Grains Of Wrath
-Bad Religion Lyrics
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"Son, our way of life is done." But I was only young
With an eye to the fields, speculators and yields rotten to the core
Mono-culture whores entered the bidding wars from distant shores
I don't wanna be in the land known as destitute and free
With the grains of wrath blazing a path from sea to shining sea
Population wars setting our future course
Yeah, is profit and greed the only conceit on a scale between
Mere prosperity and inhumanity? It may well be, but...
I don't wanna be in the land known as destitute and free
With the grains of wrath blazing a path from sea to shining sea
Shout out: I don't wanna be in the land known as destitute and free
With the grains of wrath blazing a path from sea to shining sea, oh, whoa, oh, shout out
The lyrics of Bad Religion's song "Grains of Wrath" deal with the consequences of the modern concept of progress and profit-driven economy on the environment and society. It is a critique of capitalism and the exploitation of natural resources in the name of profit, which is seen as short-sighted and ultimately self-destructive.
The song begins with a reference to a man who warned the singer in 1983 – a time when environmental movements and concerns about global warming and pollution began to gain momentum – that the way of life was unsustainable. However, the young narrator did not fully understand the gravity of the situation, being preoccupied by the potential profits of agriculture, even though he could see that something was amiss.
The lyrics then turn to the destructive impact of human activities on the environment, be it through deforestation and monoculture farming or the replacement of nature with concrete and steel. The singer recognizes that the planet is heading towards a bleak future unless some measures are taken to reverse the damage. He questions if the only motive for human activities is profit and if that is the case, what will be the ultimate outcome.
The chorus emphasizes the singer's desire to avoid being a part of this destructive path, to prevent the world from becoming a place where people are both destitute and free. The phrase "grains of wrath" suggests the consequences of such a path, where there will be anger, misery, and destruction for all. It is a call to action, an invitation to reflect and change the course towards a sustainable and just world, where people can live in harmony with nature.
Line by Line Meaning
Back in '83 a man came to men and he told me
In 1983, a man approached me and said that our way of life was coming to an end.
"Son, our way of life is done." But I was only young
The man told me that our way of life was ending, but I was still young and didn't fully understand the significance of the message.
With an eye to the fields, speculators and yields rotten to the core
As I looked out at the fields, I saw that the speculators and others who profit from farming were corrupt at their core.
Mono-culture whores entered the bidding wars from distant shores
People who only care about growing one type of crop for profit entered into competitions to buy land and resources from faraway places.
I don't wanna be in the land known as destitute and free
I don't want to live in a country where people are poor and have no opportunities, despite being free.
With the grains of wrath blazing a path from sea to shining sea
I don't want to experience a time when angry people, like me, are causing chaos and destruction all across the country.
Oh, the sinuous trails of concrete rails and exhausted roars
The twisting highways and constant noise of vehicles represent the destruction of the environment.
Population wars setting our future course
Our society is heading towards a future of conflict based on population increases and limited resources.
Yeah, is profit and greed the only conceit on a scale between
Is the only thing that motivates people profit and greed, leading to a stark contrast between the rich and the poor?
Mere prosperity and inhumanity? It may well be, but...
It seems that the only outcomes of our society are either people becoming wealthy or everyone descending into inhumanity, but there's still hope for something better.
Shout out: I don't wanna be in the land known as destitute and free
Once again, I proclaim that I don't want to live in a country where people are impoverished and yet still technically free.
With the grains of wrath blazing a path from sea to shining sea, oh, whoa, oh, shout out
I fear that soon there will be widespread anger and discontent throughout the country that will lead to chaos and destruction.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRETT W. GUREWITZ, GREG GRAFFIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind