I always assumed it was about a girlfriend of his that he eventually broke up with, and in each song it's mentioned portrays a different time he had with the person--X.Y.U. being the last straw of something. Zero being some freaky obsession. I'll have to look more into it.


is really interesting, and gives MCIS a even more depth. Over 10 years after its release, people are still thinking up theories and finding hidden paterns in the album. Surely the sign of a masterpiece.

And, yeah... Billy's been writing a novel for the last three years at least (it says so in blinking with fists.) That would be really interesting, but i guess hes taken a break to focus on the new band.

blissed link=topic=1321.msg20334#msg20334 date=1177701735]What's your interest in these connections DorkUSA?
I don't know, it's just a pretty cool observation. Sorta like a bonus to the close observer/listener.