The Small Print (song)

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Muse song
Name	The Small Print
Album/single	Absolution (11) » Absolution Sampler (4) Sing for Absolution BX CD3 (4) Absolution Tour (14)</li></ul>
Length	3:28
Alternative titles	Action Faust, TSP
First live performance	26th May 2002^[1]
Latest live performance	7th May 2005
Recorded	London Air Studios, 2003^[2]
Writer/composer	Matthew Bellamy
Producer	Rich Costey^[3]
Chart position	-

Album Nav
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.^[2] It was a live favourite from the 2002 tour up to and including the 2005 tour.

Interpretation 1: The song is about the idea of selling "propaganda" to mankind, to help them forget on what's happening around them or "the small print" on the contract. It's the beginning of the end, and it's taking advantage of humankind, is what this is about. The worshipping of false idols (like evil dictators, or whomever runs the government). If you do know the truth, you will be labeled as being "insane", because only the government knows the truth and they "bend it".

Interpretation 2: This seems like it is sung from the point of view of a pop star, or generally representing the pop industry. Why? Because what sells for £15 pounds a year - a CD or maybe DVD release. Think of any cynical music personality who you suspect is just in it for the money, and whose songs have no real truths in them. (There are a number of examples where Matt seems to adopt another persona, rather than just always singing from his own perspective).

Interpretation 3: 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.

Trivia

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