This song was originally called "Pandrona" after a girl I knew who seemed to change identities like most people change their underwear. With each identity change, she also changed her name, hair color, clothes and lifestyle. The catalyst that sparked these changes was whatever band she happened to be idolizing at the time.I don't care much these days for the condescension in those lyrics or the sentiments behind them. Whatever else I could say about her, Pandrona was a very nice girl, and I liked her a lot, which doesn't really show.
The original lyrics have references to pink and blue hair, and when it came time to record it I felt that I really should have different lyrics in order to prevent the song from seeming dated. (Apparently I was unconcerned with how this might apply to "Nothing New".) How was I to know the practice would continue as fashion indefinitely? So one morning before going into the studio, I rewrote the lyrics with an Alice Cooper type bent. It seemed funny at the time. I'd do it differently today, in fact, but...here it is.
I had been running "Nothing New" and "Delusions" together for a while; they just seemed to work well that way.
The instrumentation- and the take- is a continuation of "Nothing New", but at "Delusions" a second guitar comes in to do a melodic line during the verses and choruses, and the solo.
In 1983 I recorded a version of this medley in a 24-track studio which, during the day, specialized in Gospel. A friend of a friend's worked there as a janitor and 2nd engineer, and we stole tape and time (usually between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.) to record. We never got to finish it, but came close, leaving only the bass track out. You can certainly tell what it's supposed to sound like.
lyrics
Who am I? Who am I?
Tell me who I am!
You thought you knew who I was last week
But that was all just a sham.
Delusions, delusions,
I really feel sorry for you.
Delusions, delusions,
Every day I can become someone new.
Your face was red two weeks ago
But now it's green and blue
I hung you from the balcony
And then I ran you through.
Delusions, delusions,
I really feel sorry for you.
Delusions, delusions,
Every day I can become someone new.
All the doctors said that I was insane
So I broke out and I took a new name.
Be yourself, they said.....
Be yourself, they said.....
Be yourselves.....
credits
from A Man Who Was Here,
released March 19, 2014
Lyrics: '85, music: '82. Instruments: vocals, guitars, drums, organ .
The Long Island metal band's third album etches arena-sized hooks into their jagged compositions, deftly balancing experimental and poppy inclinations. Bandcamp Album of the Day May 12, 2022
