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
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, once 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 ala L'Frou Jibet. Later on two more demos would be created, with the third being the most well known one. This third demo would be released on Tally Hall's MySpace page in 2006-7 along with their KCRW cover of Praise You sometime in the mid-2000s. Each demo also appears on Hawaii: Part II: Part ii in remastered form. 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, particularly "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, 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 compliment this interpretation, though it was 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. It could be argued that electroshock Therapy is the more "correct" theory, as electroshock therapy is preformed with electrodes placed on the head of the patient, which harkens back to the title of the song. However, this is purely speculation, and not confirmed to be true.

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.
• Inside The Mind Of Simon is often misattributed to Tally Hall because of their MySpace upload.

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

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.

• 1:03 -- “I too”
• 1:05 -- “________ now”
• 1:05 -- “Besides, you think I’m man enough to t-t-”
• 1:08 -- “IHATETHIS”
• 2:02 -- “They hopefully need no power for my mind-”
• 2:06 -- “You ought to be ashamed of yourself”
• 2:07 -- slow demonic voice “Y O U O U G H T T O B E”
• 2:17 -- "Oh, Suzy."
• 2:19 -- "Yes, a sloop! And then they sail off and dump you on the beach at Timbuktu!"
• 2:23 -- "They couldn't sail off and dump me on the beach at Timbuktu."
• 2:26 -- "Why not?"
• 2:27 -- "Timbuktu happens to be in the middle of the Sahara Desert."
• 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; they are like diviners or soothsayers who also say many fine things, but do not understand the meaning of them." (*many* thanks to using this for comments (username) for pointing out that this was an excerpt from Apology by Plato and sharing the full line)
• 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."
• 2:42 -- "No?"
• 2:43 -- "No. Just reading about the ocean makes me seasick." (endless thanks to Zero the Jackal for sharing the entire sample and source through 2:18-2:43!! You can listen to the original source here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpEwYJ5GQIM (Alan Ladd in Box 13 (Box Thirteen): Shanghaied (1948 Old-time Radio)) and skip to 2:34 of the video to listen to the snippet)

For those who want it, here's a broken down version of 2:34 since it's hard to hear:

• 2:34 -- "But by a sort of genius and inspiration...
• 2:37 -- "They are like diviners and soothsayers...
• 2:40 -- "Who also say many fine things..."
• 2:44 -- "But do not understand the meaning of them." (you can hear the st in understand at 2:44) (this entire segment only plays on the left earbud/headphone, so it's helpful to take out your right one when listening closely to it)

Tabs/Chords

Nothing here yet!