This song is what, 22 years old now? More? How old are you people who can't write a single literate sentence to discuss it? Can't you find some newer music to prattle on about?
Cultural history lesson: "Saving the whales" is a term applied to the foolish pursuits of bleeding-heart do-gooders who think they can "conquer the world," "improve this place," etc. It is a clue that at least some of the content of the song is ironic. (Simple definition of irony: when you say something but mean the opposite.)
More irony: "give all the idiots a brand-new religion." Do you think Bad Religion the band would consider a new religion of any stripe to be a good thing?
So is B.R. saying they don't care what happens? Not at all. They're criticizing the messianic complexes held by a) Christians, b) liberal do-gooders (Sister Bleeding Heart could also apply to a nun or Catholic charity worker, i.e., Mother Teresa type,) c) rationalists who have faith in science and technology, d)not sure who exactly "Mother Mercy" with her fecund loins represents, e) diplomats and government types, f) probably right-wing "moral soldiers." That is, the song addresses a wide gamut, including non-religious people.
The basic meaning is that no matter who you are or what you believe or how smart you think you are, you're and idiot and an asshole if you think you have the answers to all the world's problems.
Mother mercy I always thought to be a reference to evangelicals, especially since since he says "will your loins bear fruit forever" and talks about her "fecundity" Also, I don't know if you noticed how ironic it is that he criticizes just about everybody. I think the main point of the song is not that all of these people are wrong, just that no one is always right. The fact that he says he wants to do away with air pollution and save the whales, I interpreted to mean, is his awareness that ideals and reality rarely reflect one another....
Mother mercy I always thought to be a reference to evangelicals, especially since since he says "will your loins bear fruit forever" and talks about her "fecundity" Also, I don't know if you noticed how ironic it is that he criticizes just about everybody. I think the main point of the song is not that all of these people are wrong, just that no one is always right. The fact that he says he wants to do away with air pollution and save the whales, I interpreted to mean, is his awareness that ideals and reality rarely reflect one another.
@Spinxis This is an incredibly late response, but I always took when he talks of Mother Mercy's loins bearing fruit forever are people who give to charity; can they actually spare the resources or are they giving away something they need just to look good?
@Spinxis This is an incredibly late response, but I always took when he talks of Mother Mercy's loins bearing fruit forever are people who give to charity; can they actually spare the resources or are they giving away something they need just to look good?
Essentially, if you don't have the means, don't give it away just to seem polite.
Essentially, if you don't have the means, don't give it away just to seem polite.
This song is what, 22 years old now? More? How old are you people who can't write a single literate sentence to discuss it? Can't you find some newer music to prattle on about?
Cultural history lesson: "Saving the whales" is a term applied to the foolish pursuits of bleeding-heart do-gooders who think they can "conquer the world," "improve this place," etc. It is a clue that at least some of the content of the song is ironic. (Simple definition of irony: when you say something but mean the opposite.)
More irony: "give all the idiots a brand-new religion." Do you think Bad Religion the band would consider a new religion of any stripe to be a good thing?
So is B.R. saying they don't care what happens? Not at all. They're criticizing the messianic complexes held by a) Christians, b) liberal do-gooders (Sister Bleeding Heart could also apply to a nun or Catholic charity worker, i.e., Mother Teresa type,) c) rationalists who have faith in science and technology, d)not sure who exactly "Mother Mercy" with her fecund loins represents, e) diplomats and government types, f) probably right-wing "moral soldiers." That is, the song addresses a wide gamut, including non-religious people.
The basic meaning is that no matter who you are or what you believe or how smart you think you are, you're and idiot and an asshole if you think you have the answers to all the world's problems.
ps - my insults were more aimed at earlier posters than the ones right above mine. Those guys can spell!
ps - my insults were more aimed at earlier posters than the ones right above mine. Those guys can spell!
Mother mercy I always thought to be a reference to evangelicals, especially since since he says "will your loins bear fruit forever" and talks about her "fecundity" Also, I don't know if you noticed how ironic it is that he criticizes just about everybody. I think the main point of the song is not that all of these people are wrong, just that no one is always right. The fact that he says he wants to do away with air pollution and save the whales, I interpreted to mean, is his awareness that ideals and reality rarely reflect one another....
Mother mercy I always thought to be a reference to evangelicals, especially since since he says "will your loins bear fruit forever" and talks about her "fecundity" Also, I don't know if you noticed how ironic it is that he criticizes just about everybody. I think the main point of the song is not that all of these people are wrong, just that no one is always right. The fact that he says he wants to do away with air pollution and save the whales, I interpreted to mean, is his awareness that ideals and reality rarely reflect one another.
@Spinxis This is an incredibly late response, but I always took when he talks of Mother Mercy's loins bearing fruit forever are people who give to charity; can they actually spare the resources or are they giving away something they need just to look good?
@Spinxis This is an incredibly late response, but I always took when he talks of Mother Mercy's loins bearing fruit forever are people who give to charity; can they actually spare the resources or are they giving away something they need just to look good?
Essentially, if you don't have the means, don't give it away just to seem polite.
Essentially, if you don't have the means, don't give it away just to seem polite.