| Linkin Park – Guilty All The Same Lyrics | 10 years ago |
|
I’ll start out by saying this whole analysis is just my own interpretation of the song and doesn’t have to be true for everyone, so enjoy! The first section of the song, before the first chorus, talks about the way the younger and newer generation is always pressured by the older generation to live up to certain expectations. Whether it’s a child being told how to act by his parents, an employee being told what to do by his employer, a citizen being told what to do by his country. It’s all the same. The song starts out by these oppressed people sarcastically saying “tell us all again what you think we should be, what the answers are, what it is we should be”. Pretending like they need their oppressors help to get along in life. They are being surrounded by the pressures to “fall in line, How there is no other way”. Their being told lies by their fascist superiors saying there is only one way to act and think and to only do and say what they are told to do. Then the section ends with the oppressed people saying “but oh, we all know” showing that they can see beyond what they are being told and are now calling them out on it. Then when the main chorus comes in and talks about how no matter what reason reason is for people oppressing others, they are “guilty all the same”. They don’t care what they are doing and just try to blame the harm they are causing on anyone but themselves. The main chorus has a very accusing tone meant to call out the oppressors and controllers which really bring out the meaning in the song. The next section of the song reveals all the corruption and greed coming from religion. The verse starts out in the same sarcastic tone that the first section did to help exemplify what is trying to be said. The tone mocks the way many religious organizations try to intimidate people and their followers to gain control over them. This points out the flaws in saying such as “our hands our unclean” and “you have what we need”. Many religious organizations use these types of messages to scare people into giving them more money and power to feed their greed. The song also points out the constant trivial fighting over religions. Everyone thinks they are the one true religion and history shows they are willing to sacrifice and destroy anything to try and prove they are right. Then the song goes on to say in a threatening tone “you will know”. Telling these corrupt religious organizations that they will soon pay for what they have done. Then the chorus comes back to saying that all these leaders, no matter where they are from or what the believe, they are all guilty of the same crimes. Then in the next section Rakim starts to rap. This adds a great deal to the song as a whole. The first two thirds of the song are fast and heavy rock music. To have this followed up by a rap section in the middle and have it flow with the rest of the song greatly adds to the purpose and vibes the song gives the listener. Rakim uses the first part of his rap to talk about the corruption in the economy and big corporations. The system has been set up for the people in charge to keep wealthy on top. The system is built to lock out everyone else. these corporate leaders try to lie and say how their success is everyone else's and wealth is fairly accessible to everyone. The truth is “all they think about is bank accounts, assets and realty”. The people on top are willing to sacrifice anything to stay there and to earn more money “at anybody’s expense”. They are even willing to sacrifice the meanings and purposes their companies were built on to make an extra buck. “As soon as as the dough or the deal peak” they stop earning money. Then “they say it’s time for things to change”. The sacrifice their products “re-built cheap Anything if it’s more to gain”. In the second half of his rap, Rakim speaks about the corruption in the music industry, and specifically how the rap industry has fallen. They make contracts with good artists just to take all the profits and fame for themselves “until no more remains”. Authentic hip-hop and rock used to mean something and made a difference in the world. Then these companies took over and sucked all the meaning and passion from the artists. Trying to make everyone follow their rules and “try to force [them] to stay and obey”. The ‘popular’ music of today has been drained off all meaning and passion so it's basically white noise and “it's time for things to change”. Money, fame, a name, media and the game. These are all things that corrupt people. No matter which reason it is, they are “guilty all the same. The song ends with a heavy rock outro leaving the listener energized and with a message to think about. Greedy people are Guilty All The Same. |
|
* This information can be up to 15 minutes delayed.