Meaning of "Wicked Campaign" by Modest Mouse

"Wicked Campaign" delves into the theme of wearing masks and participating in deceptive campaigns. The lyrics represent a commentary on the inauthenticity and insincerity prevalent in society. The narrator finds solace in leaning on a fence, symbolizing their desire to distance themselves from their truest selves. By rubbing their eyeglasses clean, they attempt to see the world through a clearer lens. However, they also admit to forgetting their own name, emphasizing a loss of identity in the pursuit of fitting into societal expectations.

The mention of wearing a smile like a toupee signifies the narrator's decision to hide their true emotions and intentions behind a facade. They acknowledge that faces can change and urge others to try and understand their perspective, only to later express that this campaign was not their original plan. This suggests a spoken or unspoken disillusionment with the way societal dynamics unfold and a realization that they themselves have become entangled in the game.

The lyrics also touch on the idea of embracing one's flaws and opinions, even if they are not widely accepted. The narrator refers to themselves as a bastard, implying a lack of belonging or feeling out of place in society. They admit to carrying around opinions like a wicked campaign, highlighting the deceptive nature of promoting personal beliefs or agendas.

The notion of starting a debate but realizing they cannot win reflects a sense of resignation towards societal norms and calculations. The narrator recognizes the limitations and manipulations present in the system and acknowledges a conscious decision to distance themselves from it. The counting calculator, symbolic of analytical calculations, is cited as an entity that failed to anticipate the existence of emptiness or nothingness in the world.

The repetition of "oh, oh, oh" in the chorus, both positively and negatively framed, signifies a dichotomy between acknowledging the not-so-bad aspects of life and the deceptive nature of their own campaign. The lyrics suggest that while there may be both good and bad liars in the world, the narrator's lies should come with grandiosity, symbolized through chariots and choirs.

The song concludes with a call to wait, emphasizing a sense of uncertainty and anticipation. This ending leaves the listener with a lingering feeling of introspection, prompting them to consider the facades they wear and the campaigns they participate in.