The Charm Offensive

Brilliant song - there's a lulling, psychedelic quality to it, while it still retains a distinctly heavy, metallic overtone. Very progressive, very good song.

This is definitely about religious authority. The "Charm Offensive" is the procedures taken to win us over by our religion - the words spoken and facades displayed to win us over to the side of religion, attempting to tackle us using diplomacy and smiles, whilst all the while harbouring evil intents.

The first verse shows how we are lulled into their grasp - 'perception' a 'camera trick', 'authority' a 'uniform'. We are prey to techniques of display and PR. Religion is 'another name for a second chance' - I think this means that our only motivation is through personal desire to go to heaven, throughout most religions. It is nothing deeper than that, and nothing unselfish.

The song goes on to show how this should be our choice, whilst we are still victim to their attempts on our souls rather than personal choice - and yet we 'take this lying down', we accept it and leave it be. It 'burns us all out', leaves us an empty shell, and moves 'everyone into position', to their seperate sphere and role in society, all of them the same.

Possibly the religious theme is not necessarily present (although the 'second chance' line is a big pointer). Fits with the rest of the album nicely though. :)

I'm pretty sure it's about an election. More specifically, a guy running for a second term (offering more his sophomore). Apply the lyrics to that notion and see if it works for you.

"It's just another name for sorcery We still believe in what we never see Our perception is but a camera trick"

That seems to point to blind faith in a relgious sense.

The end seems to point to that as well:

"They've sold us out again and thrown us in the fire They say we're all the same Well, yeah, but we're not liars"

That last part just gets me with the sheer emotion and strength. Pure brilliance!

I think it's "So don't think on your feet, 'cause you sink from your feet up. Are you FLOATING (as opposed to sinking) with me?"

Also, sometimes when I'm listening to this one I hear "They say it's all a game then throw us in the fire. They say we're all the same. Well, yeah, but we're not liars".

I think that I'm wrong, though.

I sometimes think that the wrong lyrics were printed on the liner notes just to illustrate the point that we need to think for ourselves. Probably not. That's the wonderful thing about music. We can force it to mirror our lives, beliefs, etc. until it fits.

But, yeah. This one is definitely about blind faith. No argument there.

I get the feeling that this is a stab at authority (rather than the theory that EIP is an anti-religious concept album...)

"We still believe in what we never see Our perception is but a camera trick Authority a uniform"

All this could be referring to the government, the media and the military. The title "Charm Offensive" also supports this theory I think - we're won over by pretty speeches and camera tricks but we never see what really goes on as they lie to us and sell us out.

On second thoughts, I think tinfoil is right. The whole religion part is not actually necessary to the lyrics, just another concept of authority. I'm still of the opinion that EIP was anti-religious, but I think the lyrics are ambiguous enough.

after hearing this, oceansize has tied with tool for greatest band ever. (to me)

they have a lot of similar meanings to their songs especially this album