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.
Drug boy steady shootin'
The streets don't give a damn
They're filled with such pollution
The kids don't stand a chance
We're trapped inside the matrix
Forced to play our hand
We're filled with so much hatred
The kids don't stand a chance
I said the kids don't
The kids don't stand
The kids don't stand a chance
I said the kids don't
The kids don't stand
The kids don't stand a chance
Now, since I was planted at birth
I abandoned my own planet and I landed on Earth
As a kid I never understood what I observed
Some of it was strange but most of it disturbing
Always in detention for the lack of my attention
You can call it deficit, really I just didn't listen
And I was always missin', the teacher's like, "Where is Bobby Simmons?"
But trying to get a record deal was all I can remember
It's funny, 'cause looking back on the past that I had,
On my days in the streets trying to prove that I was bad
I still elevated to the level that I'm at
(Still elevated to the level that I'm at)
Drug boy steady shootin'
The streets don't give a damn
They're filled with such pollution
The kids don't stand a chance
We're trapped inside the matrix
Forced to play our hand
We're filled with so much hatred
The kids don't stand a chance
I said the kids don't
The kids don't stand
The kids don't stand a chance
I said the kids don't
The kids don't stand
The kids don't stand a chance
Sometimes it's hard to grow
While living in fear of the unknown
How can he ever give love
When no love is in his heart?
A child can barely sleep at night
Too worried about tomorrow
And what it beholds, he drowns out
Deep down in his sorrows
Will you run or will you shine your light?
Tell a story of live and try?
See it when we're giving hope
That we know that we can grow
Drug boy steady shootin'
The streets don't give a damn
They're filled with such pollution
The kids don't stand a chance
We're trapped inside the matrix
Forced to play our hand
We're filled with so much hatred
The kids don't stand a chance
I said the kids don't
The kids don't stand
The kids don't stand a chance
I said the kids don't
The kids don't stand
The kids don't stand a chance
The streets don't give a damn
They're filled with such pollution
The kids don't stand a chance
We're trapped inside the matrix
Forced to play our hand
We're filled with so much hatred
The kids don't stand a chance
I said the kids don't
The kids don't stand
The kids don't stand a chance
I said the kids don't
The kids don't stand
The kids don't stand a chance
Now, since I was planted at birth
I abandoned my own planet and I landed on Earth
As a kid I never understood what I observed
Some of it was strange but most of it disturbing
Always in detention for the lack of my attention
You can call it deficit, really I just didn't listen
And I was always missin', the teacher's like, "Where is Bobby Simmons?"
But trying to get a record deal was all I can remember
It's funny, 'cause looking back on the past that I had,
On my days in the streets trying to prove that I was bad
I still elevated to the level that I'm at
(Still elevated to the level that I'm at)
Drug boy steady shootin'
The streets don't give a damn
They're filled with such pollution
The kids don't stand a chance
We're trapped inside the matrix
Forced to play our hand
We're filled with so much hatred
The kids don't stand a chance
I said the kids don't
The kids don't stand
The kids don't stand a chance
I said the kids don't
The kids don't stand
The kids don't stand a chance
Sometimes it's hard to grow
While living in fear of the unknown
How can he ever give love
When no love is in his heart?
A child can barely sleep at night
Too worried about tomorrow
And what it beholds, he drowns out
Deep down in his sorrows
Will you run or will you shine your light?
Tell a story of live and try?
See it when we're giving hope
That we know that we can grow
Drug boy steady shootin'
The streets don't give a damn
They're filled with such pollution
The kids don't stand a chance
We're trapped inside the matrix
Forced to play our hand
We're filled with so much hatred
The kids don't stand a chance
I said the kids don't
The kids don't stand
The kids don't stand a chance
I said the kids don't
The kids don't stand
The kids don't stand a chance
Lyrics submitted by whybother737
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More Featured Meanings
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
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.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
So compelling to me that these two lines are right after eachother in the song..
"As a kid I never understood what I observed, Some of it was strange but most of it disturbing"
"Always in detention for the lack of my attention, You can call it deficit, really I just didn't listen"
In one sense he is saying he never fully grasped all the shit going on around him while growing up, but on the other hand he says ya i was fully aware of what was going on but i just let them call it whatever they wanted to. Allowing society to label him as they pleased but he never cared because all he cared about was trying to survive. Point is, kids are much smarter and aware than people give them credit for and until we give them their individuality and push them to strive at their passions, the kids dont stand a chance.
I think this song is to do with how we are to blame for the horrific lives of the younger generation, that this destruction of the planet (pollution) and violence in the streets that we are getting the younger generation to worry about is really our fault. They don't stand a chance to fix this problem, or live their lives worry free. That their rebellion (to show that they are 'bad') is because of their mentors (older generation) and that they're 'trapped inside the matrix' and won't ever get out. This song and lyrics means so much to me, love it.
I think he's putting the back on the current generation, rather than just accepting that everything's fucked up and focusing on having the children being the future generation who will fix everything. He's saying we have to set the example and show the love to our children so that they can show love in the future. If we don't change anything NOW, we're trapping our children in a never ending cycle.
"We're trapped inside the matrix forced to play our hand" That's my favorite line, but I think it's almost satirical because he's saying that's not excuse. It's make sense in combination with Airplanes pt. II, where Eminem's talking about how you can't just sit in your circumstances and hope for change, you have to make a move.
"Be the change you wish to see." I think you're spot on with the need to grow and nurture love rather than hatred and the metaphorical imagery of "pollution" for our children and humanity itself. Awesome song with a meaningful message.
His own twist on Vampire Weekend's "The Kids Don't Stand a Chance" i'm guessing. diggin' it though.