The Mind Electric

The Mind Electric
Written by	Joe Hawley
Appears on	Hawaii: Part II
Sung by	Joe Hawley
Duration	6:13
Genre	Progressive rock
Language	English
Links:	Youtube Spotify Bandcamp Additional links Instrumental (Bandcamp) Demo (Bandcamp) Demo 2 (Bandcamp) Demo 3 (Bandcamp) Demo 4 (Bandcamp) Cojum Dip Instrumental (Bandcamp) "Help Me/Axon-Dendrite" (Bandcamp) "Gott" (Bandcamp) "Teslacoil" Synth (Bandcamp) "Simon" Synth (Bandcamp) Reamplification Effects (Bandcamp) Sample - Sam Ku West Harmony Boys - "Sunkist Hawaii" (Bandcamp) Sample - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Gloria - "Trinitatis" (Bandcamp)
Addtl. Info:	Previously known as Inside The Mind of Simon

The Mind Electric is a song by Joe Hawley for ミラクルミュージカル (also known as Miracle Musical). The Mind Electric consists of two very similar versions of the same song, one of which is reversed, so the song essentially plays backwards before playing forwards. A similar style technique was used for Joe's university film: The Other Way

On June 14th, 2015 a lyric video for The Mind Electric was uploaded to ミラクルミュージカル's YouTube Page. The lyric video version of the song is the exact reverse of the studio version, so that the opposite half of the song plays forward. In this version, the forward section doesn't contain as many samples or stutters, and is about thirty seconds shorter than the backwards section.

History

The Mind Electric has roots dating back to around 2002. It was previously known as Inside The Mind Of Simon and was one of many songs featured on a demo disc made for Rob Cantor. At this time, Inside The Mind of Simon had mostly non-sense lyrics, much like L'Frou Jibet. Later on, two more demos would be created, with the third being the most well known of the demos. This third demo would be released as Tally Hall in 2004. Each demo also appears on Hawaii: Part II: Part ii in remastered form.

Tally Hall performed Inside The Mind of Simon at The Pingry School on May 13, 2005, alongside Spring And A Storm. This is the only known live performance of Inside The Mind of Simon as Tally Hall.

Tally Hall planned to record Inside The Mind of Simon for Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum. Tracks recorded would include a choir, harpsicord, distorted grand piano, and over 15 other instruments. However, the band soon ran into budgetary problems and ultimately had to drop it from the tracklisting.

At some point in 2006, Inside The Mind of Simon was confirmed to be on their next album. However, this never came true. Bora Karaca's band Cojum Dip recorded an instrumental of the song likely sometime after Inside The Mind Of Simon's recording and would perform it live at The Blind Pig. This could suggest it could've been given to Cojum Dip, similar to Rob and I'm Gonna Win.

Inside The Mind of Simon would lay dormant for years until the recording and release of Hawaii: Part II. After release, The Mind Electric would gain a cult following and is considered one of Joe Hawley's best songs by fans.

Recording

This song makes use of a sample from the song Sunkist Hawaii by Sam Ku West Harmony Boys; it particularly makes use of the lyric "Hawaii". It also samples Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Trinitatis. In the longer, "glitchier" part of the song, there are two references to other songs on Hawaii: Part II: during the climax of The Mind Electric as a synthetic instrument uses a chord progression similar to the instrumental outro to Labyrinth. The piano line of Murders is also sampled.

Song Meanings/Interpretations

The song is possibly about a man found guilty by a court and sentenced to death by electric chair. The lyrics seem to complement this interpretation, though it is quite literal.

One interpretation is that the song continues the story of the protagonist in Murders, taking place after they were arrested. The song covers the trial, imprisonment, and either the protagonist undergoing electroshock therapy, or their execution via the electric chair.

Another is that Labyrinth tells the continuation of The Mind Electric after the protagonist escapes, being supported by similar notes and chords being used in the song, as well as similar lyrics ("See how the serfs work the ground", "See how the brain plays around", compared to "See how I circle", "See how I fly Away", etc)

Trivia

• In the non-glitched version of the song, there is no synthetic instrument playing the progression.
• In the non-glitched version, during the progression section, the backing vocals "See how they fall?" are included in the instrumental while the glitched version does not.
• In the non-glitched version, during the progression, right after "You fall inside a hole you couldn't see." can be heard "Who speaks with the tongue of Apollo." while in the glitched version you cannot.
• On the Hawaii: Part II vinyl it had to be split into two songs (The Mind Electric [+ -], The Mind Electric [- +]) because having the full song on one side of the vinyl would make said side too long.
• The laughing at 5:22 was sampled from a game over screen in Zelda II: The Adventure of Link. This same screen is also featured in the music video for Everything Means Nothing To Me (Instrumental) which was titled as “I am Not Joe Hawley”.
• In Demo 2 of the song, the scream sounds to be done by Bora Karaca.
• Joe Hawley has confirmed that the song has inspiration from 'Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey' by Paul McCartney and 'Revolution 9' by The Beatles

Lyrics

Think of these thoughts as limitless light
Exposing closing circuitry of fright
Think of each moment holding this breath
As death minute in decimal

Resident minor how do you plead
We'll need your testimony on the stand [service of the fee fi fo fum]
Solemnly swear to tell the whole truth
So help you son now raise your right hand

Father your honor may I explain
My brain has claimed its glory over me
I've a good heart albeit insane
Condemn him to the infirmary

All mine towers crumble down the flowers gasping under rubble
Shrieking in the hall of lull thy genius sates a thirst for trouble

Scattering sparks of thought energy
Deliver me and carry me away
Here in my kingdom I am your lord
I order you to cower and præy

Nuns commence incanting [axon – dendrite][help me!] as the lightning strikes mine temples thus
Electrifying mine chambers wholly scorching out thine sovereignty
So spiraling down thy majesty
I beg of thee have mercy on me
I was just a boy you see
I plead of thee have sympathy for me

See how the serfs work the ground [see how they fall]
And they give it all they've got
And they give it all they've got [Fall]
And you give it all you've got 'til you're down [Fall]

HA-HA-HA-HA

See how the brain plays around
And you fall inside a hole you couldn't see
And you fall inside a hole inside a
Someone help me
Understand what's going on inside my mind
Doctor I can't tell if I'm not me

When it grows bright the particles start to
Marvel having made it through the night
Never they ponder whether electric
Calming if you look at it right 

Inside The Mind Of Simon Lyrics

Resident Simon, how do you plead
We'll need your testimony on the stand
Solemnly swear to summon your story
Tell the truth and raise your right hand

Resident Marvin let me explain
My brain has claimed its glory over me
I've a good heart, I may be insane
Please mend my mind and let me go free

All my towers crumble down
The flowers gasping under rubble
Shouting in the hall of lull
My demons quench my thirst for trouble

Scattering sparks of thought energy
Deliver me and carry me away
Here in my kingdom, I am your lord
I order you to cower and pray

All my monks were chanting [axon – dendrite] as 
The lightning struck my temples
And electric shocks destructed places
Said they read it on my face

And swirling down your majesty
I beg of thee have mercy on me
I was just a boy you see
I beg of thee have sympathy for me

See how the serfs work the ground
And they give it all they've got
And they give it all they've got
And they give it all they've got till they're down

Ha-ha-ha-ha

See how the brain plays around
And you fall inside a hole
You couldn't see
And you fall inside a hole inside a
Someone help me
Understand what's going on inside my mind
Doctor I can't tell if I'm not me

When it grows light the particles
Start to marvel how they made it through the night
Never they ponder whether electric
Calming if you look at it right

Demo 4 Lyrics

See how the serfs work the ground [see how they fall]
And they give it all they've got
And you give it all you've got [fall]
And we give it all we've got till we're down [fall]

See how the brain plays around
And you fall inside a hole
You couldn't see
And you fall inside a hole inside a
Someone help me
Understand what's going on inside my mind
Doctor I can't tell if I'm not me

See how I laugh at you
You'll never understand
No, you'll never understand
No, you'll never ever ever understand 
See how I run from you, 
I'll never ever ever understand 
Oh I'll never ever ever understand

Hidden Voices & Samples

YouTube user previously known as Haivas Knud (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsW7fYiWZY15QTUOgy4yOMw) wrote about the voices in the background of the instrumental, comments on The Mind Electric's Instrumental (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GPoTFFfChs&t=147s&ab_channel=tallyall) further detail the possible meaning or origin of these excerpts.

• 0:34 -- "ollopA fo eugnot eht htiw skaeps ohW" (Reversed: "Who speaks with the tongue of Apollo")
• 1:03 -- “And I too. Why, to get a peep at the shy thing, I'd clamber up to the tip-top of Taygetus.”
• 1:03 -- “Parafin is dead himself, but his brother who is in court will confirm the truth of what I am saying.”
• 1:05 -- “If Mr holiday wishes to be ashore before tonight, he'd better start rowing now.”
• 1:05 -- “Besides, you think I’m man enough to t-t-”
• 1:08 -- “IHATETHIS”
• 1:11 -- “Then I'll expose my mighty mystery.”
• 1:11 -- “Why do I mention this? Because I am going to explain to you why I have such a-”
• 1:23 -- “Operate”
• 1:33 -- “-wisdom, small or great. What then can he mean when he says that I am the wisest of men? And yet he is a God cannot lie”
• 1:42 -- "Recent studies discovered, studies have shown that most cases/species of neurotransmitters are still being discovered, aiding/dating in the slow-"
• 2:02 -- “They hopefully need no power for my mind-”
• 2:02 -- "I wonder if those two are making eyes at one another"
• 2:03 -- “Here is a man who is wiser than I am but you said that I was the wisest”
• 2:06 -- “You ought to be ashamed of yourself”
• 2:07 -- “Y O U O U G H T T O B E” (Slowed Down)
• 2:17 -- "Oh, Suzy."
• 2:18 -- “[UNKNOWN LANGUAGE]”
• 2:19 -- "Yes, a sloop! And then they sail off and dump you on the beach at Timbuktu!"
• 2:22 -- "They couldn't sail off and dump me on the beach at Timbuktu."
• 2:25 -- "Why not?"
• 2:27 -- "Timbuktu happens to be in the middle of the Sahara Desert."
• 2:29 “Then I knew that not by wisdom did poets write poetry”
• 2:30 -- "...Oh."
• 2:31 -- "Yes, 'oh'. And please tie an anchor to that imagination of yours."
• 2:34 -- "But by a sort of genius and inspiration…”
• 2:36 -- "Okay, Mr. Holiday; but if you wind up on the other side of the world, please don't write me a letter about your voyage."
• 2:37 -- "They are like diviners and soothsayers…”
• 2:40 -- "Who also say many fine things..."
• 2:42 -- "No?"
• 2:43 -- "No. Just reading about the ocean makes me seasick."
• 2:44 -- "But do not understand the meaning of them."
• 2:45 -- “owT” (Reversed: "Two")

Tabs/Chords

Nothing here yet!