sort form Submissions:
submissions
Rise Against – Generation Lost Lyrics 16 years ago
musical pyro: I am on the exact same page as you

essentially, i think this is a cry for the government to pay attention to the underprivileged, and a justification for their state of living. It's a cry for action: the government knows its there but wants to "pretend you don't exist, maybe just for ten more minutes"

"Getting trampled under boots of progess
Ignore the pleading of the nameless faces
Now with our backs against the wall
How long til we fall?
Do away with all the underprivileged


their demographic doesn't fit your image
Turn your blind eye when duty calls
How long til we fall?"
(line by line analysis)
Small businesses are completely wiped out by huge companies around the world
The government of course lets them suffer because the large businesses are a huge asset to the economy
People are pushed to the edge with their income, and its only a matter of time before they have to file bankruptcy or go homeless
Again, the government doesn't care about them because they aren't the ones benefiting the economy: their demographic is pushed to the bottom of the food chain
The government is aware of the growing problem, and knows the dire circumstances, but pretends not to notice


Many of the lines makes sense when put into a similar context

"Caring less about the homeless millions
All the petty problems that go with them
Reap the profit that reaps thier lives and
Tell me that it's fine
Throw them out and call it relocation
Lower-income-housing quick solution
A Generation lost"

Refers to for closure, perhaps

As for the "speech in the end"

I am convinced it takes on two view points

First: from the governments point of view:

"Now in the whirlwind of my life
Is where you presently reside
Can I pretend you don't exist
Maybe just for ten more minutes?"

This homless issue is a "whirlind" in their political life, its a negative aspect
As mentioned, they want to ignore the underprivileged

Second: from the homless point of view:

"My hearts been broken into two
and rusted from years of disuse
So will you place upon it your hands
Will you help it beat again?
It seems the whole world's turned on me
(Bound and gagged) in the land of the free
Let's talk this over, this game is over
In with the new, out with the old
Hearts of the world have grown so cold
Let's talk this over, this game is over"

Their heart is broken because of the impossible situation they are faced with
their heart could be a metaphor for several things: a, emotions b, love I am inclined to think the narrator person as resorted to prostitution "years of disuse"
next to lines: a plea to the government to help them
it seems like everyone is frowning upon homeless people, people attribute a lack of home with insanity
now it becomes clear that the whole thing is in the context of America, and the poverty there
corporate America and money is all a game: and they have lost
I am not sure what they are referencing...
everyone has turned away from homeless people or anyone who is under privileged


My hearts been broken into two
and rusted from years of disuse
So will you place upon it your hands
Will you help it beat again?
It seems the whole world's turned on me
(Bound and gagged) in the land of the free
Let's talk this over, this game is over
In with the new, out with the old
Hearts of the world have grown so cold
Let's talk this over, this game is over

Overall, its a criticism of the government/ all the people of America: ACTION MUST BE TAKEN. POVERTY SHOULD BE ENDED

submissions
Rise Against – 1000 Good Intentions Lyrics 16 years ago
"you spent your time making excuses
for the ways of life that you are choosing"

To me, it seems like a reference to vegetarianism, the steps towards it; a criticism of consuming meat

"the more we organize
we suck out this life that serves as the fuel behind"

The second line especially seems referencing directly to our use of animals as food

"you've got your foot directly on the gas
I watch you burn out so fast"

This could be referencing to the unsustainable nature of the meat industry

Overall, perhaps its the analysis of the meat industry on the whole, the intention was good; to support the economy and the people with a source of food..

"it's all the same thing
now that it ever was
except now you've strayed too far
need you to stop digging your hole
and follow the path we light"

The meat industry has gone to far, because it is such a large and competitive industry, farmers resort to cruelty and chemicals to speed up efficiency of their production of meat

"you wanna take the passion in my veins
and put it down in black & white"

Meat farmers try and justify the cruelty by pointing to the fact that its a major support to the economy and its a huge food resource, straying away from the central criticism: the animal cruelty

submissions
Rise Against – Black Masks and Gasoline Lyrics 16 years ago
It's hard to sit down and realize that from the eyes of many, we are spoiled Americans who always find SOMETHING to complain about. From the opposite spectrum, and the spectrum that i think people should try and see things from, if we didn't find things to "complain about" we couldn't progress. Without this type of criticism, America wouldn't even be what it is now. I think there is a dire need for anarchism in other parts of the world, to the extent that comparatively, anarchism would seem odd in a place as free as ours. I am trying to wrap my brain around the circumstances, and since anarchism seems (subjectively)relevant this is how view it: Anarchism would, depending on the magnitude, create mass havoc...but it seems like people are waiting for a better time to do it, and many don't think there is a need. Based on my limited understanding of the ideals of people as a whole, i can't tell if anarchism would help us or not. But i think if we are going to do it, now is the time. We are straying farther and farther from that type of lifestyle, money has become too relevant. It comes down to philosophy in some regards.

I think this song is about change, and the need for change on an individual level.
I wish i new what they were referring to specifically...

shallowXgrave: When you refer to the bible, your points are, frankly, antiquated.
Also, would god support the suffering and cruelty that the animals raised for food endure?
In response to the natural selection comment: As the top of the food chain, we are also the most intelligent lifeforms on planet earth, smart enough to recognize that meat is not a green or humane industry. Part of evolving is abandoning old and inefficient ways.

submissions
Rise Against – Worth Dying For Lyrics 16 years ago
"at that moment i refused to close my eyes anymore"

I think that line is what Rise Against is all about. Accepting mistakes and our involvement in them, or the existence of them, and more importantly, how each person has enough power and influence to do something about it.

It's one thing to say you love the world and wear "Go green" merchandise (I am referring more to the ones that don't donate anything to help-the ones that help pollute...talk about hypocrisy) . It's another to do something about it that doesn't just involve false advertisement. Too many times have I approached someone wearing that type of thing and asked them what their opinion on vegetarianism and global warming was, only to get responses like: "meat is delicious, I had it last night for dinner" and "FOX said it was nothing to worry about, my new hummer is a real beauty"

I used to eat meat, and still say how much I cared about the earth. Rise Against helped me realize the hypocrisy in that. There's still a lot more i can do to help address the issues and problems of our world, but at least i can recognize that.

I don't think that's exactly what this song was about. Just thought it was related.

The mistakes in the lyrics really make analyzing it difficult

"These things I'll never face
Scratch out the warning race"
this isn't the only typo but i think its a great line that got screwed over...

It should be: "scratch out but won't erase" I am not positive, but that's what I've always thought

To me this song is trying to get across the point that there are problems in the world (predominantly regarding war, but i think there may be some subtle references to the environment) And how everyone needs to recognize them before we can fix them so that together we can try to fix it.

this verse to me is incredibly influential:

"These things I'll never face (problems that may not directly affect you)
Scratch out but won't erase ( try pretend they aren't there, or mask, but regardless still remain)
The wreckage of a job well done ( These problems/wreckage are the result of someone/people)
I saw a place I'd never seen before, yeah(once realizing these problems or hearing about them, the world is seen from a new, more informed perspective)
At that moment I refused to close my eyes anymore" (Once you realize the severity and magnitude of the issues at hand, you won't let yourself ignore them and pretend they aren't there any longer)









submissions
Rise Against – Audience Of One Lyrics 16 years ago
It seems most people are inclined to go with the relationship take on this song, which, when applied does seem to work. However, i doubt that's what it was really written about, especially after having seen the music video.

I am on the same page as tarkana and k1i2t3t4.

The song is great, and really powerful paired with the video.

* This information can be up to 15 minutes delayed.