Empire
Above All Lyrics

The lyrics of "Empire" by Above All are a pointed critique of humanity's selfishness, cruelty, and greed. The opening lines set the tone by describing people as savage and selfish, lacking any compassion in their hardened veins. These traits are seen as a product of our environment, and as such, we are damned by our own personal greed. The repeated refrain "surrender your soul, it drains us all" further emphasizes the idea that our actions and behavior do not exist in isolation; they have consequences for the collective. The second verse further underscores the impact of our actions, painting a picture of a savage garden where humanity is a child in a crumbling decay. The sense of helplessness is palpable, with no chance to escape the vicious cycle of cruelty and greed that defines our existence. The chorus repeats the idea that surrender is inevitable, and that we are all at risk of being consumed by the same evil seed.

The song's lyrics not only critique humanity's behavior but also the structures that enable it. The mention of identity and the empire thrives suggest a sinister societal force that sustains these negative qualities, trapping individuals within its grasp. The idea of suffering in the empire spawned from the evil seed is a bleak picture of a world that is perpetually locked in a self-destructive cycle. The final lines of the song, "no mercy to those on their knees, no compassion for their tearful pieces, bred to feed on this hate, savagery, suffer in the empire spawned from the evil ...seed," paint a vividly cruel picture of a society that is built to sustain suffering and cruelty, feeding on the very emotions that create it.