| Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – We No Who U R Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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Intriguing lyrics. I saw someone explain this as being literally about trees, but I go down with the explanation that it's about the internet and also the mob mentality Thatmatt is talking about. I believe that the tree could be anyone, but most likely a public figure (politician, celebrity), and causes controversy. The tree ignores and can also not control the little bird, meaning public opinion (indeed a reference to twitter perhaps). 'We' are anonymous. And because all information is so easily available, we 'breathe' all that's been said about this person, the tree, in like it's nothing. We don't have to really think about it. And because we are anonymous, and don't personally know the person involved, there's also no need for us to forgive this person. Next, the trees are standing like pleading hands, maybe trying to apologise for what is done. We don't respond to that. When we return, the trees will burn. I think that what Nick Cave is trying to make clear is that on internet it's very easy to ridicule or be rude towards a person that might have made a mistake. We're not thinking anymore and are very easy to judge those persons. And once those persons take the heat, we know who they are, what they do and where they live. At the same time the anonymity on the web is even greater than standing in the classical 'mob with torches'. There are no consequences for being rude anymore so there is also no need to forgive the person. |
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