2 Meanings
Add Yours
Follow
Share
Q&A
System... Lyrics
There was a house in a field on the side of a cliff
And the waves crashing below were just said to be a myth
So they ignored the warnings from the ships in the docks
Now the house on the cliff is the wreckage on the rocks
There was a house in a field on the side of a cliff
And the waves crashing below were just said to be a myth
So they ignored the warnings from the ships in the docks
Now the house on the cliff is the wreckage on the rocks
Nothing could fix the building's flawed foundation
The scaffolding and stilts were the laws and legislation
This house was doomed, but they didn't care
They'd invested in the system that was beyond repair
When I was little
I dressed up as an astronaut and explored outer-space
I dressed up as a superhero and ran about the place
I dressed up as a fireman and rescued those in need
I dressed up as a doctor and cured every disease
It was crystal clear to me back then that the only problems that I could face
Would be the same problems that affect us all
But of course this sense of common existence
Was sucked out of me in an instance
As though from birth I could walk but I was forced to crawl
So this such an exciting time to be alive
Our generation's got to fight to survive
It's in your hands now, whose future?
Our future, our future
And the waves crashing below were just said to be a myth
So they ignored the warnings from the ships in the docks
Now the house on the cliff is the wreckage on the rocks
And the waves crashing below were just said to be a myth
So they ignored the warnings from the ships in the docks
Now the house on the cliff is the wreckage on the rocks
The scaffolding and stilts were the laws and legislation
This house was doomed, but they didn't care
They'd invested in the system that was beyond repair
I dressed up as an astronaut and explored outer-space
I dressed up as a superhero and ran about the place
I dressed up as a fireman and rescued those in need
I dressed up as a doctor and cured every disease
Would be the same problems that affect us all
But of course this sense of common existence
Was sucked out of me in an instance
As though from birth I could walk but I was forced to crawl
Our generation's got to fight to survive
It's in your hands now, whose future?
Our future, our future
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
The initial part of the song seems to refer to the Global Financial Crisis- the house on he edge of the cliff being a metaphor for the risky lending strategies, and the waves being the impending crisis attacking the cliff, and bringing down with it the entire system. The ships are the institutions which could forsee the crisis, but were largely ignored.
Later on in the song, a mention of a child's imagination in persuing through play the careers which a child aspires to.
Ending on the note that fighting against the system is the way to ensure our lives can seek these exciting times.
Just a couple small mistakes: "Nothing can fix" is "Nothing could fix" "So this is such exciting times TO BE ALIVE" is "So this is such an exciting time to be alive" "There's still time" is "Whose future?"