Step up and forfeit your frontal lobe
To the sexed-up stroll of celebrity
Never mind that the nanoseconds in between
Are some of the darkest darkness that you've ever seen
Keep your eye on my finger and listen to the sound of my voice

Get your subliminal decree and your false security
Be all that you can be, be all that you can be

In hospitals and schools, airports, and banks and bars
Big ones on street corners, little ones driving by in cars
And glowing through countless bedroom curtains at night
That thirty k tone and that pale blue light saying

Dad knows best, yes this is the news
And ninety second segments officially produced
And aired again, and again, and again
By the little black and white pawns of the network yes men
Well the stars are going out and the stripes are getting bent

And cancer the great teacher has been opening schools
Down stream from every factory still, everywhere fools
Are squinting into microscopes researching cells
Trying to figure out a way that we can all live in hell
Well step back, look up, you'll see I'm dimming the sun
But you won't will you? No, that's a good little one

Cause daddy knows best, yes this is the news
And ninety second segments officially produced
And aired again, and again, and again
By the little black and white pawns of the network yes men
Well the stars are going out and the stripes are getting bent
Yes the stars are going out and the stripes are getting bent

Overall Meaning

Ani DiFranco's "Decree" is a commentary on the manipulative and mind-controlling tactics employed by mass media and its influence on society. The opening lines suggest that people are willingly sacrificing their ability to reason and think critically for the sake of consuming celebrity and entertainment culture. The song goes on to criticize the way in which news and information are delivered, often packaged into easily digestible but shallow segments, and repeatedly broadcast to manipulate public opinion. DiFranco points out that messages are being delivered through subliminal cues or pale blue light emanating from screens, and people are being taught to believe the words of those in authority, even if it goes against their own intuition.

The song references various institutions, such as hospitals, schools, airports, bars, and banks, where these tactics are employed. DiFranco suggests that cancer is acting as a great instructor, teaching people the meaning of their existence, and forcing them to acknowledge the environmental consequences of their actions. The song's narrative voice acknowledges the fact that people are becoming increasingly interested in researching cells and cancer treatments, but they are still blind to the bigger picture. The song concludes with a warning that even the sun is being dimmed, but people are too entrenched with the status quo to take action.

Overall, "Decree" can be seen as a scathing criticism of the mass media and its impact on human society. The song seems to suggest that people are being brainwashed by the news media, and that they are blindly following the dictates of those in authority, even if those directives are harmful to society as a whole.

Line by Line Meaning

Step up and forfeit your frontal lobe
Surrender your ability to think critically and independently

To the sexed-up stroll of celebrity
To the seductive glamour of fame and stardom

Never mind that the nanoseconds in between
Forget the brief moments of reality that escape our attention

Are some of the darkest darkness that you've ever seen
Are some of the most disturbing and unsettling experiences that exist

Keep your eye on my finger and listen to the sound of my voice
Pay attention only to my instruction and ignore everything else

Get your subliminal decree and your false security
Receive your hidden, indirect command and your fake sense of safety

Be all that you can be, be all that you can be
Fulfill your potential within the confines of the system

In hospitals and schools, airports, and banks and bars
In all places where people gather and socialize

Big ones on street corners, little ones driving by in cars
Large and small screens everywhere, broadcasting propaganda

And glowing through countless bedroom curtains at night
And pervading the privacy of people's homes and personal lives

That thirty k tone and that pale blue light saying
That TV buzz and flicker of light that manipulates us

Dad knows best, yes this is the news
The authority figures have all the knowledge and dictate what is true

And ninety second segments officially produced
And short clips crafted to manipulate audiences

And aired again, and again, and again
And repeatedly broadcasted to further brainwash viewers

By the little black and white pawns of the network yes men
By the media minions who dutifully repeat the party line

Well the stars are going out and the stripes are getting bent
The symbols of our nation are losing their luster and meaning

And cancer the great teacher has been opening schools
The ravages of disease are reminders of our fragility and impermanence

Down stream from every factory still, everywhere fools
Traces of industrial pollution and ignorance are widespread

Are squinting into microscopes researching cells
Scientists are focusing on details while ignoring bigger problems

Trying to figure out a way that we can all live in hell
Attempting to cope with the harsh realities of our world

Well step back, look up, you'll see I'm dimming the sun
Take a broader perspective and realize how our actions affect the planet

But you won't will you? No, that's a good little one
But most of us will remain ignorant and compliant

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