As usual, Emily Haines is the voice of Gen X. Several of Metric's songs are about being trapped in between two generations older and younger than us with the sense that we have no real control over the culture, and no culture of our own other than remix culture. (See: Dead Disco.)
This song is an expression of that depression. Emily tried to "make a stand" but only "made a scene." Nothing she did was meaningful. Nothing we do is meaningful. We might as well give up, sit back, and let the kids take over.
Here's the core:
Our parents, daughters and sons << Notice: not just our parents
Believed in the power of songs
What if those days are gone? << Just for us, kids, not for you. Also, we hate you because we suck.
My memory is strong
Anyone not dying is dead << isn't that a comforting thought.
And baby it won't be long << pretty soon we'll just leave the planet to the next generation
So shut up and carry on << might as well get resigned to living out our days
The scream becomes a yawn << we tried to make a mark when we were younger and failed
Emily Haines is 37, and from personal experience, I can tell you, being 37 in 2012 sucks.
As usual, Emily Haines is the voice of Gen X. Several of Metric's songs are about being trapped in between two generations older and younger than us with the sense that we have no real control over the culture, and no culture of our own other than remix culture. (See: Dead Disco.)
This song is an expression of that depression. Emily tried to "make a stand" but only "made a scene." Nothing she did was meaningful. Nothing we do is meaningful. We might as well give up, sit back, and let the kids take over.
Here's the core:
Our parents, daughters and sons << Notice: not just our parents Believed in the power of songs What if those days are gone? << Just for us, kids, not for you. Also, we hate you because we suck.
My memory is strong Anyone not dying is dead << isn't that a comforting thought. And baby it won't be long << pretty soon we'll just leave the planet to the next generation So shut up and carry on << might as well get resigned to living out our days The scream becomes a yawn << we tried to make a mark when we were younger and failed
Emily Haines is 37, and from personal experience, I can tell you, being 37 in 2012 sucks.