Labyrinth

Probably my favourite KJ track, 'Labyrinth' opens with what sounds like a musical hammer blow and gets heavier from there on in. Lyrically, it's a perfect summation of alienation. It's one for those of us who have walked down the street, turned on the TV news or opened a newspaper, and thought; 'I'm on the wrong planet. This isn't my civilisation. These aren't my values.'

The chorus sees Jaz screaming for a way out of the nightmare of everyday existence.

Verse two is a straightforward castigation of organised religion, an encounter with a 'born again idiot' spouting dogma. The line 'get it all back' is repeated sneeringly towards the end of the track, shortly before the sound of someone throwing a chest of drawers off a cliff.

Verse three attacks higher education, a theme Jaz has visited at recent live gigs. He rails against the futility of the courses of Capitalism, the 'greed' degrees, the last line; 'a PHD in fuck you' always brings a smile to my face. Truly this man is a genius, and the band are the perfect foil for such undiluted, intelligent anger.

Its also a summation of what I think has happened in this decade. Culture, religion and education have gone through change but its not the sort of change you want to celebrate, more like a bitter after-taste or the process of digesting a shit sandwich.

This is my interpretation of Labyrinth:

Verse 1

Running through this maze cry at what i see A civilisation with values alien to me All the role models, lost souls, false gods that i am shown Ordeals that i pass through for purposes unknown? In the cul-de-sac turn back on my trade from the cul-de-sac

Its like being trapped inside a maze where human values have become so alien that all there is so called role models, lost souls, false gods, and finding out where are my values and where do I come from.

Chorus

Help try getting me out In a transient phase At the end of an age Running through this maze

A scream to get out the nightmare called the everyday world. Almost saying I want to get off this ride because its too much and I am going to vomit.

Verse 2

Some born again idiot tracks me down and i couldn't escape Trying to notch up points for his entrance fee to new jerusalem "Do you love the lord your god with all your dogma?" He said "you'll get it all back in the next life" Get it all back, get it all back

A middle finger to religion, mainly aimed at born again sycophants who go onto the streets spouting about Jesus and God and all that nonsense when a person wants to live their life. This part of verse 2 is really hilarious "Do you love the lord your god with all your dogma?", I think its saying to the born again sycophants even though you want your ticket to heaven, do you really love your god since your religion is based on lies.

Bridge

Mystery schools for the fools, great seats of learning Business, lawsuits, market forces no philosophy courses A bachelors degree in loopholes and a masters in self-interest Studies for automatons and syllabus two A city and guilds in extortion and a ph.d. in fuck you

A middle finger aimed at education, mainly higher education. In a ironic way, its mainly the rich children and heirs of corporations that get the best education while the small-town kids get to go to state funded schools for their education. There is a rally against the greed degrees and Capitalism and the fight for philosophy courses.