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Divide And Conquer Lyrics
Well they divided up all the land
And we've got states and cities
Cities have their neighborhoods
And more subdivisions
There's countries divided by walls
Oceans and latitudes
And longitude, longing to find out
Just what they're missing
They're lots of area codes
And nine digit zip codes
Secret decoder ring codes
Arteries, shopping nodes
We'll invent some new computers
Link up the global village
And get AP, UPI, and Reuters
To tell everybody the news
We'll be one happy neighborhood
Spread out across the world
But who's going to stop that burglar
From breaking in my house
If he lives that far away
We'll be just like old friends
No means to your ends
The police state is to busy
And the neighborhood's getting out of hand
It's not about my politics
Something happened way too quick
A bunch of men who played it sick
They divide, conquer
It's all here before your eyes
Safety is a big disguise
That hides among the other lies
They divide, conquer
Well I expect I won't be heard
Because my silence is assured
Never a discouraging word
They divide and conquer
They divide and conquer
And we've got states and cities
Cities have their neighborhoods
And more subdivisions
Oceans and latitudes
And longitude, longing to find out
Just what they're missing
And nine digit zip codes
Secret decoder ring codes
Arteries, shopping nodes
Link up the global village
And get AP, UPI, and Reuters
To tell everybody the news
Spread out across the world
But who's going to stop that burglar
From breaking in my house
If he lives that far away
No means to your ends
The police state is to busy
And the neighborhood's getting out of hand
Something happened way too quick
A bunch of men who played it sick
They divide, conquer
Safety is a big disguise
That hides among the other lies
They divide, conquer
Because my silence is assured
Never a discouraging word
They divide and conquer
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This song is a very straightforward social critique. The issues this song deal still very relevant today. And this song fucking tears through everything in its path. Fast, loud, catchy. Flip Your Wig is an album full of great songs like this one.
Obviously about how technology can drive people apart. What I find most interesting is the reference to the internet.... in 1985! Bob and the boys must have been well familiar with usenet.
I agree with the last two posters.
Anyways, this song kind of gives me the same feeling lyrically as the song "Newest Industry" from Zen. A "things are getting out of hand because we're stupid" type feel.
Pretty much, this song owns because it's fast, tears through everything in its path, and I love the duet vocals at the end.
Missing a verse after "neighborhood's getting out of hand"...
Big brother on every wall Muzak plays in every hall As I see the rise and fall They divide, conquer
Blistering song, one of my Hüsker Dü faves.
I used to listen to the live version from Living End too many times in a row. I absolutely love that version.
The lyrics are quite brilliant, in my opinion.
This song could be about a lot of things, but I think the main gyst is that The Man & the Media love to fan the flames of wedge issues and turn the public against each other, which serves to keep The Man in power and the sensationalism means more viewers/readers which means more ad dollars for the Media.