Our Interpretation of
Parables for Wooden Ears

Walking Stick is an exploration of gay sex in beats.
"A diet designed only to agitate A veil of pride and gospel truth" - the gay sexual preferences refered to in the song would agitate people if they were found out so the truth is veiled. Their pride won't allow them to come out with their sexual preferences.

"To cover the hidden fist that he used" - this is quite obvious.

"You've sewn me in my skin " - skin is a reference to condoms.

"Hypocrite walking stick man" - there is hypocrisy in this cover up. There could be a really crass reference to walking sticks but we won't go there.

"Silent grave" - the beat is in a cemetry, the graves aren't telling what they see.

"And the sunken heel kinda slows me down"- a clear reference to a transvestite.

"Widows of precocious days Wear slogans resurrected late" - the gay guys wife is like a widow, she is left behind.

"Parables for wooden ears" - she is telling him stories about other gay guys, cos she suspects he is gay, he won't listen, his pride won't let him admit that he is gay. She also uses gay slogans like "closets are for clothes" and stuff like that.

"All the wisdom" - she is the wise one, he should come out instead of sneaking around like George Micheal.

This song is about Kurt Cobain and his death. The song also shows that they could not understand Kurt committing suicide as they feel that they could cope a lot better in the same situation.

"You're attitude and angst seem to have gone" - after Kurt died he no longer felt angst.

"Is there no way you can be what you have said?" - Kurt said in his siucide note that he no longer enjoyed being a rock star, at this time Powderfinger were at the brink of their career and could not conceive of this as become rock stars was their dream.

"Another self-serving servant" - a reference to the Nirvana song - "Serve the Servants"

"You can stand and eat your breast While they feed on the fruit of their sweat" - this refers to Kurt whining about how the record company etc were sponging off his earnings. He complained about it, but they continued doing it, he did nothing to stop them.

"You've got it rough " - heavy sarcasm intended.

"So you shoot shoot shoot from the left glove" - This is pretty obvious - he shot himself and he was left handed.

While you emulate the man that touched your heart Imitate at due cost You're coming on positions out of reach Contradict the very words you preach" - Kurt was known to identify heavily with Jimi Hendrix, when Kurt's mother told him not to join that club (with Jimi Hendrix - the dying at 27 rock star club) he said he wouldn't. This lyric could also refer to the obvious imitation of Nirvana by Pearl Jam and that Eddie Vedder condradicted a lot of the stuff he said about Kurt after he died.

" I just know, I won't remember your name" - another sarcastic reference.

This song is written from the perspective of someone whos girlfriend is having an affair with someone close to them, like maybe their brother or their best friend. It is also about people who like to tell people that maybe their brother or their best friend is sleeping with their girlfriend.

"Strip me down Wash me white Leave the sparks in my eyes" - this refers to the person in the song being told by everyone that their girlfriend is having an affair, stripping away the illusions, but he doesn't want to listen, he wants to remain in his la-la land where he was happy.

"Novelty wearing thin" - at first he thought it was all a big joke, but now he is starting to see past that. He is getting pissed off.

"Overload of truth and advice" - he wants everyone to bugger off and mind their own business.

"Narrow minds Move hollow mouths To taste the foot that they bite To make you brave with delight" - he thinks that they are all idol gossips who are just being mean and going around spreading rumours to make people uncomfortable. They keep putting their fot in their mouth and spilling the beans when they shouldn't be.

"And I see you don't lose so well" - this is directed at the person who is sleeping with his girlfriend, because they have always been competitive.

"Viscous (I've never seen)" - this is directed at the person sleeping with the girlfriend, he thinks it is the most viscous thing he has seen.

"Blind (Hopeful and free)" - this is himself, he wants to remain blind to the whole thing, and hopes it is all lies.

"Savage (I'll bridle you)" - directed toward his girlfriend. It is savage of her to cheat on him, and will try and keep her with him.

" Save you from yourself Who am i to judge?" - he thinks she will get hurt if she goes off with the other guy, because he is a snake in the grass, but he thinks that he has no right to tell them what to do.