95% of the World Is Third World
The Suicide Machines Lyrics
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This is no manifesto, this is no propaganda.
(hey!)
95% of the world is third world.
Take a look around, you might not like what you see.
Yeah we're all comfortably living in a privileged society
Open up your mind and think outside of the box,
Yeah, it's just a case of ignorance and benevolence.
America's a privileged society.
When it comes to other countries, we don't see the cultural beauty.
We see famine, death, disease, poverty and war
which almost always involves US military.
That is what most US citizens know about other countries,
is what they see on CNN and other television programming.
And yet here in our own country, unemployment is at an all-time high,
and thousands of businesses have gone bankrupt.
Just look around, how many buildings do you see empty and policed?
and here in America, disease, poverty and famine DO exist.
And it's not just in our ghettos anymore,
it's now become a struggle for the middle-class to survive.
Maybe if the poor in America had something for corporations
and our government to profit off of (like oil),
Maybe then they would take an interest in problems here in America,
or maybe they would just bomb us...
The Suicide Machines's song "95% of the World Is Third World" is a socially conscious punk rock anthem that calls attention to the global divide between the rich and the poor. The opening lines of the song, "I am a common man, I use common words / This is no manifesto, this is no propaganda," set the tone for the lyrics that follow, which speak to the universal nature of the struggle faced by people living in impoverished regions around the world.
The song's title refers to the fact that the vast majority of the world's population lives in countries that are considered "third world," meaning they are economically and socially underdeveloped. The lyrics urge the listener to take a closer look at their own privileged society and recognize the plight of those who are less fortunate. The lines "Yeah we're all comfortably living in a privileged society / Open up your mind and think outside of the box / Yeah, it's just a case of ignorance and benevolence" suggest that ignorance and complacency are the reasons why the plight of the less fortunate is not more widely recognized.
The song goes on to criticize the US government's involvement in other countries' affairs, suggesting that American citizens are only exposed to negative images of other cultures through the media. The line "And yet here in our own country, unemployment is at an all-time high / and thousands of businesses have gone bankrupt" highlights the fact that economic struggles are not limited to third-world countries. The song ends on a somewhat pessimistic note, suggesting that unless the poor in America have something to offer corporations and the government, their struggles will continue to be ignored.
Line by Line Meaning
I am a common man, I use common words.
I am an ordinary person speaking ordinary language.
This is no manifesto, this is no propaganda.
This is not a political statement or advertisement.
95% of the world is third world.
Most of the world is underdeveloped and impoverished.
Take a look around, you might not like what you see.
Observe your surroundings; the reality may be unpleasant.
Yeah we're all comfortably living in a privileged society
We are all living in a society of privilege and comfort.
Open up your mind and think outside of the box,
Expand your perspective and consider alternative viewpoints.
Yeah, it's just a case of ignorance and benevolence.
The issue is a combination of lack of knowledge and good intentions.
America's a privileged society.
The United States is a privileged and advantaged nation.
When it comes to other countries, we don't see the cultural beauty.
Regarding other nations, we fail to see the value in their cultures.
We see famine, death, disease, poverty and war
We primarily associate foreign countries with conditions of hardship and conflict.
which almost always involves US military.
These situations often involve U.S. military involvement.
That is what most US citizens know about other countries,
Most Americans have limited knowledge about foreign nations.
is what they see on CNN and other television programming.
Their information comes from news networks and TV shows.
And yet here in our own country, unemployment is at an all-time high,
Despite this, our own nation faces high levels of joblessness.
and thousands of businesses have gone bankrupt.
Many companies have faced financial failure.
and here in America, disease, poverty and famine DO exist.
Sickness, destitution and famine persist in the United States.
And it's not just in our ghettos anymore,
These problems have recently expanded from just low-income areas.
it's now become a struggle for the middle-class to survive.
The middle-class now faces significant challenges to their well-being.
Maybe if the poor in America had something for corporations
If impoverished Americans had a valuable resource corporations needed,
and our government to profit off of (like oil),
One which the government and businesses could financially benefit from (such as oil),
Maybe then they would take an interest in problems here in America,
Their attention could then turn towards domestic issues.
or maybe they would just bomb us...
It is also possible that they would respond violently.
Contributed by Colton M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Donny Z.
love ska punk?yassssss.
10thFloor Prod.
I havent had loading issues all day, the moment SM is opening my 3rd eye, all the sudden we can't load the song properly, repeatedly...