This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
CHORUS: I got a letter from the government the other day
I opened it and read it and burned that man
The way that I live don't concern that man
We gon' have to settle this another way
When the knuckles turn white
Eyes begin bulging
I take an honest look at my life
It's insultin
I been sulkin about it all week
Hearin adults screachin
Metal grindin the concrete
Sparks dance where the worst of both worlds clash
Meaning the blue tyrants and my broke ass
I understand this is pawn take pawn shit
But Ill be damned if you'll shoot me on my lawn bitch
Think twice before shinin that light at my drawers
in the alley in the middle of the night
Garbage baggin, house, shoes
Put two and two together
I aint no drug smuggler I'm a struggling brotha
Had this dream where I go nuts
Dial 911 from the roof and post up
Decorate your hot head when you came in the cruiser
And paint your rod red in the name of Abu
CHORUS
What kinda sucka would I have to be
After these years of you harassin and attackin me
To run and join your cavalry
Imagine me all GI Joed up in Afgahnistan somewhere
Prepared to go nuts
You're clinically crazy if you think you can pay me
A figure that can make me slay these innocent babies
I identify with a slave wishin to break free
He was victimized by the same system that raped me
Look at us poor
Just tryin' to get our foot in the door
And unfortunately hooked in this war
We were both coerced to get enlisted
But his was with a trigger mine was livin' conditions
We're one in the same
But in the name of some freedom
I'm supposed to put one in his brain like something will change
What freedom? I aint ridin for no president
Send the kids to die when we didn't even elect em bitch
CHORUS
Listen I'm in position to judge a young stud
Tryin to use the military to come the fuck up
Cause self preservation is the first law of nature
Play your cards smart
Remember what the fucks up
It's really no different from crack peddlin'
When it comes to dyin and killin for a dream you were given
Last thing in your mind is how you're seen by the system
Be willing to go to those extremes for your vision
Shit Im no smarter
I know Im fuckin retarded
I just know enough to not eat directly where the dog shits
If Uncle Sam wants to threaten my health
Tell him he'll have to come get me hisself motherfucka
I opened it and read it and burned that man
The way that I live don't concern that man
We gon' have to settle this another way
When the knuckles turn white
Eyes begin bulging
I take an honest look at my life
It's insultin
I been sulkin about it all week
Hearin adults screachin
Metal grindin the concrete
Sparks dance where the worst of both worlds clash
Meaning the blue tyrants and my broke ass
I understand this is pawn take pawn shit
But Ill be damned if you'll shoot me on my lawn bitch
Think twice before shinin that light at my drawers
in the alley in the middle of the night
Garbage baggin, house, shoes
Put two and two together
I aint no drug smuggler I'm a struggling brotha
Had this dream where I go nuts
Dial 911 from the roof and post up
Decorate your hot head when you came in the cruiser
And paint your rod red in the name of Abu
CHORUS
What kinda sucka would I have to be
After these years of you harassin and attackin me
To run and join your cavalry
Imagine me all GI Joed up in Afgahnistan somewhere
Prepared to go nuts
You're clinically crazy if you think you can pay me
A figure that can make me slay these innocent babies
I identify with a slave wishin to break free
He was victimized by the same system that raped me
Look at us poor
Just tryin' to get our foot in the door
And unfortunately hooked in this war
We were both coerced to get enlisted
But his was with a trigger mine was livin' conditions
We're one in the same
But in the name of some freedom
I'm supposed to put one in his brain like something will change
What freedom? I aint ridin for no president
Send the kids to die when we didn't even elect em bitch
CHORUS
Listen I'm in position to judge a young stud
Tryin to use the military to come the fuck up
Cause self preservation is the first law of nature
Play your cards smart
Remember what the fucks up
It's really no different from crack peddlin'
When it comes to dyin and killin for a dream you were given
Last thing in your mind is how you're seen by the system
Be willing to go to those extremes for your vision
Shit Im no smarter
I know Im fuckin retarded
I just know enough to not eat directly where the dog shits
If Uncle Sam wants to threaten my health
Tell him he'll have to come get me hisself motherfucka
Lyrics submitted by acidmaniac
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Hayalperest
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Yo La Tengo
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
No Surprises
Radiohead
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Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
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“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
I love this one.
"You're clinically crazy if you think you can pay me A figure that can make me slay these innocent babies I identify with a slave wishin to break free He was victimized by the same system that raped me"
How does he write this shit?! It's amazing.