MR. BUNGLE – Vanity Fair

“Vanity Fair” is taken from Mr. Bungle’s 1999 album, California. The lyrics refer to the Skoptsi, among other human oddities and ascetic aberrations. The Skoptsy (Russian: скопцы, sg. скопец “eunuch”) were a radically ascetic sectarian movement within the broad Orthodox Christian tradition of the Russian Empire. They were known for practicing castration of men and the mastectomy of women in accordance with their teachings against sexual lust. Doing so, they expected to recover the original, androgynous purity prior to Sin and the Fall.

The movement emerged in the late 18th century. It reached the peak of its popularity in the early 20th century, with as many as 100,000 members, in spite of persecution by the imperial government. Despite severe repression under the Soviet Union, small groups persevered into the 21st century. (Wikipedia)

You’re not human You’re a miracle A preacher with an animal’s face

In your sexy Neon smokescreen Lie the supersalesmen of vanity

Even your shadow worships you In your jungle solitude

With the orgies of the sacrament And the seal of flagellants

You know God saves those who save their skin From the bondage that we’re in

I’m elated I could cut you And remove the sheath of your ignorance

Bless the eunuch And the Skoptsi Will you hurt me now and make a million?

Say cheese, baby We all love you It’s a cheap world and you don’t exist

Slit the fabric of the right now Spread your legs and wear the crown

Tell me how long, lord, how long? ‘Til I get my beauty sleep?

Now the hourglass is empty The moment of my de-sexing

Cut it, cut, cut, cut Cut this cancer from my soul

Now that I’ve made it I’m finally naked I’m finally naked Yeah, I made it I’m really naked