Frontman Steven Wilson says of this track; "The rats are politicians who express having an interest in the public but, when it comes down to it, only want to save themselves. Having lived through Brexit, Trump and Boris Johnson, it wasn't hard to get depressed about what's going on in the world." Wilson continues; "'Rats Return' is about those who claim to have the interests of the people at heart, but when it comes down to it there is only ego and self-interest. I find myself reflecting on what sort of person would actually be so driven as to want to rule over a whole nation, and aren't these people by definition the very last people that should be allowed to do so? The rats will always save themselves first."
Frontman Steven Wilson says of this track; "The rats are politicians who express having an interest in the public but, when it comes down to it, only want to save themselves. Having lived through Brexit, Trump and Boris Johnson, it wasn't hard to get depressed about what's going on in the world." Wilson continues; "'Rats Return' is about those who claim to have the interests of the people at heart, but when it comes down to it there is only ego and self-interest. I find myself reflecting on what sort of person would actually be so driven as to want to rule over a whole nation, and aren't these people by definition the very last people that should be allowed to do so? The rats will always save themselves first."