Siren Song of the Counter Culture
I just got back from a Rise Against concert. They're a punk metal band that creates huge amounts of energy with their music, and then channels that energy towards social action and making the world a better place. They're a really metal-y for a punk band, but a bit too punk to be called a metal band, as far as their sound goes. As for their worldview, they are definitely punks in the best sense. I love them for their encouragement and motivation to do good in the world.
Here's a sample of their lyrics, kinda smushed together from several songs:
If we're the flagship of peace and prosperity,
We're taking on water and about to fuckin' sink!
No one seems to notice! No one even blinks!
The crew all left the passengers to die under the sea...
Countdown, to the very end.
Equality - an invitation that we won't extend.
Ready, aim - pull the trigger now!
Firmly secure your place in hell!
'GUILTY' is what our graves will read!
No years, no family, we did
NOTHING (nothing) to stop the murder of
a people just like us!
So please believe your eyes - a sacrifice is not what we had in our minds.
Today I offer all myself to this -
I'm living for my dying wish.
I give it all!
Now there's a reason -
there's a reason to give it all.
Blind to this impending fate,
we let the world carry our weight.
Its back breaks with every mile,
but we all live in denial!
Can we be saved? Has the damage all been done?
Is it too late to reverse what we've become?
Save us from what we have become tonight -
Eyes glazed with distrust, no sense of wrong or right!
The drones all slave away - they're working overtime.
They serve a faceless queen, they never question why.
Disciples of a God that neither lives nor breathes -
"But we have bills to pay, yeah we have mouths to feed!"
Life for you has been less than kind,
So take a number, stand in line.
We've all been sorry, we've all been hurt.
But how we survive is what makes us who we are.
I may write about individual songs later. I'd be happy to elaborate on my interpretation of them if you would like to hear. Just lemme know!
Jack