| Supertramp – Crime of the Century Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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Thank You for the interpretation. I fell in love with this album in 1974 and a friend turned me onto it again recently. In 1974, I had know idea this was a concept album and had a young man's perspective, now that I'm older I can see the concept so clearly. I feel your interpretation is right on, but have some additions... Rudy is a representation of the common man and the songs tell of the common man's life. The "crime" is that we are all taught what it means to be successful early on in life, that getting in line with the beliefs of the established rule system (i.e. getting a job, finding a mate, buying a home and raising a family). I wonder if when producing this album if they thought of making Crime of the Century the first song on the album followed by School. I'm glad they didn't and left the lead in harmonica in the end of the last song. Next, we are taught that we all have a voice and head into the world headstrong... just we find the voice level is determined by the money and who is in your family tree. You're Bloody Well Right! Now we fall into ourselves to find the answers to heavy questions like "what is love" and finding the perfect match and the feeling that everyone is out to get you (i.e. to get the job posted you must have 2 years of experience, but how do you get the experience without the job?). The establishment then is in the back of your mind saying "I want to know you, I wanna touch you. I can help you". They bring you back in line. When you are young, In the struggle to create the perception that you are on your way to being successful, you begin to wonder what insanity really is and if you're alone in your thinking. The establishment is also watching and asking the same thing... "Will he take a sailboat ride? He's likely to." Now the saddest song of all! Dreamer. I once thought this to be such an uplifting song, but man was I wrong. This is the Establishment mocking the common man for even thinking about having a dream and the personal realization by an individual that time has passed and it's too late to go live their dream. (i. e. living to work vs working to live). So Rudy falls into the middle age rut tries in vain to get off the train but in the end is back on the line. If Everyone was Listening they would know they do have the power to break out of the established government/corporate rut civilization has created, but everyone must Listen to what is being said. We as a whole keep electing the lesser of 2 evils, but still we are electing evil. "Who will be the last clown to bring the house down?" Back to Crime of the Century. How will the established governments, corporations bleed the common man even further? Let's start in the School system! Thank You Roger and Richard for such a beautiful piece of work! |
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