The Mars Volta, The Widow | Wacky Wednesday

In the 24^th edition of Wacky Wednesday (2025), we break down the unique song, “The Widow,” performed by The Mars Volta.

Do you know what day it is? It is Wednesday, folks! Do you know what that means? Why, it is Wacky Wednesday! In the spirited column Wacky Wednesday, we analyze, break down, and explore songs from various musicians of various genres that can be considered unique, unusual, or ‘wacky.’  These songs can be new or old; the only requirement is that they ‘catch the ears’ because of their distinctiveness.  So, with the background established, in the 24^th edition of Wacky Wednesday (2025), we break down the unique song, “The Widow”, performed by The Mars Volta. Wacky Wednesday vibes commence!

“He’s got fasting black lungs / Made of clove splintered shards / They’re the kind that will talk / Through a wheezing of coughs.” Those are some clever, darkly poetic lyrics! Grammy-winning rock band The Mars Volta is consistently comprised of two members: Omar Rodríguez-López (1975 – ) and Cedric Bixler-Zavala (1974 – ).  The prog band would win their first and only Grammy for the fantastic “Wax Simulacra”, from their 2008 album, The Bedlam of Goliath.  Three years before Goliath, Rodríguez-Lopez and Bixler-Zavala released Frances the Mute in 2005.  The second track, “The Widow”, is one of the best songs from their discography. It is also meaningful as it is dedicated to former band member Jeremy Ward. In a band that is not always considered the most accessible, “The Widow” is more accessible compared to much of their output. That said, it is still a unique record that easily stands out from the crowd and is subject to multiple interpretations (Frances The Mute is conceptual, after all). Written by Rodríguez-Lopez and Bixler-Zavala, Rodríguez-Lopez produced it. Notably, “The Widow” reached the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 95.

Cedric Bixler-Zavala kills it on vocals (and lyrics).  His instrument is as unique as The Mars Volta’s discography. Cutting, high-pitched, and powerful, Bixler-Zavala sells the lyrics like a champ.  Like the first verse, the second is intense too.  In the pre-chorus (“And I hear him every night on every street / The scales that do slither deliver me from”), varied every time, Bixler-Zavala builds up to the centerpiece, the chorus:

“Freeze without an answer, free from all the shame

Then I’ll hide

‘Cause I’ll never, never sleep alone.”

The melody is simultaneously chilling and tuneful. There is also one other section of note: the bridge.  Once more, Bixler-Zavala is locked in, expressively singing the likes of, “Pale, runs the ghost / Said I’m, Said I’m / Swollen on the shore.” Word.  Beyond the dynamic vocals, cerebral, thought-provoking lyrics, and memorable melodies, the music kicks ass and takes names.  Fittingly, “The Widow” is set in a minor key – it’s a dark, intense record.  Beyond standard rock instrumentation, “Widow” incorporates keyboards/synthesizer, brass, strings, and percussion. Flea performs a trumpet solo (during the bridge), showcasing his musicianship and versatility. Rodríguez-Lopez is beastly with the guitar, kicking serious ass and taking names with his riffs and soloing.  Furthermore, the big, distorted sound of the guitars is heavenly… in a hellish way or vice versa. With about two minutes left in the album version, which runs shy of six minutes, this ‘accessible’ Mars Volta cut embraces its weirdness with a dissonant, noisy instrumental outro.  The outro is highlighted by infernal synthesizer (organ-like sound) and unrefined, boisterous sound effects.  It couldn’t be The Mars Volta without the unusual, right? Damn right! “The Widow” is nothing short of a masterpiece, with its adventurousness and elite musicianship from all participants.