There's the image of a man
Who commands a high opinion
But he hides his hatred with a sheepish grin

And beside him flanking closely
Are the boisterous hollow masses
Who lap up whatever trickles in

This intercourse of nature,
This vulgar social pastime
Reflects the lowest mark of our progress

And the few who ride peripheral
Maintain subtle advantage
Fighting hard to abstain and redress

Do you know your place
In the big charade?
Are you more than they?

Leaders and followers
Leaders and followers

Recognition by proximity
And a brand new face
Just a smidgen of success pie
And a pinch of social grace
You can play with the big boys
Or you can tell them what to do
But sooner or later there's another one like you

The voyeuristic public
Of which we're all a part
Maintains perspective on the human play

And while many have desires
Of joining in the show
Many turn and go the other way

Tell me do you know your place
In the big parade?
Are you fear and shame?

Overall Meaning

In Bad Religion's song "Leaders and Followers" the lyrics paint a picture of the troubling relationship between those in power and those who follow them blindly. The "man who commands a high opinion" is hiding his hatred behind a "sheepish grin" which reflects an insincere and disingenuous nature. He is surrounded by "the boisterous hollow masses" who accept whatever he gives them without question, indicating a lack of critical thinking and individuality. This dynamic is referred to as a "vulgar social pastime" and is seen as the lowest point of human progress.

The few who do not conform to this norm are at an advantage but must fight hard to maintain their position, using their peripheral status to gain insight and abstain from complacency. The lyrics ask the listener whether they know their place in this charade and whether they are more than just followers. The chorus repeatedly emphasizes the dichotomy between leaders and followers. The second verse continues the theme of recognition and success, highlighting the superficial nature of social acceptance and the fleeting nature of fame.

The final verse addresses the voyeuristic nature of the general public who are content to watch the human drama unfold without participating, with some desiring to join in while others choose to avoid it altogether. The lyrics pose the final question of whether the listener is "fear and shame" in the big parade, questioning their own involvement in perpetuating this system. Overall, the song is a commentary on the societal pressures to conform to a flawed system and the importance of questioning authority and maintaining one's individuality.

Line by Line Meaning

There's the image of a man
There exists a certain man

Who commands a high opinion
This man is highly respected

But he hides his hatred with a sheepish grin
However, he conceals his hatred with a fake smile

And beside him flanking closely
Standing next to him on either side

Are the boisterous hollow masses
Are the loud and empty-minded crowds

Who lap up whatever trickles in
Who accept and follow blindly whatever he says

This intercourse of nature,
This relationship between people,

This vulgar social pastime
This repulsive and vulgar social activity

Reflects the lowest mark of our progress
Represents the lowest achievement in our development as a society

And the few who ride peripheral
As for the individuals who distance themselves from such behavior

Maintain subtle advantage
They keep a subtle advantage over others

Fighting hard to abstain and redress
Struggling to resist and correct the situation

Do you know your place
Do you know where you belong

In the big charade?
In this big show that everyone plays

Are you more than they?
Do you consider yourself superior to them

Leaders and followers
These are the leaders and the followers

Recognition by proximity
Being acknowledged just by being near these powerful individuals

And a brand new face
And by simply having a new appearance

Just a smidgen of success pie
Just a slight taste of success

And a pinch of social grace
And some degree of social etiquette

You can play with the big boys
Anyone can be part of this group of powerful individuals

Or you can tell them what to do
Or you can lead them and tell them what to do

But sooner or later there's another one like you
But eventually, there will be someone else who is just like you

The voyeuristic public
The public that enjoys watching from the sidelines

Of which we're all a part
Of which we are all members in some way

Maintains perspective on the human play
Offers an objective view on the social dynamic

And while many have desires
Although many people aspire

Of joining in the show
To be part of this performance

Many turn and go the other way
Many decide to walk away instead

Tell me do you know your place
Do you really know your role

In the big parade?
In this great display of humanity

Are you fear and shame?
Would you rather submit and feel scared or ashamed?

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Wow

on You

37w

Everybody needs a slogan in their pocket or two
It never hurts to have a strategy you can go to

Sometimes I have no sense at all
As most flawed men are one to do

Just say fuck you
Pavlovian rude
A menace too
Pay homage to
Your bad attitude

You can even get cerebral if you want to
Make a radical assessment that sticks like glue

Sometimes it takes no thought at all
The easiest thing to do

Is say fuck you
Pavlovian rude
A menace too
Pay homage to
Your bad attitude

The reaction it brings, just one of those things
Your friends might not want you around
If the impulse is right you might get in a fight
Even though you can't hold your ground
But all rest assured, sometimes just a word
Is the most satisfying sound

Sometimes it makes no sense at all
The easiest thing to do

Is say fuck you
Pavlovian rude
A menace too
Pay homage to your bad attitude
Just say fuck you
What you gonna do to your attitude
Just say fuck you

Wtf is this shit, what retard wrote the wrong spng down….