Generation Lost Lyrics

Lyric discussion by AyanTrebik 

Cover art for Generation Lost lyrics by Rise Against

musical pyro: I am on the exact same page as you

essentially, i think this is a cry for the government to pay attention to the underprivileged, and a justification for their state of living. It's a cry for action: the government knows its there but wants to "pretend you don't exist, maybe just for ten more minutes"

"Getting trampled under boots of progess Ignore the pleading of the nameless faces Now with our backs against the wall How long til we fall? Do away with all the underprivileged

their demographic doesn't fit your image Turn your blind eye when duty calls How long til we fall?" (line by line analysis) Small businesses are completely wiped out by huge companies around the world The government of course lets them suffer because the large businesses are a huge asset to the economy People are pushed to the edge with their income, and its only a matter of time before they have to file bankruptcy or go homeless Again, the government doesn't care about them because they aren't the ones benefiting the economy: their demographic is pushed to the bottom of the food chain The government is aware of the growing problem, and knows the dire circumstances, but pretends not to notice

Many of the lines makes sense when put into a similar context

"Caring less about the homeless millions All the petty problems that go with them Reap the profit that reaps thier lives and Tell me that it's fine Throw them out and call it relocation Lower-income-housing quick solution A Generation lost"

Refers to for closure, perhaps

As for the "speech in the end"

I am convinced it takes on two view points

First: from the governments point of view:

"Now in the whirlwind of my life Is where you presently reside Can I pretend you don't exist Maybe just for ten more minutes?"

This homless issue is a "whirlind" in their political life, its a negative aspect As mentioned, they want to ignore the underprivileged

Second: from the homless point of view:

"My hearts been broken into two and rusted from years of disuse So will you place upon it your hands Will you help it beat again? It seems the whole world's turned on me (Bound and gagged) in the land of the free Let's talk this over, this game is over In with the new, out with the old Hearts of the world have grown so cold Let's talk this over, this game is over"

Their heart is broken because of the impossible situation they are faced with
their heart could be a metaphor for several things: a, emotions b, love I am inclined to think the narrator person as resorted to prostitution "years of disuse" next to lines: a plea to the government to help them it seems like everyone is frowning upon homeless people, people attribute a lack of home with insanity now it becomes clear that the whole thing is in the context of America, and the poverty there corporate America and money is all a game: and they have lost I am not sure what they are referencing... everyone has turned away from homeless people or anyone who is under privileged

My hearts been broken into two and rusted from years of disuse So will you place upon it your hands Will you help it beat again? It seems the whole world's turned on me (Bound and gagged) in the land of the free Let's talk this over, this game is over In with the new, out with the old Hearts of the world have grown so cold Let's talk this over, this game is over

Overall, its a criticism of the government/ all the people of America: ACTION MUST BE TAKEN. POVERTY SHOULD BE ENDED