Meaning to songs by Bad Religion

You guys look like smart, bright, intelligent young men and woman. I'm just wandering if you guys have the capability to decipher songs from Bad Religion. This is how will, go. I'll be starting out with a relative easy songs. As you progress, they will get harder and harder to figure it out what they mean. The goal here rather, simple. You have to work as one, to figure out these songs. When you get to the final answer, I'll bring in the next song in to fore front. Here is the first song, and no cheating.

Song Title: The Answer

Long ago in a dusty village full of hunger pain and strife,
A man came forth with a vision of truth and the way to a better life
He was convinced he had the answer
and he compelled people to follow along
But the hunger never vanished and the man was banished
and the village dried up and died

At a time when wise men peered through glass tubes towards the sky
The heavens changed in predictable ways, and one man was able to find
that he had thought he found the answer
and he was quick to write his revelation
but as they were scrutinized in his collugues' eyes
he soon became a mochery.

Don't tell me about the answer cuz then another one will come along soon
I don't believe you have the answer, I've got Ideas too
but if you've got enough naievity and you've got conviction
then the answer is perfect for you

an urban sprawl sits choking on it's discharge overwhelmed by industry
searching for a modern-day savior from another place inclined toward charity
Everyone begging for an answer without reguard to validity
The searching never ends it goes on and on and on for eternity

Don't tell me about the answer cuz then another one will come along soon
I don't believe you have the answer, I've got Ideas too
but if you've got enough naievity and you've got conviction
then the answer is perfect for you

the answer is perfect for you

I think it's bravery

The answer is bravery, i think. Naivety and Conviction are found among the brave

let me know if i am wrong

religion/belief

if you believe in something and you think its the right belief then thats the right belief for you. every one has their own belief. if you tell me that your belief is the right one then the next day someone can come along with a different belief and claim it to be the right one.

DiehardJaguarFan wrote:

I think it's bravery

The answer is bravery, i think. Naivety and Conviction are found among the brave

No, its not about bravery.
Clue: Look for a central theme for the song, and this goes with all songs from Bad Religion. Go through the song step by step, Line by Line. Sometimes the answer is right in front of your noes.

I'll help you guys out along the way, on the easy ones. Then I will get more involved on the harder ones okay. Just until you guys get used to it. All this exercise does, is to help improve on your critical thinking skills. That will come in handy in more ways than one.

matrixrory wrote:

religion/belief

if you believe in something and you think its the right belief then thats the right belief for you. every one has their own belief. if you tell me that your belief is the right one then the next day someone can come along with a different belief and claim it to be the right one.

You sir, are indeed correct.

Do you want a another easy one, or a hard one. You can choose,

Suffer (harder)
No Direction (easy)

The first to choose will it.

no direction

Song title: No Direction



A sullen figure walks along a dusty road
his life was holy and he couldn't bear the load
he left his people and a simple life behind
he raised his torso and he looked into the sky
shouting his questions
looking for directions
"what do I do now?"
now a confused school girl stares at the TV tray
the stresses of maturing compound every day
she glances up to see her favorite video
and gets ideas from Madonna's nasty clothes
in need of affection
she craves affection
her heroes offer her
everyone is looking for something
and they assume somebody else knows what it is
no one can live with the decisions of their own it seems
so they look to someone else
to tell 'em what to be
tell 'em what to wear
tell 'em what to say
tell 'em how to act and think and compel others compulsively
until the world is all like them
a righteous student came and asked me to reflect
he judged my lifestyle was politically incorrect
I don't believe in self important folks who preach
no Bad Religion song can make your life complete
you'll get no direction from me
you'll get no direction from me

sandman83 wrote:

Song title: No Direction



A sullen figure walks along a dusty road
his life was holy and he couldn't bear the load
he left his people and a simple life behind
he raised his torso and he looked into the sky
shouting his questions
looking for directions
"what do I do now?"
now a confused school girl stares at the TV tray
the stresses of maturing compound every day
she glances up to see her favorite video
and gets ideas from Madonna's nasty clothes
in need of affection
she craves affection
her heroes offer her
everyone is looking for something
and they assume somebody else knows what it is
no one can live with the decisions of their own it seems
so they look to someone else
to tell 'em what to be
tell 'em what to wear
tell 'em what to say
tell 'em how to act and think and compel others compulsively
until the world is all like them
a righteous student came and asked me to reflect
he judged my lifestyle ws politically incorrect
I don't belive in self important folks who preach
no Bad Religion song can make your life complete
you'll get no direction from me
you'll get no direction from me

oppression?

wait a min...

self-actualization?

Quote :

oppression?

Clue: It has to do with direction.
Tip: Just take your time, with figuring out these songs. You don't necessarily have to rush it, you have to be patient while you figure out these things.

Oh on more thing. Please do not quote videos.

sandman83 wrote:

Quote :

oppression?

Clue: It has to do with direction.
Tip: Just take your time, with figuring out these songs. You don't necessarily have to rush it, you have to be patient while you figure out these things.

Oh on more thing. Please do not quote videos.

ok

ambition?

role models?

Were are going to break this down, verse by verse, starting with first one.

Quote :

A sullen figure walks along a dusty road,
his life was holy and he couldn't bear the load.
He left his people and a simple life behind,
he raised his torso and he looked into the sky
shouting his questions,
looking for directions,
"what do I do now?"

The first verse is talking about a holy man, right...right.
If you were paying attention to the lyrics, the man stated "what do I do now"

what does this mean, you guys? What is the relation that the was man stating have to do with the rest of the verse?

he's searching for an answer..?

DiehardJaguarFan wrote:

he's searching for an answer..?

Correct

Do you think you can figure out the rest of the song on you own, or do you still need my help.

sandman83 wrote:

DiehardJaguarFan wrote:

he's searching for an answer..?

Correct

Do you think you can figure out the rest of the song on you own, or do you still need my help.

i need your help

Quote :

i need your help

Okay I'll go ahead help you out, but first I'm going to get something to eat, I'm rather famished.

me too.

also i have a stomach ache

Okay, here is the second verse,

Quote :

Now a confused school girl stares at the TV tray,
the stresses of maturing compound every day.
She glances up to see her favorite video,
and gets ideas from Madonna's nasty clothes.
In need of affection,
she craves affection,
her heroes offer her

Since the last verse was about a Holy Man seeking answers. Now, can you tell me what this verse is compounding at. In other words, what is this girl doing that is wrong?

she seeks affection from her idols

DiehardJaguarFan wrote:

she seeks affection from her idols

correct.

Here is the third verse.

Quote :

Everyone is looking for something,
and they assume somebody else knows what it is.
No one can live with the decisions of their own, it seems
so they look to someone else,
to tell 'em what to be,
tell 'em what to wear,
tell 'em what to say,
tell 'em how to act and think, and compel others compulsively,
until the world is all like them

If you know what a conformist is, then this should come as surprise, but it is also saying one more thing. What is it?

people rely on others to make decisions, because they don't know what to do themselves

DiehardJaguarFan wrote:

people rely on others to make decisions, because they don't know what to do themselves

Sweet, we are getting there.

Here's the last and final verse.

Quote :

A righteous student came, and asked me to reflect.
He judged my lifestyle was politically incorrect,
I don't believe in self important folks who preach.
No Bad Religion song can make your life complete.
Prepare for rejection,
you'll get no direction from me.

Figure out what this verse means, then tie it altogether.