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Quelle Surprise Lyrics
Analysis of the human race in 2011 AD
We've got the technology to move forward
We've got the knowledge and the means to build upstream
We've got the technology to go faster
We've got the passion and the talent to make this real
We're so fucking adaptable, controvertible
Ducking and weaving from the truth
If it adds weight to the content of our pockets
We'll sit and stagnate with banks and use rockets
To oversee that it's our bottom line
That gets carried to the high seas
Well, quelle fucking surprise
If you stand for nothing
You will fall for anything
For anything
For anything
If you stand for nothing
You will fall for anything
For anything
For anything
We're aware they're trying to take away our dreams
We're aware they're trying to take away our means
If you stand for nothing
You will fall for anything
For anything
For anything
If you stand for nothing
You will fall for anything
For anything
For anything
We're aware they're trying to take away our dreams
We're aware they're trying to take away our means
If you stand for nothing
If you stand for nothing
If you stand for nothing
You will fall for anything
We're so fucking adaptable, controvertible
Ducking and weaving from the tru...
If it adds weight to the content of our pockets
We'll sit and stagnate with banks and use...
To oversee that it's our bottom line
That gets carr...
Well, quelle fucking surprise
We're aware they're trying to take away our dreams
We're aware they're trying to take away our means
We're aware they're trying to take away our dreams
We're aware they're trying to take away our means
You are not gonna take away our dreams
You are not gonna take away our means
You are not gonna take away our dreams
You are not gonna take away our means
We've got the knowledge and the means to build upstream
We've got the technology to go faster
We've got the passion and the talent to make this real
Ducking and weaving from the truth
If it adds weight to the content of our pockets
We'll sit and stagnate with banks and use rockets
To oversee that it's our bottom line
That gets carried to the high seas
Well, quelle fucking surprise
You will fall for anything
For anything
For anything
You will fall for anything
For anything
For anything
We're aware they're trying to take away our means
You will fall for anything
For anything
For anything
You will fall for anything
For anything
For anything
We're aware they're trying to take away our means
If you stand for nothing
If you stand for nothing
You will fall for anything
Ducking and weaving from the tru...
If it adds weight to the content of our pockets
We'll sit and stagnate with banks and use...
To oversee that it's our bottom line
That gets carr...
Well, quelle fucking surprise
We're aware they're trying to take away our means
We're aware they're trying to take away our dreams
We're aware they're trying to take away our means
You are not gonna take away our means
You are not gonna take away our dreams
You are not gonna take away our means
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You forgot the beginning "Analysis of the human race in 2011 A.D."
I think we can take the first verse at face value - nothing in the lyrics or video seems to contradict the notion that Rou is providing an honest appraisal here of humanity's values, which are generally seen as positive in ES's songs.
The second verse, however, sees Rou sarcastically complimenting humanity on being 'so fucking adaptable' we can evade the truth, even when it's in our faces. "If it adds weight to the contents of our pockets, we'll sit and stagnate" - i.e. when times are seemingly good we're content not to look below the surface. The next part had me puzzling for a while, but I believe the actual meaning is something like this:
"If it adds weight to the contents of our pockets, we'll sit and stagnate with banks, and use rockets/to oversee that it's our bottom line that gets carried to the high seas".
Given the general left/anarchist leanings of ES I don't think we need to look too deeply into the reference to banks, except they're viewed as conservative institutions that exemplify 'stagnation'. I suspect the second part of this verse would make more sense (albeit you would lose a crucial half-rhyme) if the word 'overlook' were substituted for 'oversee' - even in British English, 'oversee' actually means to consciously watch and monitor while 'overlook' awkwardly means the opposite; to fail to notice. I suspect ES have the second meaning in mind - if you have to use rockets to get enough height to overlook something, you are going to extreme lengths to ignore its' existence. So:
"If it seems to serve our short-term interests, we'll let the good times roll and entrust our futures to conmen, doing absolutely everything we can to avoid recognising that ultimately we're being betrayed".
The title drop is a borrowed phrase (probably more common in British English) - although originally French for 'what a surprise', it is used in English with exactly the same pronounciation - 'surprees' (in the same way as 'hoi polloi', Classical Greek for 'the people'). Here the meaning is most likely 'you're in for a rude awakening'. If you ignore that your long-term interests are being undermined by stagnant institutions, you are going to have a nasty surprise.
Why in the second verse are the lyrics truncated? My original notion was that ES were leaving the lines short for concert use so the audience could pick them up - but in the video Rou is literally shown as choking on his own words (or possibly being attacked by an invisible opponent). I have seen at least one version of the lyrics where the final line reads "Where it's our bottom line that gets CUT" (a fishing line being cut extends the 'high seas' metaphor introduced earlier), which explains why the other lines are likewise cut short. Alternatively, Rou may just be acting out the human tendency to not want to look at or think about the consequences of inaction; in which case it'll be interesting to see how they play this live.
Further to my previous analysis, it's clear on re-watching that the lyrics are truncated because the shadowy figures (obviously representing the 'stagnant' institutions) are tugging on the rope around Rou's waist. Again, it'll be interesting to see whether in concert the lyrics are restored or whether they see the truncation as so significant they keep the effect in live performance.
Further to my previous analysis, it's clear on re-watching that the lyrics are truncated because the shadowy figures (obviously representing the 'stagnant' institutions) are tugging on the rope around Rou's waist. Again, it'll be interesting to see whether in concert the lyrics are restored or whether they see the truncation as so significant they keep the effect in live performance.
to your last paragraph, there is actually a live version of this song and Rou does cut the verses in mid-sentence as in original
to your last paragraph, there is actually a live version of this song and Rou does cut the verses in mid-sentence as in original
here you go: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DzdzkWdpAA
here you go: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DzdzkWdpAA