For a few, this song is a glimpse into the mind of a woman who has moved beyond morality and contemporary mores of conduct.
But there's a more complete interpretation. The song's title refers to the self-published pamphlet by German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. In 1886, he posited that man's "herd-like" mentality often accepts a simplistic view of good and evil - as codified in religion; Nietzsche further states that nature cannot be controlled - and that only "free spirits" (like himself) can break the mold.
The lyrics themselves are about a little girl. She's beyond good and evil, and has use for "western values" or "good and evil."
@poikkeus You mean that she has no use for "western values," which I take to mean she doesn't value the usual traps of western imperialism and capitalism like money, social status, status symbols, etc. That she's "beyond good and evil" could mean that she does what's right even if it may be at odds with socially accepted attitudes and behavior.
@poikkeus You mean that she has no use for "western values," which I take to mean she doesn't value the usual traps of western imperialism and capitalism like money, social status, status symbols, etc. That she's "beyond good and evil" could mean that she does what's right even if it may be at odds with socially accepted attitudes and behavior.
@poikkeus One popular way of interpreting the song is to say that the girl doesn't value typical things like "western imperialism," "social status," and the like.
@poikkeus One popular way of interpreting the song is to say that the girl doesn't value typical things like "western imperialism," "social status," and the like.
However, the song itself doesn't address issues like western imperialism and social status - which are adult thoughts. "She is Beyond Good and Evil" cleverly shows that the Nietzsche concept of a philosophically "enlightened" person can, in some ways, be not unlike that of a little girl. This girl is "one thing that you cannot buy," "has zero reasons for living," and doesn't value western values. As a little girl,...
However, the song itself doesn't address issues like western imperialism and social status - which are adult thoughts. "She is Beyond Good and Evil" cleverly shows that the Nietzsche concept of a philosophically "enlightened" person can, in some ways, be not unlike that of a little girl. This girl is "one thing that you cannot buy," "has zero reasons for living," and doesn't value western values. As a little girl, she can elicit such a response (as from a parent) that some might very well exchange their soul for her - "a girl of my dreams." Truly, she is beyond good and evil.
Superficially, the song may seem to have anti-authoritarian values. But more bluntly, it compares Nietzschean idea of a "free spirit" to that of the song's little girl. The little girl was born on a "ray of sound" - in other words, a human cry.
For a few, this song is a glimpse into the mind of a woman who has moved beyond morality and contemporary mores of conduct.
But there's a more complete interpretation. The song's title refers to the self-published pamphlet by German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. In 1886, he posited that man's "herd-like" mentality often accepts a simplistic view of good and evil - as codified in religion; Nietzsche further states that nature cannot be controlled - and that only "free spirits" (like himself) can break the mold.
The lyrics themselves are about a little girl. She's beyond good and evil, and has use for "western values" or "good and evil."
@poikkeus You mean that she has no use for "western values," which I take to mean she doesn't value the usual traps of western imperialism and capitalism like money, social status, status symbols, etc. That she's "beyond good and evil" could mean that she does what's right even if it may be at odds with socially accepted attitudes and behavior.
@poikkeus You mean that she has no use for "western values," which I take to mean she doesn't value the usual traps of western imperialism and capitalism like money, social status, status symbols, etc. That she's "beyond good and evil" could mean that she does what's right even if it may be at odds with socially accepted attitudes and behavior.
@poikkeus One popular way of interpreting the song is to say that the girl doesn't value typical things like "western imperialism," "social status," and the like.
@poikkeus One popular way of interpreting the song is to say that the girl doesn't value typical things like "western imperialism," "social status," and the like.
However, the song itself doesn't address issues like western imperialism and social status - which are adult thoughts. "She is Beyond Good and Evil" cleverly shows that the Nietzsche concept of a philosophically "enlightened" person can, in some ways, be not unlike that of a little girl. This girl is "one thing that you cannot buy," "has zero reasons for living," and doesn't value western values. As a little girl,...
However, the song itself doesn't address issues like western imperialism and social status - which are adult thoughts. "She is Beyond Good and Evil" cleverly shows that the Nietzsche concept of a philosophically "enlightened" person can, in some ways, be not unlike that of a little girl. This girl is "one thing that you cannot buy," "has zero reasons for living," and doesn't value western values. As a little girl, she can elicit such a response (as from a parent) that some might very well exchange their soul for her - "a girl of my dreams." Truly, she is beyond good and evil.
Superficially, the song may seem to have anti-authoritarian values. But more bluntly, it compares Nietzschean idea of a "free spirit" to that of the song's little girl. The little girl was born on a "ray of sound" - in other words, a human cry.