A key influence on industrial rock, their early music was described by critics Stephen Thomas Erlewine and John Dougan as well as industrial metal and "quasi-metal, dancing to a tune of doom and gloom," which gradually evolved over the years, incorporating elements of electronic music, synth-pop, gothic rock, and alternative rock, though always emphasizing Coleman's "savagely strident vocals."
Finding modest commercial success, Killing Joke have influenced many later bands, such as Nirvana, Ministry, Amen, Lamb of God, Nine Inch Nails, Napalm Death, Amebix, Big Black, Godflesh, Tool, Prong, Metallica, Primus, Jane's Addiction, Soundgarden, Foo Fighters, Faith No More, Blacklist, Shihad and Korn, all of whom have at some point cited some debt of gratitude to Killing Joke.
Savage Freedom
Killing Joke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Contract to contract
And my stress levels rise
This is a job for life
(there are no jobs for life)
I am forced to a decision
I am forced to see the other side
I can see a way out of here
I can see a way out of here
With the hours that we kill
And the dreams that we hide
Of alternative life styles
This savage freedom i love
Placards of prophets
And great leaders of men
Personality cults
All over again
(but) we'll build shrines for our loved ones
We'll burn fires and lights
And we'll talk of the old ways
To find new ways that might...
...they just might
With the hours that we kill
And the dreams that we hide
Of alternative life styles
This savage freedom i love
In the villages and hills
On the tundra and ice
To the forests of kauri
In the paddies of rice
By the lakes on the plains
To the great mountain range
Love the land and its people
I can see a way out
I can see a way out
With the hours that we kill
And the dreams that we hide
Of alternative life styles
This savage freedom i love(x6)
The lyrics to Killing Joke's "Savage Freedom" reflect a world in which job security is a thing of the past - the age of the CV and contract work has arrived, and those who are caught up in it feel their stress levels rise as they search for a way out. The singer of the song is forced to make a decision, to take a step back and consider the other side, in order to find a way out of the rut.
But there is hope. The song speaks of alternative lifestyles and alternative dreams, of a savage freedom that can be found even in the midst of the daily grind. The imagery is diverse, ranging from placards of prophets to the forests of kauri, yet it all serves to illustrate the same point – that there is a way out, if you know where to look.
Ultimately, the message of "Savage Freedom" is one of resilience and hope – even in difficult times, there is always another way, if you are willing to look for it.
Line by Line Meaning
It's the age of cvs
We live in a time where job security does not exist
Contract to contract
Most jobs are temporary and contractual instead of permanent
And my stress levels rise
Uncertainty about job stability causes stress levels to increase
This is a job for life
The idea of finding a job for life is a myth
(there are no jobs for life)
This statement is a reminder that there are no permanent jobs
I am forced to a decision
People are forced to make decisions out of necessity instead of choice
I am forced to see the other side
Having to face the reality of the employment market and the possibility of unemployment
I can see a way out of here
There is a belief that there may be a solution to the current predicament
I can see a way out of here
Reiteration of the belief that there is a solution to the current predicament
With the hours that we kill
The hours spent on meaningless jobs and activities
And the dreams that we hide
The aspirations that people keep hidden due to the lack of opportunities
Of alternative life styles
The possibility of different ways of life that are not tied to traditional jobs
This savage freedom i love
Despite the chaos, people love the freedom and novelty of non-traditional lifestyles
Placards of prophets
People still idolize leaders and prophets
And great leaders of men
Great leaders are still revered and respected
Personality cults
Society still elevates individuals above the collective
All over again (but)
Despite the persistence of these behaviors, there are still people looking for other options
We'll build shrines for our loved ones
We will honor our family and friends
We'll burn fires and lights
We will celebrate life and important events through rituals
And we'll talk of the old ways
We will value and learn from traditions and history
To find new ways that might...
Looking for alternatives and new paths
...they just might
Hopeful that there are solutions out there
In the villages and hills
Different communities across the globe
On the tundra and ice
Reference to the far north where indigenous people still live traditional lives
To the forests of kauri
Reference to the native forests of New Zealand
In the paddies of rice
Traditional rice farming in Asia
By the lakes on the plains
Diverse landscapes where people value their ties to the land
To the great mountain range
Reference to the Himalayas where traditional mountain communities live
Love the land and its people
A call to respect and honor the natural environment and those who inhabit it
I can see a way out
There is a sense of optimism that there will be a solution
I can see a way out
Reafirmation of hope for a solution
With the hours that we kill
Repetition of the idea of wasteful hours
And the dreams that we hide
Reiteration of hidden aspirations
Of alternative life styles
Reiteration of the possibility of new lifestyles
This savage freedom i love(x6)
Final reinforcement of the idea that, despite everything, people love the novelty and freedom of non-traditional lifestyles
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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