Tolerance
10000 Maniacs Lyrics


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The still and silence is torn with violence.
A loud breaking sound in the night is made.
Hear it grow, hear it fade.
The sound you're hearing, the sound you're fearing
Is the hate that parades up and down our streets, coming within bounds and within reach.

Now, inside the place we hide away, we hear it near and hope it turns away.
Turn away...

There's something seething in the air we're breathing.
We learn slash and burn is the method to use.
Set a flame, burn it new.
We're overpowered.
We kneel, we cower, we cover our heads.
Feel the threat of blows that will come and the damage that will be done in its wake.

Now, inside this place we hide away, we hear it near although it's miles away.
We hear it near and hope it turns away.
Turn away...

This house divided, we live inside it.
Hate's dwelling place is behind our door in fitful nights.
Hear it walk the floor and hear it rave as it moans and drags along its ball and chain,
As it moves through this house it can't escape.

Now inside this place we hide away.




We hear it near and hope it turns away.
Turn away....

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Tolerance" by 10,000 Maniacs describe the fear and anxiety that arise from the presence of hatred and violence in society. The first verse paints a picture of a peaceful environment suddenly interrupted by a loud breaking sound, which the listener realizes is the sound of hate parading up and down the streets. The violence is an ever-present threat that can't be ignored, coming within bounds and within reach. The second verse speaks to the feeling of being trapped in a dangerous world, where even the air we breathe is seething with something ugly. We're taught to respond to this type of environment with slash and burn, to set everything ablaze and start again. But this approach leaves us overpowered, kneeling, cowering, and fearful of the blows that will come.


The final verse describes a "house divided," where the inhabitants are forced to live with the constant threat of violence within their own walls. The hatred is personified as a malevolent force that "walks the floor" and raves as it moans and drags its ball and chain. Even though the house is designed to protect those inside, the hatred cannot be contained or escaped. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, the plea to turn away from the hate and hope that it will leave them alone.


Overall, "Tolerance" is a powerful commentary on the pervasiveness of fear and hatred in society, and an urgent call to action to work towards a more peaceful and loving world.


Line by Line Meaning

The still and silence is torn with violence.
A sudden and loud sound breaks the peaceful silence of the night.


A loud breaking sound in the night is made.
Something or someone makes a disturbing noise in the middle of the night.


Hear it grow, hear it fade.
The unsettling noise becomes louder and then fades away.


The sound you're hearing, the sound you're fearing is the hate that parades up and down our streets, coming within bounds and within reach.
The noise that disturbs us is actually the manifestation of hate that is present in our society, within our reach.


Now, inside the place we hide away, we hear it near and hope it turns away. Turn away...
We seek refuge from the hateful noise inside our homes but still hear it and hope it goes away.


There's something seething in the air we're breathing.
There is a strong undercurrent of hatred and hostility in our everyday lives that affects us all.


We learn slash and burn is the method to use. Set a flame, burn it new.
We have been taught to destroy things and start afresh rather than finding peaceful solutions to problems.


We're overpowered. We kneel, we cower, we cover our heads.
We feel powerless against the overwhelming force of hatred in our society and resort to hiding and being fearful.


Feel the threat of blows that will come and the damage that will be done in its wake.
We are aware of the harm and destruction that will be caused by acts of hatred and violence.


This house divided, we live inside it. Hate's dwelling place is behind our door in fitful nights.
Our society is divided and filled with hate, which can even be found within our own homes.


Hear it walk the floor and hear it rave as it moans and drags along its ball and chain, As it moves through this house it can't escape.
The insidious presence of hate is like a noisy and restless entity that moves through our homes and cannot be ignored.


Now inside this place we hide away. We hear it near and hope it turns away. Turn away...
Even within the safety of our homes, we still hear the sound of hate and hope it goes away.




Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: NATALIE MERCHANT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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