I think people take this song the wrong way. People assume that he's distracted and made complacent by his "toys". That since he doesn't know how to read or live then he's fucked. It's the opposite. He's rallying against conformity.
He's disapointed by what the world (or America) has become, and he rejects the invitation to conform ("Symbolized bar code, quick ID"). He rejects attempts to tell him how to live properly ("I can't explain it, the things they're saying to me,
It's going yayayayayayaya").
He slams his parents as being lazy and ineffectual, it could be to explain his rebellion, show that they didn't have the power to stop him.
He a 21st Century digital boy. He's part of the new generation of malcontents. He doesn't know how to live or read, but he's got a lot of "toys" (instruments, maybe) that will help him get by.
"I tried tell you about no control,
But now I really don't know,
And then you told me how bad you had to suffer,
Is that really all you have to offer? "
"No Control" and "Suffer" are the two Bad Religion albums that were released before this this album (Against the Grain). Nobody seems to pick up on that.
I think people take this song the wrong way. People assume that he's distracted and made complacent by his "toys". That since he doesn't know how to read or live then he's fucked. It's the opposite. He's rallying against conformity.
He's disapointed by what the world (or America) has become, and he rejects the invitation to conform ("Symbolized bar code, quick ID"). He rejects attempts to tell him how to live properly ("I can't explain it, the things they're saying to me, It's going yayayayayayaya").
He slams his parents as being lazy and ineffectual, it could be to explain his rebellion, show that they didn't have the power to stop him.
He a 21st Century digital boy. He's part of the new generation of malcontents. He doesn't know how to live or read, but he's got a lot of "toys" (instruments, maybe) that will help him get by.
"I tried tell you about no control, But now I really don't know, And then you told me how bad you had to suffer, Is that really all you have to offer? "
"No Control" and "Suffer" are the two Bad Religion albums that were released before this this album (Against the Grain). Nobody seems to pick up on that.
Ditto! Rated +
Ditto! Rated +