Devil in Jersey City

Devil in Jersey City is different than a lot of coheed songs in that it was written when the band was still called Shabutie. When the band signed a deal they decided to change the name and focus in on Claudio's Amory Wars. In an interview with Claudio Sanchez (lead vocals, guitar) and Mic Todd (bass) that you can find on the front page of fansite http://www.CobaltandCalcium.com, Claudio talks about how the idea to incorporate some of their work into a storyline. Here's what he had to say.



"I just found that when I was writing songs they we're never truly about myself and if they were they were certainly embelished on. I think that's why I kind of came up with this idea of doing albums that kind of work together for this overall story because sometimes there were just songs that lived on their own but they just kinda didn't make sense on their own."


Hee, Hee, Shabutie!

New Jersey bound
When sound asleep they'll find you
At your most vulnerable poll position
Speak up, let out.
When down the street
The corner boys fuck shit up

Scream loud, scream Sayonara, oh, oh, oh
Sweet Josephine, will you follow me home?
Scream loud, scream Sayonara, oh, oh, oh
Sweet Josephine, will you fuck me back home?

Let's fire it up. Haha! Now!
Let's fire it up. Haha! Now, Sayonara!
Don't let them scare you
When you're down on the floor bleeding, bastard.
You'll be getting home real soon
And I'll pray for you high health
Don't let them scare you
When you're down on the floor bleeding, bastard.
You'll be getting home real soon.

Speak up, let out.
Caught in the crossfire
Compared to the step to the bone that might break
It's too late to find a better way out of this
With the finest regards that I lost
In the cracks of this street

Scream loud, scream Sayonara, oh, oh, oh
(Wide open. Now you're dead and gone)
Sweet Josephine, will you follow me home?
Scream loud, scream Sayonara, oh, oh, oh
Sweet Josephine, will you fuck me back home?

Let's fire it up. Haha! Now!
Let's fire it up. Haha! Now, Sayonara!
Don't let them scare you
When you're down on the floor bleeding, bastard.
You'll be getting home real soon
And I'll pray for you high health
Don't let them scare you
When you're down on the floor bleeding, bastard.
You'll be getting home real soon.

Don't let them scare you.

(Take me home)
When you run they'll follow you
(Take me home)
When you run they'll follow you
(Take me home)
When you run they'll follow you
(Take me home)




So this song is about Josephine, a young IRO-Bot that doesn't know she is one, and her new fiance Patrick. Picking up from the old storyline, Wilhelm Ryan wants to trick Coheed and Cambria into killing their own children (more on why when we get there.) Although it sounds crazy, they think it will save the universe, so they do it and plan to kill themselves shortly after.
Maria and Mathew have been poisoned by Coheed ("Maria my star, mathew goodnight, I know my lord, when I'll be forgiven." or something to that effect.) The last thing you see them say in the comic is "Hee Hee Shabutie!" when Coheed walks in with the poison. These lyrics appears as a time reference I assume. Although its their old band name, people assume its a nickname.



Hee, Hee, Shabutie!

New Jersey bound
When sound asleep they'll find you
At your most vulnerable poll position
Speak up, let out.
When down the street
The corner boys fuck shit up



While this is happening, Josephine and Patrick are out cruising and head to Jersey City. They settle in a little abandoned factory lot and begin to make out etc. They're aren't paying much attention to their surroundings, hence the 'sound asleep'. The 'Corner boys' are the street gang Jersey City Devils.



Let's fire it up. Haha! Now!
Let's fire it up. Haha! Now, Sayonara!
Don't let them scare you
When you're down on the floor bleeding, bastard.
You'll be getting home real soon
And I'll pray for you high health
Don't let them scare you
When you're down on the floor bleeding, bastard.
You'll be getting home real soon.


The gang smashes a the window, beat the shit out of Patrick and drag Josephine into the car. You might be thinking, hey if Josephine is an IRO-Bot, why doesn't the intense situation bring forth crazy powers? The only purpose I know of for Josephine was to be an antidote for the MonStar Virus. The lyrics are basically at first the gang having a grand old time raping and fighting and taunting them "Say Goodbye!" Seeing as the lyrics were written pre-concept (I think), I don't really see there being a particular character thinking/saying the rest of the lyrics. Could be Patrick but he's supposed to be knocked out. Could be Josephine but they seem to be directed to her, self monologuing perhaps?


Speak up, let out.
Caught in the crossfire
Compared to the step to the bone that might break
It's too late to find a better way out of this
With the finest regards that I lost
In the cracks of this street


I Picture this as Josephine giving up the fight and waiting for it to be over rather than having them beat the shit out of her. Doesn't really have to mean anything I don't think.



(Take me home)
When you run they'll follow you
(Take me home)
When you run they'll follow you
(Take me home)
When you run they'll follow you
(Take me home)


At the start of the third comic we see the Jersey City Devils driving away and Josephine repeatedly asking Patrick to take her home. Although its part of the third comic do not let it confuse you. Many story parts are going on at the same time. Lots else happens before the third comic.


Chorus:
Scream loud, scream Sayonara, oh, oh, oh
Sweet Josephine, will you follow me home?
Scream loud, scream Sayonara, oh, oh, oh
Sweet Josephine, will you fuck me back home?


I think the vulgarity and insensitivity of the last line is due to the fact this was Shabutie material.



Things are about to explode in the story line. Not really sure if there is any supporting evidence of Claudio K's (Claudio K = story character, Claudio S = Sanchez) story at this time in the lyrics of the next song, so i'll let you know now that he is chilling in some field with Newo Ikkin, his girlfriend (Claudio S's real life woman at the time of the concept's conception was Nikki Owen, I don't know if he still see's her.) He was supposed to be home at 1 and he is supposed to be murdered by 2. He notices that he's gonna be late and they take off.


More to come on monday... I think Everything Evil is next. Remember: I don't know jack shit for sure, I will be placing a pre-order for comics 1-5 (Brings us to the end of Second Stage Turbine Blade) soon and should get them somewhere neat the end of April.