Facet Squared

Again, I'm gonna agree with Szorko here, but on a more specific level: not that patriotism is fucked up, that it is fucked up to represent a very individualistic idea with one symbol, a flag, worse yet, in a country that doesn't entirely give all it's citizens equality.

it sounds like an overly complicated analysis of the music "scene"...lines like "irony is the refuge of the educated" certainly point in that direction.

either way, there are some great lines in this song.

lyrically, this is my favourite song of all time. it's about how fucked patriotism and nationalism is.

the bit in the middle about irony and cool i think is about the complacency of people who know better, when they could address one of the worst problems of human history

recently named favorite on my list after viewing such truthfull videos as "Loose Change","Who Killed John O'Neill" and "Terrorstorm".Yahushua loves you!

anyone know what the line "they should never... ...touch the ground" refers to?

Is it just saying that they have their "head in the clouds"?

I am nearly 100% certain that the line "they should never... ...touch the ground" is a play on the idea that (at least in America) flags should never touch the ground; however I think Ian means they should never be placed in the ground, or used as symbol to represent a particular region or group of people, as they are "such ugly things."

I think the overall tone of the song is just an assessment or observation on nationalism and the ignorance that accompanies it. Bloody brilliant opening track.

"Pride no longer has definition, Everybody wears it, it always fits" ... so obvious that when I talk to some people who have a lack of position on a issue or are faceless, they act strong and prideful, about almost nothing. It's a cheap disguise, and it fits on everyone, usually invoked by having little to no position. Their pride is emptiness.... "Irony is the refuge of the educated, Always complaining but they never quit, Cool's eternal, but it's always dated" ... Educated people know these issues yet ignore them, like me. Music fans as well hide their sorrows through ironic gestures or jokes. Like when they say "Good thing half my paycheck goes to rent, how else will the millionaire landlord pay off his Lambo?", stuff like that. The cool line is self-explanatory, everything has been cool at some point then it's old.... "It's not worth, it's the investment, That keeps us tied up in all these strings" ... I think about how my friend keeps on after this girl who doesn't like him at all, yet he pursues simply because of the amount of time and devotion he has sunk in. Sunk-Cost Fallacy basically. WE keep things even if they have NO worth because of the effort we put into them. I also think about digging holes, and how to get out of one, you have to first stop digging.... "We draw lines and stand behind them, That's why flags are such ugly things" .... Patriotism, perhaps the theme of this song and Fugazi's catalogue, is what encompasses division, tension, instability, racism, etc. It's evil and hateful. They follow this with the chorus: "That they should never, Touch the ground" .... A play on words here, as flags should never touch the ground or else it has been disrespected and must be burnt. Yet, touching the ground could mean many things. Throwing down the gauntlet and starting a fight. Taking seriously or affecting people like saying that when the flag touches the ground it affects people when it shouldn't, aka being "grounded" in reality rather than staying in the clouds. Perhaps the band is being ironic and joking that despite the evil flags cause we devote too much respect to them. It leaves much room for dwelling.