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.
Foolin' on the human population
I know my mind's on the front line
But when I'm lovin' on the human population
Thank God my heart's playin' its part
One day, one day at a time
One day, one day at a time
Love is the birth of a nation
Born from the good womb of humankind
All these stories of creation
Came from the same flame of the most high
One song, one song at a time
One song, one song at a time
Fearing oh I'm sure gettin' better
With every morn a new fear is born
But when I'm trusting trusting trusting
Knowing that we're in it together
Free to face unknown, free to overcome
One day, one day at a time
One day, one day at a time
I know my mind's on the front line
But when I'm lovin' on the human population
Thank God my heart's playin' its part
One day, one day at a time
One day, one day at a time
Love is the birth of a nation
Born from the good womb of humankind
All these stories of creation
Came from the same flame of the most high
One song, one song at a time
One song, one song at a time
Fearing oh I'm sure gettin' better
With every morn a new fear is born
But when I'm trusting trusting trusting
Knowing that we're in it together
Free to face unknown, free to overcome
One day, one day at a time
One day, one day at a time
Lyrics submitted by MichelleBerger
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Hayalperest
Hayalperest
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,
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
After watching the video I was quite intrigued as to the meaning of this.. so let's see.
It seems to relate to the general themes of religion and love 'one step at a time'. On the other hand the title is foolin', specifically 'on the human population'. So putting these together I'm guessing it's about having faith in religion, love and humanity, while the very same faith and religion is used for creating fear and the opposite of love, 'Fearing oh I'm sure gettin' better; With every morn a new fear is born'.
While he continues to love, "trusting trusting trusting Knowing that we're in it together Free to face unknown, free to overcome" he's conflicted by others who are "foolin'" the population by negatively interpreting religion, which causes him to fear he's also foolin others. In the end, he still has hope and continues to have faith.
While watching the video he reminded me of Jesus, with the flagellation, lack of clothing, skinnyness.. haha and at the beginning when the man opens the door saying "Do you?", Devendra answers by opening his jacket a little to reveal the tattoo on his chest reading 'FE' which means faith in spanish. Therefore, he begins the video by saying he has faith.
Maybe a greater theme/message to the song/video is to stay positive a day at a time, and to do good with what you know- even if others aren't.
Although... he deliberately knocked on the door, so maybe he was aware of what would come but wanted to go through it to learn more through experience? Harder experiences and life situations can lead to the most growth.
"Harder experiences and life situations can lead to the most growth." That's not necessarily true. When the results are what we want (we as in humans), we see no reason to change/grow. We are getting what we want/need so there's no reason to up the anty, so to speak...why fix it if it ain't broke, as the saying goes. Not sure why you "ha ha"ed about Jesus and the flagellation; I'm thinkin' lightning might strike you today:-)
All these stories of creation Came from the same flame of the most high
This makes so much sense after I watched that documentary on an ancient civilization that took this hallucinogenic drug and thought they were seeing something like the afterlife with all its holy attributes. Damn religion. I knew its foundation had to have come from someone getting very, very high.
(Jk, don't get mad. :P)
One of his best lyrical work i think.. simple yet very poetic catchy as hell too
wonderful
awesome song, can make a safe bet and say this song is all about looooove! and such a poetic song too! adore it!
How is it about love? And what does foolin' on the human population mean?<br /> i think it is about beeing in this world
Hey folks,
so I was doing some research on ancient Ethiopian history and fell over an very rare discription of an old African Tribe, the so-called "Timara-Luo. The Timara-Luo were spiritualising most of nature and one of there main gods was called "Fee".
It´s told that the rastafarians, who formed there philosophy/religion together from all kinds of influences, but especially african myths and spirituality, have created there picture of Jah as an interpretation of the old Timara-Luo god Fee.
Well, it makes sence that Devendra knows about the connection of Fee and Jah since he also talks about "the most high" which in reggae song, typically means Jah. Also the song is a reggae song.
This leads me to the conclusion which is:
This songs is a parody of all the modern homophobic pseudo-reggae artist, who claim to sing about peace and love, but don´t really know there history:)