there are two interpretations that i've seen. first is m.e.m.'s

your one and only (lie or life - you tell me)
ripped (ridded) from the earth with these bare hands
you dare
question (pressed in) the ritual
despite continual
threats of "gonna get you all"

1 love for the officers
1 for the gentlemen
2 bad you 3 know what it's 4
5 for the soul to die
6 for the genetics
7 for the lucky pricks who went to heaven

we ride for miles and miles
following the howling of our prey
out there
you go down in a mix
scrambling for shelter
dig? avoid decay

1 for the flaming sun
2 for the location
3 for the martyrs and the stars
4 for the wind and sand
5 so you understand
6 for the slips twixt the, can't bind your lips


(the other stuff about knives and forks..)


and this from one of the brightest people i've never met, mr. bonham

>NUMBERS
>
>Oh yeah
>Your one and only lie
>Ripped from the earth with these bare hands
>You dare
>Question the ritual
>D espite continual
>Threats of "gonna get you all"
>
>1 law for the officers
>1 for the gentlemen
>2 bad you 3 know what it's 4
>5 for this awful dive
>6 for the journalist
>7 for the lucky pricks who went to heaven
>
>Nightmare (?)
>You ride for miles and miles
>Following the howling of our prey
>Out there
>We(you?) load our yellow rigs
>Scrambling for shelter
>D igging for decay
>
>1 for the flaming sun
>2 for the location
>3 for the mothers and the stars
>4 for the wind and sand
>5 so you understand
>6 for the slips twixt the cup and the lips
>
>1 for the conquered blues (?)
>2 for the bands and groups
>3 for the vast and molten sky
>4 for the failed talks
>5 for the knives and forks
>6 for forbidden kicks
>all the others in the sticks
>
>1 for the officers ....
>
>MAIN MIX then repeats "1 for the conquered blues ..." verse but with a "Come
>on!" before it and the first line appears to be "1 for the octopus"