Official Website: http://www.agathocles.com/
Hand in Hand
Agathocles Lyrics
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shouting sieg heil
they think it is hip
they got kicked out and started again
then cops came, defending them
now they've pushed us, pushed us too far
our state says they won't give them a chance
but cops and fascists go hand in hand
the fascists go free is what the cops said
The song "Hand in Hand" by Agathocles is a powerful commentary against the neo-fascist movement, which is still prevalent in modern society. The lyrics refer to a situation where neo-nazis showed up at their gig and started chanting "sieg heil" while raising their arms. The band kicked them out, but they persistently returned. When the cops showed up, they defended the neo-fascists, causing the band to feel pushed too far. The state claims that they won't give the neo-fascists a chance, but the cops and fascists seem to go hand in hand. In moments of trouble, the band is deemed "the bad" while the fascists go free, which is a scathing indictment of how the police and authorities handle these situations.
The lyrics of "Hand in Hand" are successfully contextualized with references to events that have taken place in real life. It is a call for awareness and action against the fascist ideologies that still prevail today, despite being opposed to the principles of harmony and equality. The song highlights how neo-fascists try to make a norm of their ideology by presenting it as a rebellion. However, it also emphasizes how the system protects the fascists under the pretext of free speech, often allowing hate speech to go unpunished. Overall, it is a powerful and poignant piece of songwriting that resonates with the topical issues of the day.
Line by Line Meaning
they raised their arms at our gig
During our performance, some members of the audience raised their arms in a Nazi salute, indicating their support for fascist ideals.
shouting sieg heil
In addition to raising their arms, some of the audience members shouted the phrase 'sieg heil,' which is a German phrase associated with the Nazi regime and its ideology of white supremacy.
they think it is hip
These individuals may believe that their expression of fascist views is trendy or fashionable, despite the fact that such beliefs are racist and offensive.
they got kicked out and started again
After being ejected from our venue for their offensive and disruptive behavior, these individuals attempted to re-enter and continue their disruptive behavior.
then cops came, defending them
When the police arrived on the scene, they took the side of the individuals expressing fascist ideology, rather than supporting the performers who had been victimized by their behavior.
now they've pushed us, pushed us too far
After repeatedly being confronted with this kind of hateful behavior, the performers have reached a breaking point and can no longer tolerate it.
our state says they won't give them a chance
Despite the fact that the performers have been victimized by fascist individuals, the state has failed to take action to prevent this kind of behavior in the future.
but cops and fascists go hand in hand
The police's defense of these fascist individuals suggests that they share some of the same beliefs and ideologies, to the point where they are willing to defend them even when they are being disruptive and hateful.
when there's trouble, we're the bad
Despite being the victims of harassment and hate speech, the performers are often seen as the ones causing trouble simply for speaking out against fascist behavior.
the fascists go free is what the cops said
Rather than holding the fascist individuals accountable for their behavior, the police allowed them to go free, sending a message that such behavior would be tolerated and condoned in the future.
Contributed by Harper H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.