Down, Down, Down to Mephisto's Cafe by Streetlight Manifesto

Down, Down, Down to Mephisto's Cafe is a ska-punk song by the band Streetlight Manifesto. The lyrical atmosphere suggests the futility of fighting/war, especially over something like religion and the difference of beliefs. Tomas Kalnoky is saying that it seems like we're all going to hell in someone's eyes, so he wants to get a good table in "Mephisto's Cafe".

The song itself starts out very calm and tranquil, with Kalnoky singing and playing a soothing guitar part. It then picks up with the addition of drums, trumpet, trombone, and saxophone and Kalnoky switching to a skanking guitar rhythm. The verses feature upbeat drums, bass, and skanking guitar and at times a slower tempo for a sing-along part at "and I knew you when you were you before they twisted all your views, before you came unglued" before bursting into the chorus and a pre-verse, both of which showcase the band's horn section. The meticulous inclusion and exclusion of instruments over the 5 minutes keeps the listener interested and excited by the blend created by the upbeat music and the somewhat grim yet optimistic lyrics.

Ska and punk have always been about questioning the norm, especially in the context of politics and religion. Musically, it's very difficult to make ska sound unhappy or glum and even the saddest ska song has a silver lining of optimism and happiness. With these lyrics, Kalnoky is talking about seeing conflicting spiritual beliefts and how, in someone's eyes, he's going to hell no matter what. He decides to be positive and embrace the descent to "Mephisto's Cafe" (aka Hell). The upbeat music coupled with the lyrics suggests that instead of fighting opposing views, you stay true to your own beliefs, accept that other people have theirs, and enjoy your life.