Picket Fence Cartel

we all become what we most dislike

i heard something like that before , it's said that you can change depending the way people see you , or what you use to fight against ..

'the dragon killer is a dragon too'.

i think this is my favorite because of the beginning

I think this song is about becoming the thing you set out in life to not become at all costs. I guess a better way to explain it, would be say, abusive fathers, who hit their children and wives. Well their Children often grow up, and have the same problems. Children raised with Alcoholic parents a lot of times have drinking problems in their adult life. As a kid, you say "I'm never going to lay a hand on my wife/kids" but then you just slip up and find yourself looking through your fathers eyes, doing just what he did. The same things you swore you wouldnt do. That's my take

i think the song is about religion, i've recently heard Cedric say he doesn't particularly like religion, and the song could be about how 'daddy'(higher power,God/or the church) how people are so repressed by religion and the thoughtsof salvation keep them essentially locked into a certain demographic

I like this song partly because, like most ATDI songs, the lyrics have such a rhtyhm to them that they are less words that stick out of the music than a part of the music itself. I also like this song because of the subject it deals with, child abuse. It refers to a father using his belt to discipline his children (an awful act to begin with), and an event that happened in front of classmates in elementary school. Unlike other current bands that discuss their miserable childhood in their music, ATDI doens't go the whiny route, asking people to pity their current actions for things that happened to them in the past. However, they do ask a darker question, will I become what I hated?

Dead on.

I really like this song but i think is one of the few songs that is not as deep. Most of the meaning is apparent on the surface. The really sad thing is all the nuances they bring up that are totally true and sad. Sweet song thought.

I'm thinking this song is about not being able to be who we wants as a child. "Picket Fence Cartel" meaning a house, surrounded by fences. "We all become what we most dislike", "Daddy taught well with the end of his belt" , he became forced into doing something he hated. Just my interpertation

fuzzyslippers, nothing against you, but everytime a song sounds like it is agressive/against authority/rebellious in general, there is someone saying it would be about religion.Really, I do not believe there are so many musicians out there having so many thoughts that are convertible into so many songs about mere religion.This At The Drive-In song is one of my favourites, actually-Cedric IS a great singer, and even if he'd be singing lullabys, I'd love them.;)

although yes, it could be interpreted as a song of child abuse, it is something of deeper meaning. "The Picket Fence Cartel" is referring to the army of fathers who want thier child to grow up to be a replica of them. The song speaks of the struggle for the child to find himself when all his father will let him be is a copy. The father reinforces this with the belt lashings that hold this child captive until it is his turn. and as bad as he wants to be different he doesnt know any other way which is what is being said in "scotch tape the volume of my mouth withold the expression that i wasn't allowed"