################## ACTUAL MEANING ###################
Okay, I've had an actual, well-reasoned insight into what this song may signify. I have a lot of faith in Shikari not to produce such meaningless, generic drivel as it being about 'the environment' or 'how we are destroying the world, and the juggernaut is mankind, as we tear up what we inherited' or other such bullcrap. That doesn't fit the lyrics at all. The idea of it being about capitalism has a bit more weight - especially what EssenceInTheHeart says about maybe hearing that Shikari said it was about plans to open a Tesco in their home town. To be honest I think its more likely that than my idea - look at the lyrics, it fits. And I can certainly identify with that, Tesco are rediculous invaders.
But my view is that it's about immigration. Any Brit will know that this is a VERY current issue close to our hearts. Let's look at the lyrics:
The stuff about 'time' and 'being invincible' refers (possibly) to the fact that we're putting off the inevitable of closing our borders, as they later call for in the song.
Now the verse, see this in the context of an immigrant from a different culture, maybe one who doesn't necessarily appreciate what is being given to him/her in terms of provisions and opportunities. I'll not spell each line out. Most of them fit this idea very well.
"Back in the day as empires made haste
To colonize, to claim, to control and contain.
We sat patiently in the future, helpless."
Quite what they're saying here I'm not sure, there are a few possibilities eg. we forged our international borders back in the days of conquest, and now we have to look back helplessly on how they were drawn up inequitably with some countries rich and some poor. We can't change that now. Or it could be about the colonization of cultural immigration.
The idea of "We'll do what we've always done? Shut our eyes and hope for the best?" is very in keeping with politicans' inability do even properly discuss the issue.
As for the juggernauts themselves, they're the lorries that many many immigrants stow away in. Also they're a metaphor for them coming in droves, but the lorries are where the idea comes from. 'Thou shalt not pass!' sums up the band's view on what should be done for these groups of immigrants.
Well that's my interpretation - I'm sure if they wanted to make a song about capitalism or the environment they'd do a much better, less ambiguous job than that - it's definately not about the latter.
(Note: my own views on immigration are distinctly undecided - though I do not agree with the band as I interpret them.)
################## ACTUAL MEANING ###################
Okay, I've had an actual, well-reasoned insight into what this song may signify. I have a lot of faith in Shikari not to produce such meaningless, generic drivel as it being about 'the environment' or 'how we are destroying the world, and the juggernaut is mankind, as we tear up what we inherited' or other such bullcrap. That doesn't fit the lyrics at all. The idea of it being about capitalism has a bit more weight - especially what EssenceInTheHeart says about maybe hearing that Shikari said it was about plans to open a Tesco in their home town. To be honest I think its more likely that than my idea - look at the lyrics, it fits. And I can certainly identify with that, Tesco are rediculous invaders.
But my view is that it's about immigration. Any Brit will know that this is a VERY current issue close to our hearts. Let's look at the lyrics:
The stuff about 'time' and 'being invincible' refers (possibly) to the fact that we're putting off the inevitable of closing our borders, as they later call for in the song.
Now the verse, see this in the context of an immigrant from a different culture, maybe one who doesn't necessarily appreciate what is being given to him/her in terms of provisions and opportunities. I'll not spell each line out. Most of them fit this idea very well.
"Back in the day as empires made haste To colonize, to claim, to control and contain. We sat patiently in the future, helpless."
Quite what they're saying here I'm not sure, there are a few possibilities eg. we forged our international borders back in the days of conquest, and now we have to look back helplessly on how they were drawn up inequitably with some countries rich and some poor. We can't change that now. Or it could be about the colonization of cultural immigration.
The idea of "We'll do what we've always done? Shut our eyes and hope for the best?" is very in keeping with politicans' inability do even properly discuss the issue.
As for the juggernauts themselves, they're the lorries that many many immigrants stow away in. Also they're a metaphor for them coming in droves, but the lorries are where the idea comes from. 'Thou shalt not pass!' sums up the band's view on what should be done for these groups of immigrants.
Well that's my interpretation - I'm sure if they wanted to make a song about capitalism or the environment they'd do a much better, less ambiguous job than that - it's definately not about the latter.
(Note: my own views on immigration are distinctly undecided - though I do not agree with the band as I interpret them.)