Express reality was burning
Those who make us take it forward
It's not different languages full of riches
To reveal what's real and concrete
His connection
His true life, the spirit
Beware the swan
Takes a will to create
Reality has been diverted
Unscrupulously manipulated
Unbridled exercise of power
The fascist urge to control all--
from what we think to our intimacy
Our bodies turn to commodities
Hypocrisy of our time
So in love with freedom
Who really wants it dead
Yes, I object to be made an object
No sight for your infliction of power
Hypocrisy of our time
So in love with freedom
Who really wants it dead
We treat our bodies like machines,
Fascism winning
We treat our bodies like machines,
Fascism winning
__
I had to submit my interpretation because the line "Yes, I object to be made an object" is so subversive and cool to me. I am not totally sure about some of the other lines, but I find this version much more satisfying. I can't make much sense of the first verse, but it seems like a much more indirect version of the verse from "Reality" to "commodities," which is a pretty rad and straightforward piece of writing. It makes the exact connection between the maintenance of power (the state, the empire, civilization, the white man...) and the control of our thoughts and intimacy. However, if the lyric "Beware the Swan" is correct, it might make sense because the common cultural association with swans is their muteness. In the context of this song, being quiet and not objecting to being commodified is warned against as "fascism winning." Also, according to my wikipedia research, "In the United Kingdom there is a popular belief that all swans are the property of the Queen." Or perhaps this was either a presage or a response, depending on when this was written, to the infamous Bjork swan dress.
@lovetoseeyou
You hit it on the nail. 'Who really wants it dead ?' That makes more sense, I mean who would want freedom dead besides paranoid totalitarian 3rd world dictators. I hear 'swamp' sometimes instead of 'swan' but swan makes more sense given your reasons. But I have trouble with the "His connection/His true life, the spirit" Knowing the context of the themes in the song, I think she is saying "This connection/ this true life.." If it is a 'he' and his connnection then who is he?
@lovetoseeyou
You hit it on the nail. 'Who really wants it dead ?' That makes more sense, I mean who would want freedom dead besides paranoid totalitarian 3rd world dictators. I hear 'swamp' sometimes instead of 'swan' but swan makes more sense given your reasons. But I have trouble with the "His connection/His true life, the spirit" Knowing the context of the themes in the song, I think she is saying "This connection/ this true life.." If it is a 'he' and his connnection then who is he?
Express reality was burning Those who make us take it forward It's not different languages full of riches To reveal what's real and concrete His connection His true life, the spirit Beware the swan Takes a will to create
Reality has been diverted Unscrupulously manipulated Unbridled exercise of power The fascist urge to control all-- from what we think to our intimacy Our bodies turn to commodities
Hypocrisy of our time So in love with freedom Who really wants it dead
Yes, I object to be made an object No sight for your infliction of power
Hypocrisy of our time So in love with freedom Who really wants it dead
We treat our bodies like machines, Fascism winning We treat our bodies like machines, Fascism winning
__
I had to submit my interpretation because the line "Yes, I object to be made an object" is so subversive and cool to me. I am not totally sure about some of the other lines, but I find this version much more satisfying. I can't make much sense of the first verse, but it seems like a much more indirect version of the verse from "Reality" to "commodities," which is a pretty rad and straightforward piece of writing. It makes the exact connection between the maintenance of power (the state, the empire, civilization, the white man...) and the control of our thoughts and intimacy. However, if the lyric "Beware the Swan" is correct, it might make sense because the common cultural association with swans is their muteness. In the context of this song, being quiet and not objecting to being commodified is warned against as "fascism winning." Also, according to my wikipedia research, "In the United Kingdom there is a popular belief that all swans are the property of the Queen." Or perhaps this was either a presage or a response, depending on when this was written, to the infamous Bjork swan dress.
@lovetoseeyou You hit it on the nail. 'Who really wants it dead ?' That makes more sense, I mean who would want freedom dead besides paranoid totalitarian 3rd world dictators. I hear 'swamp' sometimes instead of 'swan' but swan makes more sense given your reasons. But I have trouble with the "His connection/His true life, the spirit" Knowing the context of the themes in the song, I think she is saying "This connection/ this true life.." If it is a 'he' and his connnection then who is he?
@lovetoseeyou You hit it on the nail. 'Who really wants it dead ?' That makes more sense, I mean who would want freedom dead besides paranoid totalitarian 3rd world dictators. I hear 'swamp' sometimes instead of 'swan' but swan makes more sense given your reasons. But I have trouble with the "His connection/His true life, the spirit" Knowing the context of the themes in the song, I think she is saying "This connection/ this true life.." If it is a 'he' and his connnection then who is he?