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Faster
Manic Street Preachers Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I hate purity
I hate goodness
I don't want virtue to exist anywhere
I want everyone corrupted

I am an architect
They call me a butcher
I am a pioneer
They call me primitive
I am purity
They call me perverted
Holding you but I only miss these things when they leave

I am idiot drug hive, the virgin, the tattered and the torn
Life is for the cold made warm and they are just lizards
Self-disgust is self-obsession, honey, and I do as I please
A morality obedient, only to the cleansed repented

I am stronger than Mensa, Miller and Mailer
I spat out Plath and Pinter
I am all the things that you regret
A truth that washes that learnt how to spell

The first time you see yourself naked you cry
Soft skin now acne, foul breath, so broken
He loves me truly this mute solitude I'm draining
I know I believe in nothing but it is my nothing

Sleep can't hide the thoughts splitting through my mind
Shadows aren't clean, false mirrors too many people awake
If you stand up like a nail then you will be knocked down
I've been too honest with myself I should have lied like everybody else

I am stronger than Mensa, Miller and Mailer
I spat out Plath and Pinter
I am all the things that you regret
A truth that washes that learnt how to spell, learnt to spell

So damn easy to cave in, man kills everything
So damn easy to cave in, man kills everything
So damn easy to cave in, man kills everything
So damn easy to cave in, man kills everything

Overall Meaning

The song "Faster" by Manic Street Preachers is a powerful and thought-provoking reflection on the nature of humanity and self-obsession. The lyrics explore themes of corruption, nihilism, and the quest for truth amidst a world filled with moral ambiguity.


The song's opening lines set the tone for the rest of the lyrics, expressing a deep sense of hatred towards purity, goodness, and virtue, and a desire for everyone to be corrupt. This sentiment can be interpreted as a rejection of morality and societal norms in favor of a more nihilistic worldview.


The following verses continue to delve into the singer's internal struggle, as they grapple with their own identity and the conflicting pressures of society. They describe themselves as an "architect" and a "pioneer," but are also labeled a "butcher" and "perverted." The line "holding you but I only miss these things when they leave" suggests a sense of alienation and disconnection from others, indicating a desire for connection and intimacy but an inability to truly find it.


The chorus repeats the lines "I am stronger than Mensa, miller and mailer / I spat out Plath and Pinter / I am all the things that you regret / A truth that washes that learnt how to spell," which can be interpreted as a rejection of traditional intellectualism in favor of a more raw and honest expression of the self.


The final lines of the song express a sense of hopelessness and defeat, as the singer acknowledges the ease with which humans can "cave in" and destroy everything.


Overall, "Faster" is a complex and challenging song that invites reflection on the nature of humanity and the struggle for self-expression and truth in a world filled with conflicting pressures and expectations.


Line by Line Meaning

I hate purity,
I despise innocence and virtue,


Hate goodness,
I loathe morality and righteousness,


I don't want virtue to exist anywhere,
I wish there was no such thing as goodness anywhere,


I want everyone corrupt
I desire everybody to be immoral and unethical.


I am an architect,
I am a creator,


They call me a butcher,
I am labeled as a cruel and savage person,


I am a pioneer,
I am an innovator,


They call me primitive,
I am criticized as a primitive and backward person,


I am purity,
I embody innocence and virtue,


They call me perverted,
I am branded as immoral and corrupt,


Holding you but I only miss these things when they leave,
I realize the value of things only when they are gone.


I am idiot drug hive,
I am a foolish person addicted to drugs,


The virgin, the tattered and the torn,
The chaste, the ragged, and the wounded,


Life is for the cold made warm and they are just lizards,
The purpose of life is to make the cold-hearted warm, and those who do not are seen as reptiles.


Self disgust is self-obsession honey and I do as I please,
Self-hatred is self-centeredness and I act according to my wishes,


A morality obedient only to be cleansed repented,
A moral standard that blindly follows the need to be purified and repented for shortcomings.


I am stronger than Mensa, miller and mailer,
I am more intelligent than the great intellectuals and writers.


I spat out Plath and Pinter,
I reject literary giants like Sylvia Plath and Harold Pinter.


I am all the things that you regret,
I embody all that others regret.


A truth that washes that learned how to spell,
An honest and penetrating truth that even the educated cannot escape.


The first time you see yourself naked you cry,
The moment when you see your flaws and imperfections is overwhelming and emotional.


Soft skin now acne,
Smooth and tender skin is now blemished with pimples and acne.


Foul breath so broken,
Breath that reeks and reflects internal brokenness.


He loves me truly this mute solitude I'm draining,
The loneliness that I'm suffering is due to someone who loves me deeply.


I know I believe in nothing but it is my nothing,
I recognize that I have no beliefs, but that is my personal choice.


Sleep cannot hide thoughts splitting through my mind,
Sleep cannot conceal the thoughts that are fragmenting in my mind.


Shadows aren't clean, false mirrors too many people awake,
Shadows are deceitful, and too many people are awake for their own good.


If you stand up like a nail then you will be knocked down,
If you act boldly and differently, you'll be criticized and put down.


I've been too honest with myself I should have lied like everybody else.
I've been too truthful with myself, I should have lied like others do.


So damn easy to cave in, man kills everything,
It's very easy to give up and surrender, people destroy everything.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire, Sean Moore, Richard James Edwards

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@piupenso9133

LYRICS

I hate purity,
Hate goodness,
I don't want virtue to exist anywhere,
I want everyone corrupt

I am an architect,
They call me a butcher,
I am a pioneer,
They call me primitive,
I am purity, 
They call me perverted,
Holding you but I only miss these things when they leave,

I am idiot drug hive,
The virgin, the tattered and the torn,
Life is for the cold made warm and they are just lizards,
Self disgust is self-obsession honey and I do as I please,
A morality obedient only to be cleansed repented,

I am stronger than Mensa, miller and mailer,
I spat out Plath and Pinter,
I am all the things that you regret,
A truth that washes that learnt how to spell,

The first time you see yourself naked you cry,
Soft skin now acne,
Foul breath so broken,
He loves me truly this mute solitude I'm draining,
I know I believe in nothing but it is my nothing,

Sleep cannot hide thoughts splitting through my mind,
Shadows aren't clean, false mirrors too many people awake,
If you stand up like a nail then you will be knocked down,
I've been too honest with myself I should have lied like everybody else.
I am stronger than Mensa, miller and mailer,
I spat out Plath and Pinter,
I am all the things that you regret,
A truth that washes that learnt how to spell,

So damn easy to cave in, man kills everything,
So damn easy to cave in, man kills everything,
So damn easy to cave in, man kills everything,
So damn easy to cave in, man kills everything



@thetedster7812

Yourself is incredible too. Touches a raw nerve with me a few times.


Your ritual everyday
A mild shower soak in aftershave
Best clothes do your best
Look in the mirror go on
Belittle yourself yourself yourself
Belittle yourself yourself yourself


[Chorus]
You go on day after day
Dreaming on a lie
That you keep locked inside
Of yourself
Yourself
Yourself
Of yourself
Yourself
Yourself


[Verse 2]
Can you sleep tonight
Cast aside for some pouting young pup
Sink into a slurred veneer
Alcoholic haze so now
Least you can like yourself yourself
Least you can like yourself yourself


[Chorus]
You go on day after day
Reservoirs of guilt
That your fixed grin always hides
And yourself
Yourself
Yourself
Of yourself
Yourself
Yourself
And yourself
Yourself
Yourself
Of yourself
Yourself
Yourself


[Verse 3]
You look at ads all day
Everyone is perfect and you're so lame
Free scent burns your skin
But no smell can really cover sin
Too many teenage holes to fill
Too many teenage holes to fill


[Chorus]
You go on day after day
Speak to your despised
Blanking your loved ones
And yourself
Yourself
Yourself
And yourself
Yourself
Yourself
And yourself



@gavinlarkin7795

Seriously, the machine gun vocal delivery on P.C.P is JDBs greatest moment,

I look at the album as a two sided coin, one side is Richey's insightful, and incredibly powerful literary work. The other side is James Dean Bradfields stunning guitar work, inspired neo-punk riffs and amazing vocals(which must have been a nightmare to create out of Richey's words)

Sean's drumming on the intense humming if evil, p.c.p and Faster also stand out to me as highlights

This was the height of the Richey/JDB combo

Wire takes a back seat here I feel(his greatest moment would come with his melancholic genius all throughout Everything Must Go)

Holy Bible is their greatest moment, and I believe musics greatest and most probing moment as well.

ART
IN
CARNATE

All hail the Manics



@joshcrapper864

I hate purity,
Hate goodness,
I don't want virtue to exist anywhere,
I want everyone corrupt

I am an architect,
They call me a butcher,
I am a pioneer,
They call me primitive,
I am purity,
They call me perverted,
Holding you but I only miss these things when they leave,

I am idiot drug hive,
The virgin, the tattered and the torn,
Life is for the cold made warm and they are just lizards,
Self disgust is self-obsession honey and I do as I please,
A morality obedient only to be cleansed repented,

I am stronger than Mensa, miller and mailer,
I spat out Plath and Pinter,
I am all the things that you regret,
A truth that washes that learnt how to spell,

The first time you see yourself naked you cry,
Soft skin now acne,
Foul breath so broken,
He loves me truly this mute solitude I'm draining,
I know I believe in nothing but it is my nothing,

Sleep cannot hide thoughts splitting through my mind,
Shadows aren't clean, false mirrors too many people awake,
If you stand up like a nail then you will be knocked down,
I've been too honest with myself I should have lied like everybody else.
I am stronger than Mensa, miller and mailer,
I spat out Plath and Pinter,
I am all the things that you regret,
A truth that washes that learnt how to spell,

So damn easy to cave in, man kills everything,
So damn easy to cave in, man kills everything,
So damn easy to cave in, man kills everything,
So damn easy to cave in, man kills everything



All comments from YouTube:

@LouisMinett

"Self disgust is self obsession honey and I do as I please!" Rickey's most intimate lyrical writing, that's why this album is flawless!

@Hillelfraenkel

One of those lyrics that are the artist saying something you never knew but always felt

@MichaelMitchell-nn2ig

You can't deny that some of Richey's lyrics are some of the greatest lyrics ever written.

@gedrooney9305

Agreed, and the most harrowing.

@johnnyscifi

Michael Mitchell

Totally

@Chris619Thomas

In my opinion The Holy Bible has the greatest lyrics ever. Even if you don't agree with them, you must admit that it's extremely fascinating to see what it was like in Richey's mind. The Holy Bible is my all time favourite album and I can't imagine ever liking another album more. People say it's the most depressing album of all time, it personally makes me happy, except for the thought of how it ended with Richey. For so long I thought I was alone, but then I discovered The Holy Bible by Manic Street Preachers.

@warpspeedchic6932

the first time I heard 4st 7lb I felt sick to my stomach and thought I might throw up, I do love the album though

@mojopin70

I've still got the original cd I bought in the summer of 94 one of the darkest albums I've ever heard , and i was no stranger to darkness I was in a death metal band at the time but with beautiful songs like this is yesterday and she is suffering, did something to me that album, I've never been the same since and I grew up in view of the Severn bridge....

25 More Replies...

@pinkmoon4086

This album was exceptional for it's rage, discontent and brutal critique of the human condition. Nothing compares.

@deadlover80

+pink moon nothing will ever come close either

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