I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Paint the target
We don't need no evidence
Flood the market
We do it all in self defense
You're a smart kid
Never work without your gloves
If you're a smart kid
You'll stay the hell away from love
And if it comes to murder
Don't tell and we won't ask you how
You sleep at night when the lights go out
And you're all alone
With all the ghosts of lesser humans
Whose lives you've spilt to suit your own
Sit and think of
All the dollars and the cents
And your blue blood
You'll see it all makes perfect sense
Drink from this cup
A better life awaits us all
You're one of us
Remember conscience comes before the fall
Your actions all are justified
Your actions all are justified
And if it comes to murder
Don't tell and we won't ask you how
You sleep at night when the lights go out
And you're all alone
With all the ghosts of lesser humans
Whose lives you've spilt to suit your own
But don't we all bleed red blood?
Don't we all bleed red blood?
We don't need no evidence
Flood the market
We do it all in self defense
You're a smart kid
Never work without your gloves
If you're a smart kid
You'll stay the hell away from love
And if it comes to murder
Don't tell and we won't ask you how
You sleep at night when the lights go out
And you're all alone
With all the ghosts of lesser humans
Whose lives you've spilt to suit your own
Sit and think of
All the dollars and the cents
And your blue blood
You'll see it all makes perfect sense
Drink from this cup
A better life awaits us all
You're one of us
Remember conscience comes before the fall
Your actions all are justified
Your actions all are justified
And if it comes to murder
Don't tell and we won't ask you how
You sleep at night when the lights go out
And you're all alone
With all the ghosts of lesser humans
Whose lives you've spilt to suit your own
But don't we all bleed red blood?
Don't we all bleed red blood?
Lyrics submitted by ruben, edited by bino_espino, darkeyelewj
Don't Tell and We Won't Ask Lyrics as written by Edward Carrington Breckenridge Dustin Michael Kensrue
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
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I've been revisiting Thrice's music lately and wanted to read what people thought of this song's lyrics and share my thoughts.
I definitely don't think this song is about abortion. I think this song is about exploiting and killing people through economic means and for economic purposes. I think the time it was written definitely relates to oil and the Iraq war, especially in the first two lines of the song. The rest of the song focuses more on economic exploitation.
First some concepts to understand:
Painting a target:military ; using a laser to guide missiles. focusing lasers on a target is called painting a target.
Flooding a market is a reference to fixing prices by introducing too much of a particular product or service to a market.
Blue Blood: from wiki: Blue blood is an expression from the Spanish phrase "sangre azul", indicating nobility or noble descent. a reference to the wealthy and powerful.
The first verse is linking war and economics. it is comparing the Iraqi war, perceived as a war for oil to flooding the market and conquering people through financial means.
the wear your gloves part means don't get caught and the stay the hell away from love means desensitize yourself. If you have love for fellow humans you wouldn't be able to exploit them.
The chorus seems like it is again equating war to economic domination. If financial gain comes to murder it's something the perpetrators will have to deal with, but will try not to think about. They've exploited and ultimately killed people so they can enjoy a better life. I also think the don't ask, don't tell is another military reference that ties together economic and military warfare.
The second verse definitely reinforces the economic exploitation ideas. It talks of Dollars and cents(making money) and thinking about one's blue blood (economic elite) status. These luxuries and opulent lifestyles are ways to justify one's self and shut out the feelings that come with exploiting others. This second verse also talks of how drinking form the cup (of this lifestyle) and ignoring one's conscience can allow become comfortable with this lifestyle, mindset, and ultimately; exploiting others for financial gain.
In the end though everyone has to realize that they are all human. Being rich (blue blood) won't stop one from dying or bleeding red blood. It's condemning those who think their wealth and power allow them to exploit others.