The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Blank stares from broken men
So withered from the poisons they can't remember when
There were once honest reasons
It's all a lie, it died 100,000 miles ago
Pretending I'm still here
Justify what I've become
Sanctify what I've become
Amazing disgrace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me
Better lost if this is found, best blinded never to see
The race to save face, nothing now is what we meant it to be
Pretending I'm still here
It's a system now, intertwined
Take your place in the line to be ground by the gears of the masterpiece
Betrayal
Justify what I've become
Sanctify what I've become
Suffered consequence
It's been so long since
Any piece of this
Made any kind of sense
You anoint the king,
I'll burn everything
Down to ashes
You giveth, I taketh away
You giveth, I taketh away
It's a system now, intertwined
Take your place in the line to be ground by the gears of the masterpiece.
Betrayal
So withered from the poisons they can't remember when
There were once honest reasons
It's all a lie, it died 100,000 miles ago
Pretending I'm still here
Justify what I've become
Sanctify what I've become
Amazing disgrace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me
Better lost if this is found, best blinded never to see
The race to save face, nothing now is what we meant it to be
Pretending I'm still here
It's a system now, intertwined
Take your place in the line to be ground by the gears of the masterpiece
Betrayal
Justify what I've become
Sanctify what I've become
Suffered consequence
It's been so long since
Any piece of this
Made any kind of sense
You anoint the king,
I'll burn everything
Down to ashes
You giveth, I taketh away
You giveth, I taketh away
It's a system now, intertwined
Take your place in the line to be ground by the gears of the masterpiece.
Betrayal
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Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
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Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
I personally think this is about war in a more general sense. I believe the Iraq war is part of this song but it is commenting on some parts of war that have repeated themselves throughout history.
The first three lines talking about men, most likely soldiers, who are now worn down and following orders but without much thought involved (noted from the "blank stares"). This song is also talking about how a war is going on without an "honest reason" (which points to the fact this song definitely could relate to the Iraq war in some people's minds).
The next few lines are continuing to talk about how the war or wars going on are meaningless and the soldiers have changed roles. Originally supposed to be liberators or heroes they now have become pawns for a higher power who doesn't have honest intentions and they want to understand or "justify" what they've become, which is tools for a leader. (Sanctify what I've become, Justify what I've become).
Next the song talks about how these malicious intentions are trying to be hidden (a race to save face). Also in this line it talks about how the war has gotten out of hand and transformed from a heroic salvation to an oppression of the weak (nothing now is what it was meant to be).
Next, the song is commenting on how soldiers are once again merely instruments of destruction for a dictatorial leader to use for his own benefit and that they will be sacrificed for their mission. This mission is supposed to be some kind of "greater good" but from the tone of the song it sounds like a deception made by the leader for positive reputation.(Take your place in line to be ground by the gears of the masterpiece)
Finally the song repeats a few lines and says "you anoint the king, I'll burn everything else to ashes" which is emphasizing this point that the King or leader is just destroying everything around him for his own personal gain while keeping his own extravagance.
So this song could be about the Iraq war (since many view it as meaningless) or many other wars over the course of history with the same issue of a leader with not so heroic intentions.
But this is just my opinion and I'm probably wrong about most of it but with the vagueness of their lyrics you can get a lot of different meanings out of a Lamb of God song.