| Bad Religion – Ad Hominem Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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While you have completely legitimate criticism, I think you are making a big mistake. Bad Religion asks us to consider EVERYTHING critically, the fact that EVERYONE uses ad hominim is merely proof that no one can be trusted at face value, even yourself. Consider, reflect, and reconsider. No Bad Religion song can make your life complete, to believe that it does is to take the content of what they say without critical thinking, which is the fundamental message. You can be religious and agree with Bad Religion's message, as long as you do so in a critical manner. So while you can believe in Jesus and believe in the fundamental message of love and peace, you need to be able to breakdown the biases that religions have pushed on the world because of their false teachings. |
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| Bad Religion – The Devil In Stitches Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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I feel like its attacking the certain type of punk or alternative culture that is about the chaos and the fun and the emotion, but misses the message and the politics. Its about distractions "I can strum twice and make it all go away" "She was living on the edge of a knife His head was filled with restless ghosts It's so easy to love a bringer of destruction" Losing yourself to a dangerous and ultimately useless spiral of destruction. "We'll run while devil in stitches goes and has his fun" The laughter of the establishment as we get caught up in ourselves. |
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| Bad Religion – Won't Somebody Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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"Won't somebody just come up with something" I think you're very very right Everyone is feeling low and just crying out for someone to do something to change things. But I think that a lot of this album is also about how this point of view fails, that we have given up on our own agency, that we have lost hope and just want somebody else to fix it. In a way, politically it is a criticism of Obama. Not in the serious way that they actually thought of Obama when they wrote this, but in the way that people put their hope in the establishment because he seemed to have the fix. But when you put hope in the establishment rather than yourself, nothing changes and the patterns repeat and deepen |
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| Bad Religion – Only Rain Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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I agree with you guys, but I think its more about your own personal fear when facing the world. The "rain" FEELS like the end of the world, which is why you buy their message that it is. And I think it says that its true that religion helps you live without fear, to find your inner strength by giving you rules and conviction. However, you can find it without religion, you can overcome your existential fears if you look deep enough into yourself. Science here is then perception that allows us to recognize the world once we overcome our fear, and why science does not automatically win and religion has more power over people |
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| VNV Nation – Standing Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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Hey tech53, their songs are very much about spirituality. What makes them fantastic is that you can absolutely read everything they say form any perspective, including atheism. They describe, not explain, human existence, and so they don't align themselves with any position. All of us, atheists, christians, buddhists, etc. seeks the same things by virtue of being human, our human existence is similar and our human faculties are similar, so a description of the human life that leads one to pick a path (regardless of the path) will feel applicable to all of us. |
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| VNV Nation – Genesis Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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I think this is pretty anti-transcendental faith. It seems to argue that those who recognize they live in impure sin and necessarily hope that God will rise them above their own human impurity necessarily create doubt about the whole of human endeavour. "Did we toil in vain and hope" shows the scepticism about the ability of human endeavour to lead to transcendence of our human impurity. But, he notes that "If I would shed my skin, the layers left, but not the lessons learned it would not undo what I have done or grant forgiveness in some better days." If you do not shed all of humanity, including the "lessons learned" or that which we gained through human endeavour and society, you are stuck in this impurity. Now it seems to me that the song is meant to satirize this whole concept by than considering how uplifting and transcendental the feeling of being in space was for the astronauts. How through human endeavour they felt close to God and the divine. And so, it seems to reject a lot of pre-Protestant Christian thought and Buddhism. Whether it supports atheism is another matter because there are many religions that believe in good work. Sufi Islam and non-mystical Judaism (Kabbalah for example is mystical Judaism and is ridiculous) comes to mind. For example, Judaism has the concept of "tikun Olam" or fixing the world which says that acts of making the world a better place make us closer to God. It reimagines the importance of human existence in the face of the divine. Which is why I say that its anti-transcendental faith. |
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| VNV Nation – Carry You Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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I look at it from a more materialistic point of view. It is us who bring about negativity, suicidal thoughts, feelings of the end, fear of death, these come from within and not without. The universe "conspiring to carry you" is the fact that you aren't dying, that it gives you all the tools to survive and overcome. It doesn't cause your negativity, it allows you to overcome any struggle. "As your powers and all your energies conspire to carry you" then shows that your own body rejects these things. Our natural instincts to WANT to survive, to act in ways that will allow us to survive even if don't want to. Its why we have suicidal thoughts, and not immediate suicidal action. Because everything about us screams at us NO, while our mind is building up a wall of anguish to shut it out. So surrender, give up your mental control and surrender to nature and the way of the world. Struggle and survive, because that is what we were placed in this universe to do, that is what we are built to do. |
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| VNV Nation – Sentinel Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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Its about the endless struggle. Ever win "or victory parade" is merely a lead up to the next struggle. As the guy below me said, this is true internally as well as externally (literal victory parades for example). "On the day the storm has just begun I will still hope there are better days to come" Even as he recognizes this incongruity, a human being must believe that the struggle could end, and it is that hope that drives us. But worse, do most of us hope for better days? or do their songs about bravery and glory are just meant to glorify the struggle? Does perseverance in the face of opposition, natural or human, lead to acceptance and glorification of violence or to the hope that we will eventually become better than that? |
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| VNV Nation – Art of Conflict Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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They are literally talking about the Art of Waging War. Not just by quoting the Art of War, but by showing the underlying practical logic that backs it up. "Treat your soldiers as your beloved children And they will follow you into the deepest valleys. To defeat your enemy, you must pretend inferiority and encourage your enemy's arrogance." These are NOT positive things, they are lies and deceit. The Art of War is cold and logical, it is NOT a true art, it is a lie. And the biggest lie? That there IS a system of war. That one can go into war knowing that prolonged war is bad and how he ought to react to win as quickly as possible, and actually make that work among the insanity and chaos of actual war. The writer of this song seems almost offended at this cleanliness. "Making no mistakes is what establishes the certainty of victory" That's an empty slogan! Its impossible to make no mistakes |
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| VNV Nation – Resolution Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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Life is a struggle. No one will give you credit for dealing with it. Its up to you to win, to make yourself heard, to not "break". And that involves controlling the negativity that will always be there. Its a very inspiring song that doesn't reject negativity and the difficulty of human life, which is very very rare. |
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| VNV Nation – Space & Time Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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I think its about nostalgia. At first we get the consideration of things and people past, and its connection to the "design" which is your life and the life of the world around you. The remote and ever changing refers to all of these random places and people that are the constellation of relations that you have built up; remote referring to the their randomness and ever changing referring to them no longer existing as they do in his head, with all their applied meanings. And so, we WANT to go back, we WANT to stay, but as human beings we are "lost" in space and time, incapable of controlling them we are like leaves on the wind. The only thing which remains the same is "desire and love", the human being's underlying emotions which he holds and to a certain extant frees from the grasp of physical causality. And so, in considering the emotion of nostalgia we get to an understanding about the reality of human existence. |
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| VNV Nation – Space & Time Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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I think its about nostalgia. At first we get the consideration of things and people past, and its connection to the "design" which is your life and the life of the world around you. The remote and ever changing refers to all of these random places and people that are the constellation of relations that you have built up; remote referring to the their randomness and ever changing referring to them no longer existing as they do in his head, with all their applied meanings. And so, we WANT to go back, we WANT to stay, but as human beings we are "lost" in space and time, incapable of controlling them we are like leaves on the wind. The only thing which remains the same is "desire and love", the human being's underlying emotions which he holds and to a certain extant frees from the grasp of physical causality. And so, in considering the emotion of nostalgia we get to an understanding about the reality of human existence. |
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| VNV Nation – Legion Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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As a philosophy student, a lot of their songs just feel like pretty powerful claims about existence, scepticism, and fear of death. The first part talks about how we consider ourselves in life. The consistent hope that we can be better than we are, that we can see ourselves becoming that which we want to be. This natural faith IS the drive to live. The second part than considers the big fears that we hold that is sceptical about the whole of human existence. He reasserts that we CANNOT lost the natural hope that we are in control and can be better because it is so essential to human existence. But we deep down we don't know, how can we know? What if that faith is the fantasy? We question our own central belief in our selves, and negate our very existence, leading to existential fear. "But I don't know what happens now. I am too scared to close my eyes.". So its talking about the two central drives to humanity, hope and fear. Hope that we can be better, fear that this is just a silly fantasy that will disappear with the blink of the eye. |
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| Bad Religion – Lose as Directed Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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Seeing as it is Bad Religion, of course I agree with Zorgon. I think, though, that it is more like what society tells you to act like (society is directing you) because of the constant push for the known and the similar path (you see this throughout your life, as a child, in the schooling system, at your job) and mediocrity. And, most people (me included) do as they are told because doing something different is scary (Mystery and Misery). But, when you do listen, you lose your potential and possibilities in life. |
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| Bad Religion – The Universal Cynic Lyrics | 16 years ago |
| This song is obviously an attack on cynicism and pessimism, particularly because it leads to nothing being done (and is particularly annoying to those around you). | |
| Bad Religion – Requiem for Dissent Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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Here is my understanding of the song: The requim is a Catholic Mass known informally as the funeral Mass for its focus on praying for the souls of the dead. Many classical songs were created for this Mass. Looking on this from that angle, this is like an opposite requim for all the dead and particularly for the punk spirit and the revolutionists who have stopped fighting (a sort of death). Rather than praying for these souls to make it to the afterlife, this song tells them to get back up and fight. I think this is a powerful rallying cry for people to start standing up for what is right rather than let it die. |
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| Bad Religion – The Hopeless Housewife Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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gofuckyourself, you make good points except when you refer to community. This song is all about the self. Rather than working as part of community, as many BR songs are about, this is more personal and talks to each person separately. Which, of course, could be helping the needy for you, but that is not the point for everyone. This is my favorite BR song ever. |
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| Bad Religion – Part III Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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I disagree, this is not directly about WW3. WW3 may become Part III, but that is not what is meant. Part III is the last war mankind will be in. "the final page is written in the books of history," "they say when a mistake is made, a lesson can be learned. but this time, there's no turning back, the hate engulfs the world." If you check Part II, it refers to imperialism and patriotism that leads to hate. Part III is the final war. Part IV is once we are all gone. And, if you think about it, Part I is... now. |
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| Bad Religion – Heroes and Martyrs Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| I didn't actually think of it, but I think you hit the nail on the head Cormega. | |
| Bad Religion – What Can You Do? Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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I feel like this is another song about smart people's defeatist attitudes. As such, it is similar in context to Misery and Famine, and Entropy. What I feel the idea is, is that the people who see what i going wrong refuse to do anything because they think it is hopeless. There is a lot of talk about minds which makes one think that there is a lack of action and way too much thinking going on (which is good but needs action to go along with it). |
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| Bad Religion – Cease Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| I love the interpretations of the three verses, but I disagree with what "What pretension! Everlasting peace. Everything must cease" means. I feel that instead of saying that everything will end, it refers to everything needing to end. We can't have our "everlasting peace" until all of this (the three verses) "cease". | |
| Bad Religion – Victory Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| It's wonderful how he says Victory but relates it to something negative. Seeing as it is usually seen as a positive, it makes one think of what this could mean. I believe it speaks about the consequences of our "victory". What had to lose for us to win. That is something that everyone needs to think about. | |
| Bad Religion – It's Reciprocal Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| Reciprocal refers to something that is performed by two or more sides. In a relationship, both sides need to work. This song speaks of the frustration of being in a very one-sided relationship (whether this refers to romantic or something else is debatable). | |
| Bad Religion – Shades of Truth Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| I think that the three main parts of this song are government and politicians, the religious powers, and modern society. The idea is that we rather not see "the truth" or help those in need or even accept what we know is right. It is much easier to talk and twist the truth to fit what we believe or want to believe rather than do anything. | |
| Bad Religion – Mediocrity Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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"The stories from our childhood condition us to think that beauty is a basic human trait" I love that part! Because the truth is that we are constantly told that everyone is the best and the most beautiful and the smartest, basically the perfect world. But, the truth is that most people are not all that good. Mediocrity is what is actually seen. But this also speaks on the opposite. Poverty and rape and the like that are actually the opposite of the perfect world we envision. And the confusion is trying to explain how all this work with the world we wish it to be, or believe it to be. |
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| Bad Religion – Pretenders Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| As is written, this song refers to our lives as a game or a play. Why? Because most of the time we refuse to hold on to what we believe because it is easier to be ignorant and the fact that "we hold dear our unanimity". I think this also has a lot to do with relationships do to the way some of it is worded. | |
| Bad Religion – Quality or Quantity Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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HAHA! I'm so sorry agnostic soldier but you are very funny. I love how you take everything and use it as a weapon against religion. I don't think religion was once mentioned in the song except maybe for the "offer me eternity" thing. And I also apologize, but please don't be so angry about people who don't believe the same things as you. I am an agnostic but that has nothing to do with being a good person or giving charity. I personally do not give charity, I just never cared enough. Regardless, I think this has a bit more to do with quality is more important than quantity. "Padding your pockets doesn't make this a better place" basically states that having a lot is not what makes you good. "'Cereal and water' is a feast for some you say," speaks of having a lot of crap and calling it a feast. And as the song says, there is a difference between just survival and actually living. |
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| Bad Religion – Time and Disregard Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| Actually, Time and Disregard is from Into the Unknown. Their first release (in this case an EP rather than album) was How Could Hell Be Any Worse? which is an immense difference between the two. Early BR was much rougher and harder than the newer BR. Into the Unknown is considered a failure by many, including the band, because it just wasn't punk. A lot of fans got pissed off at it. But I'm glad SOME people (other than critics) like the songs from Into the Unknown. I personally can't say it's bad, but it's not my style of music. | |
| Bad Religion – At the Mercy of Imbeciles Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| Since I submitted it I guess I should say something. The song states that we follow imbeciles whether it be the Church, Stars, and other rich and famous because we are not sure about what is right and we assume that they know. But in the end, they are just idiots and we should not leave these decisions about how we act to them. | |
| Bad Religion – In So Many Ways Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| I think this is less about what we do wrong but of the way we hurt. We forget to see the good in life and push for death and the possibility of an afterlife. It's a really sad song. | |
| Bad Religion – The Same Person Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| Maybe this has to do with all of us being different but collectively apart of something (the human race). It appears to me to be an attack on selfishness. We are not the same person, but that does not mean we can just step on each other or ignore each other's needs and wants. | |
| Bad Religion – Billy Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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What is wrong with you people? I can't even believe you are squabbling like children about WHO it is about. Does that matter? Almost all pieces of art are based on personal experiences, but the experience is not the point! The point is the question and the lesson. As was said, this is about a drug addict who fucked up and lost everything. But I'd like to direct your eyes to the bottom part. "So where is the justice when no one is at fault And a human life is tragically wasted? How fragile is the flame that burns within us all To light each passing day?" The drug addict NEVER makes it out of his addiction. So in this song it is questioned the strength of people versus the strength of addiction and temptation. And unlike when someone harms another where it is easy to see who is at fault, what happens when someone hurts themselves? Was he weak? Did his friends' fail him? Society? |
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| Bad Religion – Misery and Famine Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| I think this song is similar to Entropy in a way. That theory of Johannes Kepler basically says that misery and famine are caused by the planets (I hope I'm getting this right). And, therefore, it is not our fault. There is this invisible force that is basically causing all the problems. So this song is most likely using that to show how people always try to shirk responsibility by blaming on something that is not human, and not our fault or problem. | |
| Bad Religion – I Love My Computer Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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This song is pretty great I must say. The computer is indeed just a machine, but it is the human behind the screen that may decide to put this machine above life. And yes, it has to do with EVERYTHING everyone said. Fear of being rejected. Soul-less relationships (i recently had an argument about that using Facebook as an example). Losing our ability to interact with other human beings. Being inside and alone at all times. And having absolute control. I do use a computer for entertainment but I could never let it replace relationships I have with people. |
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| Bad Religion – Don't Sell Me Short Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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haha. I love how people hate things because of principal rather than quality. In a way, isn't that what this song is about? You despised the albums because you didn't want a big label associated with Bad Religion. Because Atlantic wasn't supposed to be in the scene and society you built around yourself maybe? Don't sell that stuff short just because it's different, it still has a lot of power and deserves to be accepted. But yeah, Brett was very needed in the band to give the songs more diversity. Oh, and Into the Unknown didn't suck. It was not Punk. So as "Punk" music it sucked, but as music it wasn't all too bad. |
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| Jellyfish – Ignorance Is Bliss Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| haha well, i guess not everyone gets it. It is just basically the generic mario plot. Bowser kidnaps Princess Peach (who he loves) to use her as bait to get mario and, in this case, luigi. He tries to gloat about his plans, it seems, but then he realizes what he is saying and just tells her it is best she didn't know (ignorance is bliss). Or maybe it's so she wouldn't feel bad about being bait? Regardless, I think this song is just a whole lot of fun rather than a meaningful one. | |
| Bad Religion – Infected Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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I'll go with the general consensus that this is about a relationship. Surprisingly, this seems to be very popular but it's one of my least favorite songs by BR. Go figure. Anyhow, I'm gonna go listen to Shattered Faith instead. |
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| Bad Religion – Tested Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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The reason no one has talked about this song is because it is a "rare" song (bad religion has 20 or so rare songs that are hard to find). I think you can find it as a download on one of the BR fansites but im not sure. Regardless, the song, as the above said, is about life being a test without a guide and without a set design. Funny that BR puts "logic and passion". I'm assuming that it means that some of the answers just aren't logical so it makes it that much harder to do the "test". Remember people, there are always choices to make. That is, until "you reach your dark eternal sleep". |
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| The 69 Eyes – Brandon Lee Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| I assume so. It is an American movie after all. I saw it while it was running on TV once. | |
| The 69 Eyes – Brandon Lee Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| oops, seems like i forgot to mention that Brandon was the son of Bruce Lee, which you SHOULD know. | |
| The 69 Eyes – Brandon Lee Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| The Crow, starring Brandon Lee, was a movie based on the comic book that dealt with the guy and his girlfriend getting brutally murdered (she gets raped as well). He gets resurrected by a crow a year later and looks for vengeance. Brandon was accidentally shot and killed during the filming of the movie. | |
| Children of Bodom – Mask Of Sanity Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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This is the first song of Bodom I ever heard and is my favorite by far! I always thought this song spoke of giving up on trying to be something that you aren't for another's sake. "Better is what I used to feel alone" and the fact that the lack of peace of mind causes him to want to lose his "mask of sanity" to retrieve it are what I base that on. And yeah, don't mess with the keyboardist. I really think that the keyboards cause the most confusion about their genre but they are fucking awesome! |
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| Bad Religion – Part IV (The Index Fossil) Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| Our arrogance will be our own undoing. We are perfect, we know all, God is on our side, and we are high-class. To us life no longer holds much meaning. And we all know that this cannot hold up a civilization. Extinction of our society and or species is imminent do to this stupidity. I thnik that sums it up. | |
| Bad Religion – All There Is Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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I think this is a more personal song. Think less about others and more about yourself when you look at these lyrics. Think about your own life, the days when you realize that your actions have turned into a pattern that you follow obediently whilst thinking, "Can that be all there is?" I feel that this is one of BR's more personal songs where they are supposed to touch you in a certain way such as Along The Way. I think there are also elements of contemplating suicide and your own mortality in a life that seems to just drone on. "like a bullet as a friend". I realize that that particular explanation sounds slightly Emo, but keep in mind that what separates Emo, as we know it, and Punk is that Emo deals with feeling sorry for yourself while Punk tried to put life in a perspective where you understand what is wrong and, in turn, figure out how to fix it. |
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| Bad Religion – Entropy Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| I am sorry that I have to write again, I forgot to say that do to the misunderstanding in science, the word received the definition (from http://www.thefreedictionary.com) of "Inevitable and steady deterioration of a system or society.". | |
| Bad Religion – Entropy Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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Entropy is a tough process and "thing" to understand. It is what everyone said. But what must be understood is that there is a bunch of scientific terminology that goes along with trying to understand Entropy. So, the question is, what does Entropy refer to in a non scientific, or less scientific, situation? One of the labels attached to Entropy, which has now been changed (only recently has disorder been taken out of the definition), is that of chaos and disorder as well as the dispersal of energy. So, the understanding, though false, was that Entropy referred to the losing or decay of energy to a more disordered and chaotic form. Again, this has been recently changed because it caused to much confusion. Now to conclude the lesson, I think the idea is that nothing is our problem (sarcastic) because entropy exists and causes energy and order to disperse and turn to disorder and chaos. "we're in a play of slow decay" |
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| Bad Religion – Raise Your Voice! (feat. Campino) Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| I will say only this, it doesn't matter what the song sounds like, this is truly what Punk is based on. Raise Your Voice indeed. | |
| Bad Religion – Sowing the Seeds of Utopia Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| I agree that this song is particularly self-explanatory. It is exactly the feeling one gets when the politician they believed and trusted in ends up being a lier who cared little for all he (or she) said they stood for. "you invoked a convenient amnesia" pretty much sums up what they do. It is our responsibility because it doesn't seem like they will take it. | |
| Bad Religion – Individual Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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Jonathan, that is an incredibly intelligent and thought out response! It does seem that in a world where we are told to be ourselves, people cling to ideals and beliefs that mean nothing and takes away from the individuality they are trying to achieve. But this song also says that these people know what they are doing and what the consequence of it is yet refuse to change (all too aware of the insignificance, pushing on with soul and heart). It is the need to belong which trumps the need to be oneself. An individual doesn't need to be explain himself because he can accept that there are differences and that you do not need to belong. |
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| Bad Religion – Along the Way Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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I find this to be the most powerful song I have ever heard by BR. Not because of the music, it is kind of mellow, not because of large words, Positive Aspect of Negative Thinking has more, but because, as someone said earlier, it is all encompassing. No matter who you are or what situation you may be in, this song rings true. Can you explain the The Who reference because I don't know much about The Who and it appears to be important to the song? |
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