The Empire Strikes First

Bad Religion

We strike first
And we're unrehearsed
Here we go again
To stage the greatest show on heaven and earth
Come on, get your money's worth

Don't want to live
(can't live)
Don't want to give
(can't give)
Don't want to be
(won't be)
E-M-P-I-R-E
Don't want to live
Don't want to be
E-M-P-I-R-E

We're comin' on fast
And we're built to last
We struggled once in 'Nam
Now we're glad to finally say
Those days have passed
Tell me how long can it last!

Don't want to live
(can't live)
Don't want to give
(can't give)
Don't want to be
(won't be)
E-M-P-I-R-E
Don't want to live
Don't want to be
E-M-P-I-R-E

We just started out
You don't need to be afraid
Yeah you deserve to be attained

And our breathing hearts burst
But even ten million souls
Marching in February couldn't stop the worst,
Couldn't reverse

Don't want to live
Don't want to give
Don't want to be
E-M-P-I-R-E
Don't want to live
Don't want to be
E-M-P-I-R-E

I can't live
If it isn't with you


Lyrics submitted by Aerion, edited by cbingham

The Empire Strikes First Lyrics as written by Greg Graffin Brian Baker

Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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The Empire Strikes First song meanings
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24 Comments

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    General Comment

    "yeah you deserve to be attained" It's actually 'you deserve two minutes hate' It's a quote from 1984. So the empire has another showdown. Even 10 million people can't stop them. Teh empire treats it's citizens like children (hence the phonetic spelling of empire)

    Latchkey Kidon October 10, 2004   Link

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