Rock is dead
♪ Marilyn Manson Lyrics
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Amphetamines for boys
And crucifixes for ladies
Sampled and soulless
Worldwide and real webbed
You sell all the living
For more safer dead
Rock is deader than dead
Shock is all in your head
Your sex and your dope is all that were fed
So fuck all your protests and put them to bed
God is on the T.V.
Rock! Lalalalala [Repeat x4]
A thousand mothers are praying for it
We're so full of hope
And so full of shit
Build a new god to medicate and to ape
Sell us ersatz dressed up and real fake
Anything to belong [Repeat x2]
Rock is deader than dead
Shock is all in your head
Your sex and your dope is all that were fed
So fuck all your protests and put them to bed
God is on the T.V.
Rock! Lalalalala [Repeat x4]
Rock is deader than dead
Shock is all in your head
Your sex and your dope is all that were fed
So fuck all your protests and put them to bed [Repeat x2]
In "Rock Is Dead" by Marilyn Manson, the lyrics speak to the current state of rock music in society. Manson uses metaphors throughout the song to reference the idea that rock music has lost its power, and that society is becoming more soulless and fake. The opening lines refer to people being like "simple monkeys with alien babies," implying that we're becoming more like mindless creatures with no sense of direction. The use of amphetamines for boys and crucifixes for ladies is another metaphor, as it represents the idea that people are seeking different types of "pleasure" to feel satisfaction in their lives.
The lyrics go on to talk about the emptiness of the world, as everything is becoming more "sampled and soulless." Manson is saying that things aren't truly authentic anymore, as everything is becoming more artificial. The phrase "you sell all the living for more safer dead" is a commentary on how people are willing to give up their individuality and freedom to fit into society's standards. The chorus of the song repeats the idea that people will do anything to belong and feel accepted.
Overall, "Rock Is Dead" is a scathing critique of society's values and how the music industry has contributed to this state of affairs. Manson argues that people have become too consumed with materialism and sensation-seeking that they've lost touch with their true selves and what really matters in life.
Line by Line Meaning
All simple monkeys with alien babies
All misguided, simple-minded individuals who are taken in by the strange and alien ideas they encounter.
Amphetamines for boys
Young men are given drugs to help them feel energized and stimulated.
And crucifixes for ladies
Women are given religious symbols as a way to make them feel protected and comforted.
Sampled and soulless
Art and culture have become homogenized and lacking in any genuine soul or meaning.
Worldwide and real webbed
The world is interconnected through technology and the internet, but this interconnectivity can be suffocating and lead to a loss of individuality.
You sell all the living
People are willing to give up their unique identities and lives in exchange for the safety and security of conformity.
For more safer dead
Society values safety, conformity, and predictability over individuality or risk-taking.
Anything to belong [Repeat x2]
People will go to great lengths and sacrifice their true selves in order to fit in and find a sense of belonging.
Rock is deader than dead
The genre of rock and roll music has lost its power and influence and is now stale and dead.
Shock is all in your head
Society is easily shocked by simple things because people have become desensitized to real issues that matter.
Your sex and your dope is all that were fed
Society has been conditioned to value sex and drugs over genuine human experience or creativity.
So fuck all your protests and put them to bed
People who challenge the status quo and protest are often dismissed and ignored by those in power.
God is on the T.V.
The media, particularly television, has immense power in shaping people's beliefs and attitudes about the world.
Rock! Lalalalala [Repeat x4]
An expression of the primal and emotional power of rock music, even if it is currently dead and stale.
A thousand mothers are praying for it
People still hold out hope that rock music will be revitalized and restored to its former glory.
We're so full of hope
Despite the bleakness of the current cultural landscape, people still cling to a sense of hope for the future.
And so full of shit
Many people's hopes are misguided and unrealistic, rooted in false ideas and illusions.
Build a new god to medicate and to ape
People turn to false idols and beliefs as a way to escape their problems and feel better about themselves, even if it is ultimately unfulfilling.
Sell us ersatz dressed up and real fake
People are willing to buy into fake and shallow experiences and products that masquerade as authentic and meaningful.
Rock is deader than dead
The repetition of this line emphasizes the finality and hopelessness of the current state of rock music.
Shock is all in your head
Repeating this line further underscores the idea that people are desensitized to real issues and easily shocked by trivial things.
Your sex and your dope is all that were fed
This line is repeated to drive home the idea that societal values are focused on pleasures and distractions rather than true human connection and creativity.
So fuck all your protests and put them to bed [Repeat x2]
Repeating this line emphasizes the frustration and futility of protesting and challenging the status quo in a society that values conformity over individuality.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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