Army Ants

I reckon it's something along the lines of bullying.

This song to me is as amazing today in 2018 as it was in 1994. Everyone in this divisive political world on both sides need to listen to this song and these amazing lyrics. So simple, yet so profound. "I got a heart, I got blood, feel pain." I'm human, just like you. I got a heart, I got blood, I feel pain, just like you and everyone else. It doesn't matter what color I am, what religion I believe in "you can't deal with the way I pray". "Why do we all have to think this way?" He is a person who lives his life on his terms. Why can't you (people in society) just accept that this is how I live my life? You all can go fall into those single file lines and keep marching in line like army ants and complete the plan... live the way "they" want you to live...in a box, marching in single file lines. He thinks outside the box, doesn't pay attention to all the garbage advertisements on tv and in the media. He is a free thinker. He doesn't want to behave according to the socially acceptable standards of the day. Just look up the definition of the word "CONFORM". I think this song is exactly about nonconformity. It's also about TOLERANCE and UNITY and HATRED, all prevailing themes in our society today. We are all human. We all have different beliefs and we need to stop all the hatred and just listen to each other more. And say, OK, that's your opinion and I RESPECT it, I just happen to have a different opinion.

as far as i can see, this song is about a couple of things.

first off, it could be about weiland's disgust with the media making a big deal of his personal life, according to the first verse. he's saying he's only human, and do something better with your time

the refrain is most likely about drugs, seeing as drugs have a tendency to shorten life "time is not on my side/cause the way i am"

the last part is a double meaning that sums up the song beautifully. theres is definitely the reference to people as 'army ants' who follow everyone else and 'complete the as-of-yet-unnamed plan'. also, there is the desperation in weiland to go back to drugs, and the "lines of ants" can be seen as a drug reference, either lines of cocaine or herion tracks or whatever

i think this is about how common society hates and rejects everything that they dont like or what is different such as religion(you cant deal with the way i pray),sexuality(gotta find the reason why a woman ain't a man),or lifestyle.They dont actually look at the person but only at how they live so they persecute them for being themselves(You don't look but you kick me you can't feel but you hit me).EVerything is always hard for those that are different (time is not on my side,because the way i am) because they dont "fall in those single file lines like army ants"

This is a good, good song on a good, good album by a good, good band.

Ciyaak Boy got it. And this is an excellent song, yes.

congratulations ciyaak boy, you summed up the song and how i feel.

totally agree with ciyaak boy. and this is a great song!

I would like to see wut Ciyaak boy says about other lyrics to STP cuz hes absolutely rite

I was going to say exactly what Ciyaak Boy said. I think that's exactly what the song means.