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Triumph Of The Will Lyrics
It was a thing I had to do
It was a message from below
It was a messy situation
It was desire for a girl
I'm not a wanker or a banker
I'm not afraid to take a risk
It is the thing females ask for
When they convey the opposite
* Before I die
Before I die
Before I die
I'll get another piece of pie
I'll get another piece of pie
I'll get another piece of pie
If I have to lie
It was a thing I had to do
It was a message from below
It was a messy situation
It was a triumph of the will
( * Repeat)
When the well cries out for water
It is a need that must be filled
It goes beyond the laws of nature
It takes a triumph of the will
It was a message from below
It was a messy situation
It was desire for a girl
I'm not afraid to take a risk
It is the thing females ask for
When they convey the opposite
* Before I die
Before I die
Before I die
I'll get another piece of pie
I'll get another piece of pie
I'll get another piece of pie
If I have to lie
It was a message from below
It was a messy situation
It was a triumph of the will
( * Repeat)
It is a need that must be filled
It goes beyond the laws of nature
It takes a triumph of the will
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I assume by "breaks a taboo" you mean rape? That's what I think. And obviously Devo are mocking him by comparing his "it's just nature" excuse to fascism.
"Triumph of the Will" is a famous Nazi propaganda film by Leni Riefenstahl. It's a good title though - I think Devo is seeing this grand-sounding fascist mission statement as given by a guy who's just trying to get laid.
This song is about a man who breaks a taboo in order to gain sexual intercourse. He didn't want to, knew it was wrong, but he HAD to do it, because the mating urge is too strong.
I don't know you, but I've always heard (wrong) "People are dying" instead of "Before I die". That would change a bit the meaning of the song, so would contribute to the dictatorial connotation, once the "I'll get another piece of pie" would mean indifference.
Where is all of this negative rape and taboo interpretation coming from? One of Devo's favorite topics in song has always been SEX. Period. NO rape, no taboo. Just a guy explaining he was receiving a message from below, (an Uncontrollable Urge, if you will) and had to act on it. As a matter of human necessity. And to get laid, most guys will agree it takes a triumph of the will. And I believe the chorus is not "Before I die" but "meat for a guy" which I think makes morte sense as an analogy...meat for a guy, get another piece of pie before I die. Obviously, the Reienschtal film title was co-opted because devo will seize on a lot of fascist-based concepts as a means to an end to help illustrate what their ultimately making a statement about. Observations, warnings, told ya so's. They are not suggesting or condoning rape.