Lyric discussion by benj30a4 

Cover art for Empire lyrics by Queensrÿche

This song is simple, IMHO. It delineates how our country is turning to shit, yet we pump billions upon billions upon billions of dollars into other countries so that our oil companies can make their billions of dollars in net profit every quarter.

With our ridiculous expenditures on national "defense" and the neglect of our own law enforcement, gang activity, violent crime etc. is going to keep on increasing. My city, for example, is always voting for an increase in law enforcement funding, to combat the perpetually-increasing violent crime rate in this shithole. It is simply insufficient.

A guy I know abcsonded parole, and the FBI caught him on a train 2,000 miles away, and hauled him in. Where the fvck is the effort/resources to catch actual dangers to society? Police departments depend on frivolous citations and fines to pay their own salaries, that's it. They don't really care about real crime, unless something falls into their lap. Or they don't have the resources to fight it fully.

Song Meaning

@benj30a4 this aged well brother. We're short 25% police in Minneapolis right now. FBI is busy working as a political stunt group. Local city and state officials only care about elections.

And no one wants to be a cop anymore.... and the city is destroying itself.