Beck - Mutations

[Metallus]

NOTE: I did not write this. I am posting the lyrics to a song on the Beck - Mutations album. I received it around the same time as I got Grim Fandango, and I'm amazed by some of the parallels between it and the game. Perhaps that's just my damned associative memory at work, but tell me what you think:

Nobodys Fault But My Own
treated you like a rusty blade
a throwaway from an open grave
cut you loose from a chain gang and let you go
and on the day you said it's true
some love holds, some gets used
tried to tell you i never knew
it could be so sweet
who could ever be so cruel,
blame the devil for the things you do
its such a selfish way to lose
the way you lose these wasted Blues these wasted Blues

tell me that it's nobody's fault
nobody's fault
but my own
that it's nobody's fault
nobody's fault
but my own

when the moon is a counterfeit
better find the one that fits
better find the one that lights
The way for you

when the road is full of nails,
garbage pails and darkened jails
and their tongues are full of heartless tales
that drain on you
who would ever notice you
you fade into a shaded room
it's such a selfish lose
the way you lose these wasted blues, these wasted blues

tell me that it's nobody's fault
nobody's fault
but my own
tell me that it's nobody's fault
nobody's fault
but my own
tell me that it's nobody's fault
nobody's fault
but my own
tell me that it's nobody's fault
nobody's fault
but my own

tell me that it's nobody's fault
nobody's fault
but my own
tell me that it's nobody's fault
nobody's fault
but my own...

[MtBlanc]

Well, I can see where you would make parallels between the song and Grim Fandango. The most noticable parallels that can be taken from the song relate to character development.

Blatant source of parallel: "throwaway from an open grave" Hell, it even relates to the premise of the game. But in the start of GF, Manny was treated as a second-class citizen, especially in his office. He did not recieve the credit that he deserved.

The others parallels have connections to the epic feeling of the game in general.

when the road is full of nails,
garbage pails and darkened jails
and their tongues are full of heartless tales
that drain on you

I find a parallel here between Manny and his adventure in the game in general, the pain that was faced and the challenges he overcame.

However, the next few lines:
who would ever notice you
you fade into a shaded room

I find these to conflict with the character development of Manny totally. Manny doesn't fade into a shaded room, he rises to prominence. He creates the casino, first of all, and becomes a celebrity of sorts. And there's just so many people relying on him! Glottis, Mercedes, etc. He helps these people out, and truly shows the strength of his character.

However, it's been awhile since I played GF and I'm tired. So I might be wrong. I hope this opens up some discussion.

[Metallus]

Originally posted by MtBlanc
However, the next few lines:
who would ever notice you
you fade into a shaded room

I find these to conflict with the character development of Manny totally. Manny doesn't fade into a shaded room, he rises to prominence...

I think that is a very fair point. However, the song is written in the first person. This leads me to wonder who (or what) those lyrics are referring to.