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.
Money Is Not Our God
Killing Joke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nine tenths of the law than sic
Is possession
Life expressed in matter is a blasphemy
Success defined by acquisition stinks!
So busy trying to make a living I forgot about living
Yes I do
So busy trying to make a living I forget about life
The best things I found in life were my birthright
Green fields mean more to me than a brand new car
Will you swap your hi-fi for a clear blue sky?
Will you cash in all your shares for gods clean air?
Is your answer yes,or no,to these painful truths?
Is your answer yes,or no,to these painful truths?
Do you grovel to your master?
Do you beg like a dog?
First things first,repeat to yourself
Ahhh money!, money is not our god!
Mine!
The best things in life are free
Mine!
I own the beach and the blazing sunset
Mine!
I own the waves and the fresh air
Mine!
I drink the milk of the stars in this beautiful moment
Say to yourself
All these things are mine!
Repeat after me!
Money's not our god
Do you grovel to your master?
Do you beg like a dog?
First things first,repeat to yourself
Ahhh money!
The song "Money Is Not Our God" by Killing Joke is a commentary on the obsession with material possessions and wealth that runs rampant in capitalist societies. In the first verse, the lyrics highlight the absurdity of equating possession with power, and how life is reduced to a physical matter that is considered sacrilegious. The chorus emphasizes that we are so preoccupied with accumulating wealth that we forget about the simple joys of life. The second verse speaks to the idea that true happiness and contentment can be found in nature and simple pleasures, like green fields and clear blue skies, rather than through the acquisition of material possessions. The final verses ask us to recognize the control we give to money and the imbalance that results from it, urging us to assert our ownership over life's natural treasures instead.
This song reflects the punk ethos of resistance against consumerism and the commodification of the human experience. Killing Joke critique the idea that money is a pathway to happiness and instead suggest that we should value our personal experiences and the natural world around us. The lyrics are a call-to-action to break free from the obsession with wealth and to focus on living a fulfilling and meaningful life.
Line by Line Meaning
Money is not our god - ready
We don't worship money as the be-all and end-all of our existence.
Nine tenths of the law than sic
The one who owns or possesses something could easily claim ownership, regardless of who previously owned it.
Is possession
Having something in our possession is not a true reflection of who we are or the life we lead.
Life expressed in matter is a blasphemy
Our existence should not be judged or solely based on material possessions, as it is disrespectful or offensive to our true selves.
Success defined by acquisition stinks!
Measuring our success solely by how much we acquire or accumulate is a foul or unpleasant practice.
So busy trying to make a living I forgot about living
We tend to be too focused on the need to survive and forget that we should also be living our best lives.
Yes I do
The singer agrees that they forgot about life while trying to earn a living.
The best things I found in life were my birthright
The singer believes that there are certain things in life that we inherently deserve just by being born.
Green fields mean more to me than a brand new car
The natural beauty of our surroundings is more valuable to the singer than any material possession.
Will you swap your hi-fi for a clear blue sky?
The singer asks the listener whether they would give up their material possessions in exchange for natural beauty.
Will you cash in all your shares for gods clean air?
The singer asks the listener whether they would trade their investments for the purity of natural surroundings.
Is your answer yes,or no,to these painful truths?
The singer questions whether the listener agrees with their perspectives about the value of natural beauty.
Do you grovel to your master?
The singer asks whether the listener is subservient to money as if it were their master.
Do you beg like a dog?
The singer asks whether the listener debases themselves in the pursuit of money.
First things first,repeat to yourself
The singer highlights the importance of putting what truly matters first.
Ahhh money!, money is not our god!
The singer repeats the title lyric to reinforce that money should not be worshipped like a god.
Mine!
The singer claims ownership over the beauty of nature.
The best things in life are free
The things that bring us true joy or happiness cannot be bought with money.
I own the beach and the blazing sunset
The singer asserts their connection to nature and all its beauty.
I own the waves and the fresh air
The singer takes pride in the natural elements and claims them as their own.
I drink the milk of the stars in this beautiful moment
The singer experiences and savors the moment of beauty provided by nature.
Say to yourself
The singer raises the listener's self-awareness.
All these things are mine!
The singer reminds the listener that they too can claim ownership over the beauty of nature.
Repeat after me!
The singer invites the listener to echo their words of encouragement.
Money's not our god
The singer reinforces the message that money is not the ultimate goal in life.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JEREMY COLEMAN, KEVIN WALKER, MARTIN CLIVE ATKINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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