<- Page des Paroles... Lyrics Page...
Bad Religion
80-85
Early man walked away as modern man took control
Their minds weren't all the same, to conquer was his goal
So he built his great empire and slaughtered his own kind
Then he died a confused man, killed himself with his own mind
Early man walked away as modern man took control
Their minds weren't all the same, to conquer was his goal
So he built his great empire and slaughtered his own kind
Then he died a confused man, killed himself with his own mind
Early man walked away as modern man took control
Their minds weren't all the same, to conquer was his goal
So he built his great empire and slaughtered his own kind
Then he died a confused man, killed himself with his own mind
We're only gonna die - gonna die - from our own arrogance
We're only gonna die - gonna die - from our own arrogance
We're only gonna die - gonna die - from our own arrogance
We're only gonna die - gonna die - from our own arrogance
In this world today there ain't nobody to thank
Just blame it on the kids and toss them into the tank
And if they yell for justice we'll hide them from the light
So when they learn the truth they won't be scared of the night
One - Two - Three - Four
Put the key in the hole when you get home from school
I'll be home by 8:30, your father will too
If you cause any trouble then I don't want to see
Cos you'll get into bed and you won't have no T.V.
The final page is written in the books of history
As man unleashed his deadly bombs and sent troops overseas
To fight a war that can't be won and kills the human race
To show off greed and ignorance, man's quest for dominance
They say when a mistake is made, a lesson has been learned
But this time, there's no second chance, the hate engulfs the world
A million lives are lost each day, as cities slowly burn
A mother holds her dying child, but no one is concerned
It's all right to have faith in God
But when you bend to their rules and the fucking lies
That's when I start to have pity on you
You're living on a mound of dirt
But you can't explain your reason for existence, so you blame it on God
There's so much hatred in this world
And you can't decide who's pulling the strings, so you figure it's God
Your whole life foreshadows death
And you finally realize you don't want to die alone, so you'll always have God
It's all right to have faith in God
But when you bend to their rules and the fucking lies
That's when I start to have pity on you
It's all right to have faith in God
But when you bend to their rules and the fucking lies
That's when I start to have pity on you
There are people in the world today
Who say they're Jewish, Christian and such, they're all ignorant fools
They'll tell you you can't have your own way
Unless you pay money and dedicate your life or you'll be damned in Hell
Don't be feeble like all them
You have your own brain full of thoughts and choices, so use it don't let them use you
It's all right to have faith in God
But when you bend to their rules and the fucking lies
That's when I start to have pity on you
Fuck Armageddon... This Is Hell
There's people out there that say I'm no good
Cos I don't believe in things that I should
And when the final conflict comes, I'll be so sorry I did wrong
And hope and pray that our lord God will think I'm good
Countries manufacture bombs and guns
To kill your brother for something that he hasn't even done
Smog is ruining my lungs, they're not sorry they've done wrong
They hide behind their lies that it's helping everyone
In the end the good will go to Heaven up above
The bad shall perish in the depths of Hell
How could Hell be any worse?
Life alone is such a curse!
Fuck Armageddon, this is Hell
Fuck Armageddon, this is Hell
Fuck Armageddon, it's Hell!
We're living in the denoument
Of the battle's gripping awe
So what's the use of being good to satisfy them all?
How could Hell be any worse?
Life alone is such a curse!
Fuck Armageddon, this is Hell
Fuck Armageddon, this is Hell
Fuck Armageddon, this is Hell
Fuck Armageddon, this is Hell
Fuck Armageddon, this is Hell!
I show pity on the human race
On the ignorant plenty who devote their lives to an icon that they've never known
I show pity on eons past
When a clever man started the first civilization and human aggression was born
I show pity on the future to come
When the government system will be omnipotent and we'll be worse off...
Than we are now
Pity, pity,
On the billions of ignorant people
Pity, pity,
On the masses of aggression
Pity, pity,
On the future centuries to come
On the billions of ignorant people
On the future centuries to come
On the masses of aggression
It's all a matter of looking at the past
It's all a question, are we gonna last?
If we endure the aggression that's inside all of us
We'll wipe out our own species and thus...
The world!
Pity!
Pity on...
On the masses of aggression
On the billions of ignorant people
On the future centuries to come
On the masses of ignorant people
On the future centuries to come
In the city
The day is too hot
And you're hoping for relief
Cos your heart is filled with pain
But you get no relief
Cos the night is the same
In the night
In the night you see through jaded eyes
In the night
In the night you feel barely alive
You live your life in darkness
You've got pennies on your eyes
And you say that it's all right
Cos you've never lived a lie
As you crawl back to your womblike existence in the night
In the night
In the night you see through jaded eyes
In the night
In the night you feel barely alive
You can't see no light
But you hear those heavy footsteps
And the little man inside twists your tormented mind
Your mind is filled with shadows
Your palms are wet with sweat
Limbs are bound and tangled in a fatal net
There are two things you can do
One is turn and fight
The other's run headlong into the night
In the night
In the night you see through jaded eyes
In the night
In the night you feel barely alive
You can't see no light
But you hear those heavy footsteps
And the breathing at your side, is it yours
Or is it goodbye?
Death and the shadow that it casts on life, scares me little or none
People tell me of a divine right and the happy chosen ones
I'm a freak cos my morals clash with others in my world
I go home while they work hard, then they say I'm wrong
There's only one place to be
While living with tragedy
If their sins affected me
I've gotta be damned to be free
Freedom is responsibility, pay more than it's worth
Instinct tells us not to die, hazy myth since birth
Learn their rules and play their game, deceive yourself in haste
Turn your own brain into dust, it's not theirs to waste
There's only one place to be
While living with tragedy
Extract the nectar, burn the tree
I gotta be damned to be free
Thinking...
This world it ain't so bad
Dying...
It's just another fad
Working...
Eight hours it's not for me
Dying...
It's just your destiny
Wasted children, fixed blank eyes
Blood and sweat, we socialize
Broken home from which they come
Beer-stained Dad, compliant Mom
Fear and love, much despised,
Replaced by comfortable lies
Teenage classic, more cliché
One step further on the edge of decay
White trash, second generation, white trash, second generation
White trash, second generation, don your crown and cleanse the nation
Are you ready to fight for your morality?
White ring allies, white supremacy
Pretty fascist on the tube
Draped in red and white and blue
White trash, second generation, stupid foibles, indignation
Offspring of suburban fright, pearl-white creatures of the night
White trash, second generation, white trash, second generation
White trash, second generation, don your crown and cleanse the nation
Stiff blue collar, coat and tie
Brand new breed side by side
Christian ethics, right extremes
Shoved down our throat as the American Dream
White trash, second generation, stupid foibles, indignation
Offspring of suburban fright, pearl-white creatures of the night
White trash, second generation, white trash, second generation
White trash, second generation, don your crown and cleanse the nation
White trash, second generation, white trash, second generation
White trash, second generation, don your crown and cleanse the nation
Hate my family, hate my school,
Speed limit and the golden rule
Hate people who aren't what they seem,
More than anything else, American Dream
American Dream's gonna swallow you whole, bursting at the seam
Gonna sweep you away, so enjoy it today, tomorrow you'll be old thus useless
American Dream
American Dream
American Dream, that's ok, cos no one dare give you away
Hate your god, I hate my job,
I hate hypocrites and common slobs
Hate people who aren't what they seem,
More than anything else, American Dream
Promise me today
I'll have that Chevrolet,
With whitewalls on the side
One boy, one girl, comfortable lies
The American Dream
American Dream
American Dream, that's ok, cos no one dare give you away
American Dream... Bleah!
Weak and sick, dying in the sand
No such thing as a promised land
Don't lose faith in a better life
Reincarnation, poor excuse
You're dying you asshole, your religion can't help you now
Dying and starving in the fields you used to plow
Rotting bones in your barren fields
Worshipped creature's supposed to heal
He won't save you and he won't save me
See what you want to see
Hindu religion in the mind of the working Joe
Starving and rotting in the fields you used to know
You're tied and bound to a god's useless advice
Bloated stomach from aching disease, hold back the fight
In the end you'll return once more to die again
Go on till you can't no more in non-eternal sin
Neighbors, no one loves you like He loves you,
And no one cares like he cares.
Neighbors, let us join today in the holy love of God and money,
Because neighbors, no one loves you like He loves you.
And what better way to show your love than to dig deep into your pocket,
Dig real deep and give until it hurts.
Alleviate your guilt,
Free yourself once again, because he gave to you brothers and sisters.
Please give a ten, fourty-five, or fifty dollar tax-deductible donation
And I assure you your modest pledge will be used to censor T.V. and radio,
Ban questionable books, and contribute to many other Godly services.
No longer will young Christian Americans
Hedonistically indulge in masochistic submission
To rhythmic music.
For with your monetary support,
There is no end to what we can achieve in this country.
The voice of God is government
The voice of God is government
The voice of God is government
In God we trust, sinners repent
One - Two - Three - Four
Can't you see what we believe in
All our thoughts and all our reasons
The pursuit of life and liberty
Happiness we cannot see?
Speak of the truth with a mighty voice,
But politics are your real choice
Hire men to change the law,
Protect and serve with one small flaw
Voice of God is government
The voice of God is government
Voice of God is government
In God we trust, sinners repent
If we shun God and Jesus Christ
Religious love is sacrifice
Love for God is shown in cash
The love they send is mailbox trash
Every pamphlet we receive,
More money asked for Godly needs
Build a million dollar church,
With the money spent on God's research
The Voice of God is government
Voice of God is government
The voice of God is government
In God we trust, sinners repent
On late night T.V., God can heal
A certain force you cannot feel
Love for money in God's name
Religion's now a T.V. game
Build a million dollar church,
With the money spent on God's research
Build a million dollar church,
With the money spent on God's research
Yeah!
Voice of God is government
The voice of God is government
Voice of God is government
In God we trust, sinners repent
Presidential election every four years
But neither man we can see or hear
Urgent cries from society
But he can't see the blood on me
Do you see?
Do you see too much for me?
Try that with our oligarchy
Try that with our oligarchy
Oligarchy, oligarchy
State your policy to me
Read ??? it's quality
What is right? Why do we try?
I'm afraid I can't decide
See the fight
Old men crying, deny their ruin
Watch them try
The cynic laughs at the optimist's closed eyes
Darkness falls, curtain calls,
The cynic's beer soon overflows
Other watch, then has a scene,
And from the same cup they drink
I'm doing time, how long I don't know
William had twenty-six
Blew his brains out, now look at him
John had only one
Watch the mother mourn her only son
I'm doing time, how long I don't know
I'll kiss goodbye my brain and body
And go to sleep for generations
And go to sleep for generations
Salvation
Cease concentration
You'll only lose the fight
Don't tell me what's wrong or right
You're losing sight
You're just gonna die anyway
To see my body is nothing to get hung about
I'm nobody except genetic runaround
Spiritual era's gone, it ain't coming back
Bad religion, a cabal, that is all that's left
Hey Mr. Mind
Stop wasting my time
With your factory precision
Factory precision is your...
Bad religion
Too good to take
Indecision
It's not too late
Bad religion, bad religion
And don't you know the place you live's a piece of shit?
Don't you know blind faith in life will conquer it?
Don't you know responsibility is yours?
I don't care a thing about eternal fires
Listen this time
It's more than a rhyme
It's your indecision
Your indecision is your...
Bad religion
Too good to take
Indecision
It's not too late
Bad religion
Too good to take
Indecision
Is not too late
Bad religion
Bad religion
Bad religion
Economy, technology, does it really work?
The guy running the government, another jerk
Try to teach reason and they all erode away
You're lucky if they listen to a single word you say
What is right and what is wrong? The government decides!
You don't have to like the laws as long as you abide
We're all being oppressed by the upper middle class
The government you vote for is the one that you possess
I'm so tired and now I'm through, I'm through and so are you
Oppressive fear from the president, another government
We control the masses of the whole entire race
Soon our streets will all be filled without a happy face
Economy, technology, does it really work?
The guy running the government, just another jerk
Tried to teach reason and they all erode away
You're lucky if they listen to a single word you say
This isn't art, this is suicides, in a social way
I don't have the need and I don't have the time
I'll tell you why!
Cos I think about it all the time
I think about what's true and what's lies
I use to think the things in my head were true
Sensory feedback from things like you
Doesn't really think about things like you
I don't know why this must be
The guitar's misleading me
I don't know why
I've got this social suicide
From a sensory overload
It's a hell of a time
From a sensory overload
Gotta tricky little mind
Tricky little mind, little
Go!
When I think about the quivering flesh
I think about this urban mess
It makes my brain begin to reel
I don't understand all the things that I feel
I just wanna hide from the things I hear
I don't know why this must be
The guitar's misleading me
I don't know why
I've got this social suicide
From a sensory overload
It's a hell of a time
From a sensory overload
Gotta tricky little mind
Tricky little mind, little
Congress runs your daily life but they brainwash you so you think it's freedom
We've had a war every twenty years they make you think we really need 'em
And we're all just slaves under stricter masters
We're just slaves under stricter masters
We're all just slaves under stricter masters
We're slaves
You're brought up thinking it's bad to live in any country except this one
And when you grow into a man you realize it ain't so much fun
We're in a country of democracy, it's supposed to be the best on the globe
Living's expensive, it ain't too fun unless you fit in the high-class mode
And we're all just slaves under stricter masters
We're just slaves under stricter masters
We're all just slaves under stricter masters
We're slaves
And we're all just slaves under stricter masters
We're slaves
(Ok let's cut it)
Heard a word, suicide
Not from one, but from thousands that died
The lawyer's wife and the teenage brat
One thing in common, they all wanted out
And it's plain to see
It goes for you and it goes for me
And all the screwed up little girls and boys
All thrown in without a choice
But I heard him say
"I want out
No complaints and no doubts,
Just the chance to go on"
I heard a word, suicide
And not from one, but from thousands that tried
Want some attention and a little less reflect
A teenage bluff, little threat
And, and there are those, there are those who think
That drastic actions will make them unique
It's really all the same
That no one's happy and nobody's to blame
And the moral to the story is old
It's quite taboo, seldom told
The seed is reaped before it's sown
A bad choice was never resolved
U.S government blew its plan
Too much money down the can
Stop, look, and listen to what the president says
The first lady is a fucking les (Rosalyn Carter, by the way)
They think they know it all
America, Russia, China are all about to fall
Lethargy will over-rule
U.S government's wading pool, World War III
World War III, World War III
World War III, World War III
"Forget it!" came from the president's door
"I'll make us have another war.
It don't matter what the people think
We have to save our precious brink.
Here I go, I'll put the first bomb
Yeah, it's headed straight for Guam
All the rest will release soon
Right into your living room". World War III
World War III, World War III
World War III, World War III
Run, but don't be scared to look behind
Stop, don't wait too long, make up your mind
The end is almost here
The sky, the air, so nice and clear
The sound of dirt decay
And the ringing in the air is the sweet debris of yesterday
There, now that you know it's not so bad
See, the good things soon flow proximad
So few try to enhance
We don't deserve another chance
Just laugh and walk way
And kiss your ass goodbye with a shadowed dream of yesterday
Yesterday
The good old days
Yesterday
The way we used to play
Yesterday
It just got worse and worse
Yesterday
The future's been rehearsed
Run, but don't be scared to look behind
Stop, don't wait too long, make up your mind
The end is almost here
The sky, the air, so nice and clear
The sound of dirt decay
And the ringing in the air is the sweet debris of yesterday
Yesterday
Yesterday
(Nice going spaz)
I'm tired of this city, all it's toil and strife
Trying to cross the boulevard, playing frogger with my life
Frogger with my life
Frogger with my life
I'm tired of this city, all this toil and strife
Trying to cross the boulevard, playing frogger with my life
Frogger with my life
Frogger with my life
Frogger with my life
Frogger with my life
I refuse to abuse what is fine to diffuse
But it's there and it's happening to me along the way
As we go through the snow, we cannot forget our foes
But the dinner's always waiting at the table along the way, yeah
What you see, not for me, isn't what you plann to be
But you'll have what you wanted in the end along the way
And we'll try as we cry and our brothers pass us by
To be strong through the ages of our tears along the way, yeah
Now we grow as we show that the morals we must know
Will be shapen and mistaken by the falls along the way
But forget, don't regret, to find love and happiness
Unless you are willing to be strong when they are gone along the way
My Tommy, you are free, and you will not follow me
Until we see each other once more on the path along the way
When everybody dies around you
From someone else's gun
It really makes you stop and think
About the years to come
Something good will have to happen
To the human race
We all had better stop hoping
And set our heads on straight
You've gotta turn over a new leaf
Cos that old one's turning on you
We've gotta turn over a new leaf
It's the future's only hope or we are through
Today is over, it's already shot
So we can think about ourselves
If find worth in our nature
Then saving that can only help
Start filling up your pockets
With things you really only need
Save life and earth and water
There can't be any other deed
You've gotta turn over a new leaf
Cos that old one's turning on you
You've gotta turn over a new leaf
It's the future's only hope or we are through
You've gotta turn over a new leaf
Cos that old one's turning on you
You've gotta turn over a new leaf
And let your love come on through
You've gotta turn over a new leaf
Cos that old one's turning on you
We've gotta turn over a new leaf
A new, a new, a new
First off, let me warn you now that this is not a new Bad Religion album! If you thought it was, take it back and trade it in for the new Skid Row disc. Better yet, listen to it, tape it, then trade it in. It is however a comprehensive retrospective of classic Bad Religion music from 1980 to 1985 (hense the title "80-85").
It illustrates the Bad Religion recorded legacy, starting with the first album "How Could Hell Be Any Worse?..." Then in B.R. fashion the first e.p. which of course should've been first on the CD because it was release before "How Could Hell?..." Anyway getting back to "How Could Hell?..." I was fortunate enough to be a part of that having played a solo on "Part III". It was recorded on the seedy end of LA's trendy Melrose Ave. at late hours. You know 10pm to 6am type of deal where you gotta drink alot of coffe to stay awake for the sessions. Well as the history books tell it, Mr. Brett (back then he was less formal and just plain Brett) couldn't think of a solo, so there I was, thinking to myself "this is a great opportunity to horn in, steal the spotlight and maybe even replace him as guitarist!" You see I was playing with the Circle Jerks back then and thought I had class. Well i played a bit, got special thanks no full-time employment. It became an instant LA hardcore classic which is revered by many vinyl collectors.
Next comes the first e.p. hich I rambled on about briefly before. It contains the first of not one, but three count'em, versions of "Bad Religion" (which we affecrionately refer to as "Theme Song"). There was only a limited number pressed and this too is very hard to find in it's original package. It is the most bootlegged of all B.R. records.
Some of the songs were first on a demo that the Circle Jerks debuted on the "Rodney on the ROQ" radio show in 80.
Before continuing I must add that conspicuously absent in this collection is the entire second B.R. album "Into The Unknown" which I of course had nothing to do with. Neither did Jay come to think of it, having quit during the very first song they started recording. Well after that album was released, the band wasn't heard from for some time. Brett quit, Greg Graffin moved to Wisconsin, Jay vegged out, Peter, well he's Peter and that's tough enough. Oh yeah, he went to study in England for a while!
In 1984 Greg Graffin moved back to LA and I came up with the idea of ressurecting the band and playing some shows. So me and Greg recruited our pal Tim Gallegos to play bass and did some gigs and recorded "Back To The Known", famous for the slowww version of "Bad Religion". If you listen carefully towards the end of the song, you'll hear some sour background vocals during the fade out!
Last, but not least, are the cuts from "Public Service". It was a compilation that features CircleOne, RF7, Redd Kross and Disacility. It came out in 1981 and was famous for the front cover which depicted a man stealing a purse from a fallen girl while the police looked on. Well the purse snatcher had two right hands! Oh well it's only punk rock right?
Well, I've rambled enough and used "anyway" and "well" much too much so I gotta bail. Enjoy tha CD and it was an honor to write the liner notes. I envy me.
- Greg Hetson