Hear the sound of music drifting in the aisles
Elevator Prozac stretching on for miles
The music of the future will not entertain
It's only meant to repress and neutralize your brain

Soul gets squeezed out
Edges get blunt
Demographic
Gives what you want

One of the wonders of the world is going down
It's going down, I know
It's one of the blunders of the world that no one cares
No one cares enough

Now the sound of music comes in silver pills
Engineered to suit you building cheaper thrills
The music of rebellion makes you want to rage
But it's made by millionaires who are nearly twice your age

Soul gets squeezed out
Edges get blunt
Demographic
Gives what you want

One of the wonders of the world is going down
It's going down, I know
It's one of the blunders of the world that no one cares
No one cares enough
One of the wonders of the world is going down
It's going down, I know
It's one of the blunders of the world that no one cares
No one cares enough

One of the wonders of the world is going down
It's going down, I know
It's one of the blunders of the world that no one cares
No one cares enough
One of the wonders of the world is going down
It's going down, I know
It's one of the blunders of the world that no one cares
No one cares enough


Lyrics submitted by NothingMan

The Sound of Muzak Lyrics as written by Gavin Richard Harrison Colin Edwin Balch

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

The Sound Of Muzak song meanings
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50 Comments

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  • +7
    General Comment

    In one interview Steven Wilson said that it annoys him, that so much commercial (and weak) music is much more popular than the ambitious music (because of promoting singles etc.). He said that it's really bad, that because of the commerce people don't even get a chance of knowing the less promoted music, the one that isn't part of the mainstream. I think that song signifies that.

    Mirroron April 17, 2005   Link
  • +5
    General Comment

    this's just struck me:

    "Soul gets squeezed out Edges get blunt Demographic Gives what you want"

    perhaps this refers to the process that music suffers while in the music industry and major labels.

    -Soul gets squeezed out: the essence of the song is taken away -Edges blunt: the unique characteristics of each song are blunt, so that they all sound kinda like the same -Demographic gives what you want: polls, marketing researchs, etc, lead the mainstream music focus.

    My first post here, pretty trippy I guess lol

    bitenkason March 22, 2007   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    "The music of rebellion makes you wanna rage But it's made by millionaires who are nearly twice your age" I love the whole song, but that part is amazing.

    I feel pretty much the same way as the song - I can't stand listening to the radio because the music is always so bad. I don't understand why the stuff is popular when its so bad and theres so much good stuff (like Porcupine Tree) out there

    somnium_excienson May 31, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    just look at the lyrics "Soul gets squeezed out". What happens when you murder someone? (if you believe that we have spirits or souls).

    Sibelius19on December 28, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Actually, I think SW would throw this song as a complete opposite to the theme for a certain reason. I don't think this song has anything to do with the theme*, but morely has to do with SW's feelings towards the music industry (which is bleedingly obvious on the veneer). If you take a deeper look into the general theme of the album, it's talking about a rapist/serial killer, that seems to be the general concensus. From my knowledge of the music industry, not too many artists have chosen this type of theme for their albums, probably straying away from the grotesque and disgusting sides. But maybe SW has chosen this to directly spite the new-age sets of music. He may be possibly telling the music industry as a whole to go fuck themselves with their choice in music. He is choosing to show the world that he can make beautiful music out of real world topics, and real world imagery rather than bubble-gum and unicorn pop-songs.

    Maybe I'm off base. That's just what it means to me.

    *I put this here intentionally to throw in another interpretation. If it is meant to be the inner workings of the crazy's head, possibly he is a musician that is getting destroyed by terrible music, and the terrible choices of the music producers.

    Bloodrageron September 12, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    anyone ever thought of this? people seem to have problems with sound of muzak fitting into the whole serial killer concept of In Abesntia. what if the killer actually is a musician (or sth. similar) and "The Sound of Muzak" describes his feelings for the industry? He's not very succesfull, which is driving him mad and close to suicide ("Prodigal"). He has a great idea for a song or album which would make him successfull (the mastertape) but he actually leaves it in a cab, which is the final thing to go wrong and he turns insane / releases his aggressions.

    has anyone ever thought of this idea?

    flSuizidkommandoon July 12, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Ever consider the entire ALBUM is about metaphorical murder as much as the physical act?

    Subcontraon January 08, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Another amazing song....the lyrics are not interpretable like the others (at least to me), but they are very well done and true!! The vocals and instruments go together perfectly! It has a feeling of floatiness and being beyond time (like an outsider viewing and talking about a situation); it's hard to describe...LOL.

    komplexnouson October 12, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    apparently this song is about the music industry...the way labels choose the artists according to the trends that seem to predominant....i love this song

    RedRavenon October 25, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Agreed. This song is clearly about the position of major music lables.

    "The music of the future will not entertain. It's only ment to repress and neutralize your brain.

    Soul gets squeezed out, Edges get blunt. Demographic, Gives what you want."

    That there doesn't really require much interpretation if you ask me.

    Necrothon November 03, 2004   Link

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