Archives of Pain

Manic Street Preachers

If hospitals cure
Then prisons must bring their pain
Don't be ashamed to slaughter
The centre of humanity is cruelty
There is never redemption
Any fool can regret yesterday
Nail it to the House of Lords
You will be buried in the same box as a killer, as a killer, as a killer

A drained white body hanging from the gallows
Is more righteous than Hindley's crotchet lectures
Pain not penance, forget martyrs, remember victims
The weak die young and right now we crouch to make them strong

Kill Yeltsin, who's saying? Zhirinovsky, Le Pen
Hindley and Brady, Ireland, Allit, Sutcliffe
Dahmer, Nielson, Yoshinori Ueda
Blanche and Pickles, Amin, Milosovic
Give them respect they deserve
Give them the respect they deserve
Give them the respect they deserve
Give them the respect they deserve

Execution needed
A bloody vessel for your peace
If man makes death then death makes man
Tear the torso with horses and chains
Killers view themselves like they view the world
They pick at the holes
Not punish less, rise the pain
Sterilise rapists, all I preach is extinction

Kill Yeltsin, who's saying? Zhirinovsky, Le Pen
Hindley and Brady, Ireland, Allit, Sutcliffe
Dahmer, Nielson, Yoshinori Ueda
Blanche and Pickles, Amin, Milosovic
Give them respect they deserve
Give them the respect they deserve
Give them the respect they deserve
Give them the respect they deserve


Lyrics submitted by ShiverForMe, edited by Wild12e, willks08, FluffyBunny8

Archives of Pain Lyrics as written by Edwards Bradfield

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Archives of Pain song meanings
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57 Comments

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  • +4
    General Comment
    This song talks about the dualistic view the public has for serial killers and criminals. In particular, it attacks the public's fascination for these monsters, and then exhibits society getting a chance to direct their own murderous cruelty back at these criminals. It becomes a cycle of human nature rolling around in it's own shit.
    parkerdannielon April 24, 2013   Link
  • +3
    General Comment
    this song is so lovely. one of the darkest songs i know. why do ppl prefer the new stuff to this?
    the_prawnon September 05, 2002   Link
  • +2
    General Comment
    IT's about capital punishment and the glorification of serial killers
    Zed92ukon August 05, 2002   Link
  • +2
    General Comment
    This song is NOT pro-capital punishment. You'd have to ignore the fucking lyrics to think it is. Lyrics like "execution needed a bloody vessel for your peace" are satirical. You would have to be unaware of the whole sentiment of the band or just plain stupid to believe it is saying "kill murderers". these lyrics do not in any way suggest any kind of conservative veiws on "justice". Read the lyrics.
    jdbon January 02, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    no the opening quote was by a mother of one of the victims of the yorkshire ripper. The song's very an eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth etc... Well little englander the manics said they had a right to contradict themselves something they do a lot. Altho I'm sure they had some excuse for patrick batemen like it wasn't glorifying him but it was talking about society I dunno can't remember lol.
    MissDon August 30, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    Given Richey James' mental state at the time, I doubt he was being sarcastic - I think he was completely sincere. James DB admits on the 'Holy Bible' DVD that he found the perspective of the song baffling. He's intent on distancing himself from many of the songs, too. I think the essence of the whole album is reflective of a seriously disturbed mind. Which is troubling, because I really like it!
    richeyeon April 05, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    the opening quote is spoken by the mother of one of the victims of Jack the Ripper. If that makes sense...
    Little_Baby_Nothingon August 11, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    Correct me if I'm wrong, but recording technology didn't exist in 1888. One of 'Jack the Ripper's victims' indeed. The song is pro-capital punishment. As Zed92uk said, it's a reaction against the glorification of serial killers: something the Manics, ironically enough, participated in when they wrote 'Patrick Bateman'.
    little_englanderon August 19, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    The opening quote is from a TV drama, by the actress who played Barbara in The Royle Family. Also, instead of "Who's saying?" I always thought it was "Hussain".
    Songmeaningsuseron March 04, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    The song is about capital punishment "give them the respect they deserve" is ironic, meaning they deserve no respect and should be treated as such, and a reaction against serial killers
    Johnnoon April 10, 2003   Link

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