| Anti-Flag – War Sucks, Let's Party! Lyrics | 10 years ago |
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I thought, I would do write about this song, as in the UK we are about to decide who our next government will be. generally, the song is about voting and protest. the title of the song, is a reference to kicking out a government that want war. and bringing in a government/system that will make things better 'the anarchists are buzzing like bees around a hive, as protesters hit the streets with signs, signs, signs' firstly, I think the hive represents a ballot station. the second part of this line is pretty self explanatory. the fact that 'anarchists' are the least likely people you would expect to see voting represents the chaos and confusion that people face during elections. this also shows that, whatever your politics are, there are multiple ways to achieve some degree of change. 'dissent of the world, has filled us to the brim, but some will still cast their ballots based on those who live in sin' some people will just vote for more of the same, even though they have the choice to vote for change 'its unbelievable to watch the system crumble' some elections have huge potential to change things, its unbelievable, emphasises the fact that it can be a massive opportunity. 'this political shakedown, coming correct from the underground.. we've been cut up, we've been shut up, for far to long' this could be talking about young voters, who play a massive part in some elections. the underground is a reference to alternative media sources, having an influence. 'pull the feeding tube out of the mouth of democracy, televise it starving to death' this examines the possible outcome of elections, pulling the feeding tube out, could be a reference to the mass media who urge us to vote for more of the same. 'televise it' means that in the situation of a large change, the media would be forced to broadcast it, to comply with democratic regulations. 'once buried in the ground, we can all breath free' once the old system is thrown out, we can bring in a new one, that complements the people. 'policeman takes his gun to a head, just like he's beating a drum, news reporters dance like hell to the sound' this reflects protest and media coverage that generally follows an election. |
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| Rise Against – Midnight Hands Lyrics | 10 years ago |
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'Like a new day rising, like a calm before the storm' This lyric, implies that there is going to be a change in society, that is gradually gaining recognition 'like fog lifting from valleys, on a sleeping forest floor' the valleys are the vast towns and cities that we inhabit on a daily bases, the forest, being a place of life and beauty, is the type of society we can and will become when the fog (lies, deceit, corruption) lifts. This could also be a reference to environmental destruction. 'eyes open slowly, as the dust is shaken off' people are waking up, and seeing what is wrong with society. 'to gaze upon the wreckage that the midnight hands have bought' the word 'midnight hands' is meant to imply that we don't usually see corruption, and environmental destruction going on. gazing upon the wreckage shows that people are finally seeing the destruction that brutal systems such as capitalism, bring to society. 'I feel my temperature rising, my body explode' Anger/fear 'I feel like somebody's watching like I'm not alone'. wants to do something to change society but is scared of the consequences. 'whatever path you take, Wherever you might go, whenever you decide to leave I will follow' Has sworn his allegiance to someone/a group of people trying to change society. 'we face a crossroad never knowing what's in store' we face a moral duty to do what's right, but the lines are extremely blurred. etc. what a protester defines as right is not the same as what a government defines as right. 'there's an angel on my shoulder, there's a devil at my door' there are two conflicting viewpoints, telling him to take different paths. 'she proclaimed tonight will be the greatest of our lives' this sounds a lot like a revolutionary slogan, preaching protest or direct action. 'I said don't be so sure, lets just wait until the morning light' our narrator isn't sure whether this other characters attempts at change will be successful (second chorus) 'there in the clearing we gathered close' this is another nature reference, a few people on this comments section has suggested that this line could be a reference to eco-terrorism. I also think, that this could be a 1984 reference, In which two characters rebelling against big brother, meet in, the only secret place they can find, a clearing in the woods. 'Under the moons pale light we laid out the tools' while the government/capitalists are usually playing the 'midnight hands' by hiding their corruption, our protagonists now have to hide things from the government, hence the reference to night. the tools, are the instruments our protagonists are going to use to change society. 'now you don't have to do this, and I'd forgive you if you don't' Role reversal. our narrator has now become the person trying to lead the change in society. 'she just looked away and said, I know' other character no longer wants to be a part of the change in society. has adopted the same scared attitude, that our narrator had at the begging of song. our narrator now faces a dilemma between continuing to 'follow' the other characters decision, or asserting independence. to put it another way they have been 'gripped by the midnight hands' the antagonists have achieved their aim of making someone think that they cant achieve change 'we cradle futures they would prevent' while change is precious to some people, the midnight hands would prevent change. 'the lines crossed over' the midnight hands have done to much to worsen society, the line has been crossed. 'the dawn grows closer' change is growing closer 'lets bite off to much, lets jump with a blind trust, in water over our heads' while it may seem impossible to achieve change, it can be done the song ends with more cries of I will follow, showing that our central character has given in to the same sort of conformism, that he was against, the dark sound of the song could be warning the listener not to be like this. Another song on the same album says 'go on alone cause I wont follow, but this isn't giving up' showing that not conforming, is not a weak or bad thing to do. |
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