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The Perfect Drug is likely my favorite Nine Inch Nails song. The video notwithstanding, it’s a fairly simple song of lost love and the anguish that comes from that hollow feeling in your soul. I really like it because I feel it’s one of Trent Reznor’s best vocals and best arranged songs. Additionally, I love the build up, the cool drum solo, and the cool down aftermath as acceptance is achieved. A great song.

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

I got my head but my head is unraveling
Cant keep control can’t keep track of where it’s traveling
I got my heart but my heart’s no good
You’re the only one that’s understood

Take me with you
Without you everything just falls apart
It’s not as much fun to pick up the pieces

The first time I heard this song, I thought it would be the perfect backing music for the mutant gang from The Dark Knight Returns. It’s loud–very loud–angry, energetic and over the top. Plus there’s really nothing else that sounds like it, at least not that I’ve heard.

The song’s meaning is pretty self-explanatory–it’s about rejecting the system and creating something better. Well, maybe not better, but something different. Either way, I find the song and it’s sound compelling.

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

ACTION!!!!!!!!!
It’s time to live and it’s time to die!
It’s time to live and it’s time to die!
It’s time to live and it’s time to die!
It’s time to live: REVOLUTION ACTION!!!!
What we gonna go for?
What we gonna go for?
What we gonna go for? REVOLUTION ACTION!!!!
What we gonna go for? What we gonna go for?
What we gonna go for? REVOLUTION ACTION!!!!
Welcome to step one - I can’t wait no longer -
Let’s make it happen!!!!!!!!!!!!
Another investigation of our generation!
Sublime information!
The collapse of a century!!!!!
I’m targeted at the Whitehouse
Like a bullet from a gun! Waste my life from scratch…
But at least we will leave a bad taste in your mouth!!!!
Dope - Fly - Fly - don’t take it
Take it out too far and I won’t fake it!
A blank promise - your words -
Nothing else than another hell ride
We got to!!!!!
REVOLUTION ACTION!!!! What we gonna go for????
REVOLUTION ACTION!!!! What we gonna go for????
REVOLUTION ACTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What we gonna go for???? What we gonna go for????
Revolution!!!!!! Action!!!!!
Revolution - Action - Revolution - Action!!!!!!
We got to….
Are you ready???????
A shoot - a pain - with the knife between my teeth
And then I leave you in cold blood!!!! I’m comin’ at ya!!!
I’m comin’ at ya!!!!!!!! Carl Crack like a flamin’ arrow -
Burning the regime of terror!!!!
With a gun pointing at my head
I realise what I could get instead!!!
What you gonna go for????? What you gonna go for?????
What you gonna go for?????????? REVOLUTION ACTION!!!!!
What you gonna go for?
What you gonna go for? REVOLUTION ACTION!!!!
What you gonna go for? What you gonna go for?
What you gonna go for? REVOLUTION ACTION!!!!
Many people are in power but none of them is one of us -
Press and media any hour - NOW TELL ME:
WHAT’S WRONG WITH US????????????????
In the lion’s throat I stand and wanna know!!!!!!!!
surrounded by me and my gang… your life just blows!!!
BREAK INTO THE CENTER WHERE YOUR HEART GOES!!!!!!!!!
You hold the cigarette like you’re trying to understand
But what if the next person near you
IS TAKING THE TRUTH OUT OF YOUR HANDS????????
REVOLUTION ACTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
REVOLUTION ACTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What we gonna go for????? ACTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IT AIN’T SELF-DESTRUCTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IT AIN’T SELF-DESTRUCTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
REVOLUTION ACTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

—————-
Now playing: Jethro Tull - Bungle In The Jungle
via FoxyTunes

The first time I heard Rise on MTV, I was captivated and enthralled–especially since I knew what a rare thing it was to see a PiL video. I rarely saw it again.

This is a great song, a bastardization of a traditional Irish blessing/folk song. The singer seems to be challenging the notion that anything you know is right, and that anything other than conformity will be squashed–sort of typical for John Lydon. Still, what really makes this song is the steady bass line, the pounding drums, the strings, and John Lydon’s hectoring vocals (yes, I know he really can’t sing, but he can use his limited range very, very effectively).

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

I could be wrong, I could be right
I could be wrong, I could be right

Anger is my energy
Anger is my energy
Anger is my energy
Anger is my energy

List of Demands is a powerfully energetic song with some great lyrics. At the same time, it’s also a little confusing.

The song is about reparations for slavery, yet the entire second verse–lyrically fantastic, by the way–is essentially a declaration of love and seems to have nothing to do with verses one and three.

Williams voice is strong and energetic, exhorting the listener into a frenzy, and the lyrics are really, really good. I also think it’s a great choice sometimes for singers to repeat lines of importance as it really drives the point home.

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

I want my money back.
I’m down here drowning in your fat.
You got me on my knees praying for everything you lack.
I ain’t afraid of you.
I’m just a victim of your fears.
You cower in your tower praying that I’ll disappear,
I got another plan, one that requires me to stand.
On the stage or in the street, don’t need no microphone or beat.
And when you hear this song, if you ain’t dead then sing along.
Bang and strum to these here drums til you get where you belong.

I got a list of demands written on the palm of my hands.
I ball my fist and you’re gonna know where I stand.
We’re living hand to mouth!
You wanna be somebody?
See somebody?
Try and free somebody?
I gotta list of demands written on the palm of my hands.
I ball my fist and you’re gonna know where I stand.
We’re living hand to mouth!
Hand to mouth!

I don’t think I’ve ever heard anything like Atari Teenage Riot. Pure sonic attack, eardrum bleeding drum machines, a sound that I simply haven’t heard before or since.

Too Dead For Me is one of those songs that typifies the band. Angry, rebellious, and totally disenchanted, there will always be–there should always be–room for bands who politicize things, that ask questions, that reject pat answers.

Oh yeah, it’s a cool sounding song, at least to me. May not be to eveyrone’s tastes, but I dig it.

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

Come On! Go!
Too dead for me… Too dead for - Too dead for me!
What do you say? (x2)
Too dead for me!
What do you say?
Too dead for - Too dead for -
Too dead - What do you sell your soul for?
Too dead for - Too dead for - 1, 2, 3, 4!
Too dead for me! Too dead for -
It’s just too dead for me!
Too dead for - Too dead for -
What do you sell your damn soul for?
It’s just too dead for me…
We won’t keep quiet! We won’t keep quiet!
We won’t keep quiet! We won’t keep quiet!
Never!
Fast like a blizzard - Cold like stone
Luxury depression crushed your bones
This kinda think is too sad for me… Go! Go ! Go! Go!
You cry later - Dope calculator
Nothing else but an empty prayer!
The safe side didn’t work out? That’s too bad for you…
What do you say?
We won’t calm down! We won’t calm down! We won
Too dead for - Too dead for - (x3)
Too dead for me!
There’s nothing going on for you?
Just look around you!
No! No! No! That’s too dead for me!
Like a toy without belief -
Like a sead for a fascist society
You! You are too dead for me!

Too dead for - Too dead for - (x3)
What do you say?
Too dead for me…
What do you say?