The Small Print (song)

Muse song
Name	The Small Print
Album/single	Absolution (11) » Absolution Sampler (4) Sing for Absolution BX CD3 (4) Absolution Tour (14)
Length	3:28
Alternative titles	Action Faust, TSP
First live performance	26th May 2002
Latest live performance	7th May 2005
Recorded	Air Studios, London, 2003
Writer/composer	Matthew Bellamy
Producer	Rich Costey

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Butterflies & Hurricanes	<	The Small Print	>	Fury (bonus track)

Description

A simple metal come heavy rock song.

Additional information

Chosen ahead of "Fury" in the final track listing for Absolution. It was a live favourite from the 2002 tour up to and including the 2005 tour. Matt mentioned in an interview that he wanted Fury instead of The Small Print but the band had a vote and Matt was outnumbered 2-to-1 by Chris and Dom.

While initially played before Absolution's release, it went by the name 'Action Faust.' The song can be understood as, clearly alluding to Goethe's Faust, being sung from the point of view of the Devil to someone selling their soul to him in exchange for, presumably, musical prowess and fame. It shows the transaction as ultimately manipulative on the part of the Devil, dooming the recipient to be a "slave to the grave" and robbing him of all memories of "the good days". The Devil's identity can be seen in the line "I'm a priest God never paid"; he is able to mediate supernatural power but does so outside of the service of God. The final title "The Small Print" yet again underlies the motif of a dishonest contract between a Devil and Faustian figure.

In late April 2015, it was revealed in an interview that the band were rehearsing this and Apocalypse Please for the upcoming tour. If played, it will be the first time the song has been played in ten years.

Trivia

The cat that used to hang around with Muse

At 2:51, a cat can be heard meowing.

Lyrics

Take, take all you need

And I'll compensate your greed With broken hearts Sell, I'll sell your memories For 15 pounds per year But just the good days

Say, it'll make you insane And it's bending the truth You're to blame For all the life that you'll lose and You watch this space And I'm going all the way And be my slave to the grave I'm a priest God never paid

Hope, I hope you've seen the light 'cause no one really cares They're just pretending Sell, and I'll sell your memories For 15 pounds per year But you can keep the bad days

Say, it'll make you insane And I'm bending the truth You're to blame For all the life that you'll lose and You watch this space And I'm going all the way And be my slave to the grave I'm a priest God never paid

Say, it'll make you insane And I'm bending the truth You're to blame For all the life that you'll lose and You watch this space And I'm going all the way And be my slave to the grave I'm a priest God never paid

Early Live Lyrics

Take, take all you need

And I'll compensate your greed With broken hearts Sell, and I'll sell your memories At 15 pounds per year But I'll keep the good days

Say, it'll make you insane And I'm breaking the rules You're to blame For all the life you're losing You watch this space And I'm going all the way And I'm not your slave to the grave I'm the priest God never paid

Hope, and I hope you've seen the light 'cause no one really cares They're just pretending Sell, and I'll sell your memories At 15 pounds per year But I'll keep the good days

Say, it'll make you insane And I'm breaking your rules You're to blame For all the life you'll lose and You watch this space And I'm going all the way And I'm not your slave to the grave I'm the priest God never paid

Say, it'll make you insane And I'm breaking your rules You're to blame For all the life that you'll lose and You watch this space Yeah I'm going all the way And I'm not your slave to the grave I'm the priest God never paid

References

Go back to Absolution