A Plea For Purging was a four piece metalcore band from… Read Full Bio ↴(2005–2012)
A Plea For Purging was a four piece metalcore band from Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The band mixes elements of heavy metal and traditional hardcore. Their early work is noted for being very lead guitar-driven and employing lots of guitar tricks such as finger tapping and divebombs, while their more recent output is more influenced by technical deathcore. The band was recently signed to Facedown Records and is currently touring. http://www.myspace.com/apleaforpurging
Testify
A Plea for Purging Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The movie ran through me
The glamour, subdue me
The tabloid, untie me
I'm empty, please fill me
Mister anchor, assure me
That Baghdad is burning
Your voice it is so soothing
I need you, my witness
To dress this up so bloodless
To numb me and purge me now
Of thoughts of blaming you
Yes the car is our wheelchair
My witness, your coughing
Oily silence mocks the legless
Boys who travel now in coffins
On the corner
The jury's sleepless
We found your weakness
And it's right outside your door.
Now testify! x2
And it's right outside your door.
Now testify!
Yes testify!
And it's right outside your door.
With precision, you feed me
My witness, I'm hungry
Your temple, it calms me
So I can carry on
Yes my slaving sweating the skin right off my bones
On a bed of fire, I'm choking on the smoke that fills my home
The wrecking ball is rushing
Witness your blushing
The pipeline is gushing
While here we lie in tombs
While on the corner
The jury's sleepless
We found your weakness
And it's right outside your door.
Now testify!
Yeah testify!
And it's right outside your door.
Now testify! x2
And it's right outside your door.
Mass graves for the pump and the price is set, and the price is set. x4
Who controls the past now controls the future,
Who controls the present now controls the past,
Who controls the past now controls the future,
Who controls the present now?
Now testify! Testify!
And it's right outside your door.
x2
Blegh! Blay!
Ehgh! x2
The lyrics of A Plea for Purging's song "Testify" criticize the media's role in promoting war and violence. The first verse paints a picture of the media's hypnotic power over the masses. The singer is begging for the "Mister anchor" to "assure" him of the rightness of the war in Iraq, and to numb him to the reality of the violence. The second verse switches back and forth between the singer's personal struggle and the broader issue of the war. The singer is being fed by a "witness" who calms him down and relieves his hunger to keep going. The lines "With precision, you feed me / My witness, I'm hungry" suggest that the media has carefully constructed a narrative that keeps people hungry for more information and more war. The chorus calling for witnesses to testify suggests that the singer is calling out to others to break the silence and speak out against the war. The line "Who controls the past now controls the future" suggests that those in power are rewriting history to control the narrative and perpetuate their power and control over the masses.
Line by Line Meaning
The movie ran through me
The media and its tactics have affected me deeply
The glamour, subdue me
Celebrity culture and its allure have subdued me
The tabloid, untie me
The sensationalism of news media has unleashed me
I'm empty, please fill me
I am searching for meaning and purpose, please provide it for me
Mister anchor, assure me
News anchors reassure me with their convincing tone
That Baghdad is burning
The news media reports on war and destruction to grab attention
Your voice it is so soothing
The voice of authority and media is calming
That cunning mantra of killing
The media's message of war and destruction is cleverly packaged
I need you, my witness
I need the media to validate my views and beliefs
To dress this up so bloodless
To spin the news in a way that makes it seem less violent and harmful
To numb me and purge me now
To desensitize me and rid me of critical thought
Of thoughts of blaming you
To prevent me from questioning the media's role and responsibility
Yes the car is our wheelchair
Our dependence on oil and vehicles has made us incapable of change
My witness, your coughing
The effects of environmental degradation are apparent but ignored
Oily silence mocks the legless
The environment and its destruction mock those who are powerless to stop it
Boys who travel now in coffins
Soldiers who die in war are treated as mere casualties, not individuals
On the corner
In everyday life
The jury's sleepless
Society as a whole is aware of the media's influence and is concerned
We found your weakness
We have identified the media's propaganda tactics
And it's right outside your door.
The issue is present and urgent
Now testify!
Speak out and take action
With precision, you feed me
The media controls and manipulates my thoughts and perceptions
My witness, I'm hungry
I am constantly seeking more information and validation from the media
Your temple, it calms me
The media is a trusted authority that relieves me of anxiety
So I can carry on
So I can continue living without feeling overwhelmed by the world's problems
Yes my slaving sweating the skin right off my bones
My unending labor and hard work do not provide me with enough to survive
On a bed of fire, I'm choking on the smoke that fills my home
I am suffering the consequences of environmental destruction
The wrecking ball is rushing
Destruction is happening rapidly and without concern
Witness your blushing
The media's guilt is apparent
The pipeline is gushing
The environmental damage caused by oil is happening constantly
While here we lie in tombs
We are destroying our environment and future for the sake of profit and convenience
Mass graves for the pump and the price is set, and the price is set.
Our dependence on and destruction of the environment for oil is resulting in mass destruction and death
Who controls the past now controls the future,
Those who control historical narratives and interpretations hold power over current and future actions
Who controls the present now controls the past,
Those who control the present can shape historical narratives and interpretations
Now testify! Testify!
Speak out and take action to change the status quo
Blegh! Blay!
Vocalizations that express frustration and anger
Ehgh!
An expression of disgust
Contributed by Adam B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.