Man and Man's Ruin
Cult of Youth Lyrics
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You count the days and wonder where the dreaming starts
Their tragic bloodline, so forcefed and enflamed
Some reptiles touch the ground while other steal the shade
To die alone
For the love of life
And all the sorrow the world has known
Is just ascendance to their throne
But better men have all been known
To sleep
Alone
Someone cried form the guardtower
For the end of all wars
They found him lying in judgement
With his face to the floor
And the mother of everything
Yes she was ignored
And the armies advanced
As they birthed more and more
And all the sorrows the world has known
Are just reflections of your own
And better men have all been known
To sleep...
To empower the weak to overpower the strong
As nature calls for the death of man
To exist alone in freedom and peace
And resist the urge to wallow in greed
The name of their game is to lose or win
And your ego dictates where you can fit in
And to win or to lose as their powers increase
Is a stake in their claim like a dog on a leash
Is the nature of man
To be more than a beast
(Is the nature of man)
The song "Man and Man's Ruin" by Cult of Youth explores the complexities of human nature, the struggle for power and the consequences of war. The opening lines suggest that living behind bars, either literal or metaphorical, can create a sense of confinement and a longing for something more. The second verse speaks about the tragic bloodline of humanity, highlighting the fact that while some people may achieve success and prosperity, others are doomed to failure and hardship.
The chorus references the inevitability of death, but also suggests that through this process, one may achieve a kind of ascension, becoming a "better" person. However, this upward mobility comes with an important caveat: one must be willing to sleep alone, to resist the temptation to be consoled by others in our darkest moments.
The juxtaposition of these two ideas - the potential for personal growth and the inevitability of loneliness and suffering - culminates in the final verse. Here, the song suggests that humanity's obsession with power and conflict is ultimately destructive, and that the failure to recognize the importance of the natural world and maternal energy can lead to catastrophe. The song ends on a somewhat ambivalent note, suggesting that while the nature of humanity may be to aspire to greatness, it is also riddled with contradictions and conflict.
Line by Line Meaning
That special alchemy of living behind bars
The unique experience of living in confinement
You count the days and wonder where the dreaming starts
The feeling of being lost and disconnected from reality
Their tragic bloodline, so forcefed and enflamed
The familial history of suffering, pushed to extremes
Some reptiles touch the ground while other steal the shade
The struggle for survival in a cutthroat and competitive world
To die alone
To face one's fate without companions or support
For the love of life
For the sake of preserving one's existence and purpose
And all the sorrow the world has known
The collective experience of pain and tragedy throughout history
Is just ascendance to their throne
Is what drives some people to power and control
But better men have all been known
However, there have been individuals who rose above such desires
To sleep
To rest and find peace in oneself
Someone cried form the guardtower
A desperate plea for change from a place of authority
For the end of all wars
The hope for peace and understanding among all people
They found him lying in judgement
They found him condemned and punished for his beliefs
With his face to the floor
Submissive and defeated, forced to accept his fate
And the mother of everything
The ultimate source of life and creation
Yes she was ignored
Her power and influence were underestimated and ignored
And the armies advanced
The destructive and violent march of war and conquest
As they birthed more and more
As they created more destruction and suffering
And all the sorrows the world has known
The collective experience of tragedy and grief throughout humanity
Are just reflections of your own
Are a projection of one's own pain and insecurities
To empower the weak to overpower the strong
To grant power and strength to those who are oppressed and marginalized
As nature calls for the death of man
As the natural cycle of life dictates the end of human existence
To exist alone in freedom and peace
To find solace and liberation in solitude
And resist the urge to wallow in greed
To fight against the desire for material wealth and power
The name of their game is to lose or win
Their objective is to either succeed or fail
And your ego dictates where you can fit in
And your self-importance determines your place in their game
And to win or to lose as their powers increase
And as their influence expands, you either win or lose in their game
Is a stake in their claim like a dog on a leash
You become a pawn in their scheme of control and domination
Is the nature of man
This is the fundamental essence and behavior of humanity
Contributed by Makayla W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.