Among The Living
Anthrax[www.illutrix.com] Lyrics
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With some help from Captain Trips,
He'll bring the world down to his knees.
Power, yes Power! He'll show them all his power.
It pulses through his ice cold blood,
A whole world to devour!
Bridge He's seeing, he's calling, his legacy he's spawning.
Murder! Murder! Commit cold blooded murder!
Like Nazis during World War Two, they only follow orders.
Hatred! Hatred! A crucifix is your bed,
Once he turns his eye on you, you'll be better off dead!
I'm the walkin' dude, I can see all the world!
Twist your minds with fear, I'm the man with the power.
Among the living, follow me or die!
Man, fights Man! Divided they can't stand!
United, they can battle back, and make him force his hand!
Fear, yes fear! His end is growing near,
He didn't count on Man's good faith,
And their will to persevere.
Follow me or die!
Fire! Hot fire! Purge the world with fire!!
Damnation is the price he'll pay, for an evil man's desire!
Good, versus evil! The stand to vanquish evil!
Man can only live one way, that place right in the middle.
Follow me or die!
Among Among Among Among Among Among
Among Among Among Among Among Among!
The lyrics to Anthrax's "Among The Living" depict a world consumed by disease, hatred, and fear, with a powerful evil force at the center of it all. The song opens with the refrain "Disease! Disease! Spreading the disease" which suggests a disease that is not just physical but metaphorical, with the spread of hatred and fear contributing to societal decay. The reference to "Captain Trips" could be a nod to Stephen King's novel "The Stand," about a man-made virus that destroys most of the world's population.
The second verse shifts to the topic of murder, specifically cold-blooded killings committed under the guise of following orders. The reference to Nazis during World War Two is particularly pointed, suggesting that those who follow blindly may become complicit in atrocities. The third verse is sung from the perspective of the "walkin' dude" with the power to twist minds with fear. The chorus repeats the phrase "Follow me or die!" which serves as a rallying cry for either the villain or the singer of the story.
The overall message of "Among The Living" seems to be a call for unity against evil and a warning against blindly following those in power. The words "fear" and "hatred" are repeated throughout the song, suggesting that these are the true enemies to be overcome. The song ends with the lyrics "Good, versus evil! The stand to vanquish evil! Man can only live one way, that place right in the middle," which reinforces the idea that it is up to individuals to choose which side they will take in the struggle between good and evil.
Line by Line Meaning
Disease! Disease! Spreading the disease.
An infectious disease is spreading causing widespread harm.
With some help from Captain Trips,
Captain Trips, a fictional virus from Stephen King's The Stand, represents the source of the disease.
He'll bring the world down to his knees.
The spread of the disease will cause chaos and bring down society.
Power, yes Power! He'll show them all his power.
The person responsible for spreading the disease seeks to assert their power and control over others.
It pulses through his ice cold blood,
The desire for power runs deep within the person responsible for spreading the disease.
A whole world to devour!
The person responsible for spreading the disease seeks to consume and destroy everything in their path.
He's seeing, he's calling, his legacy he's spawning.
The person responsible for spreading the disease is creating a destructive legacy that will live on after them.
He's coming, corrupting, among the living!
The person responsible for spreading the disease is causing harm and destruction to those still alive.
Murder! Murder! Commit cold-blooded murder!
The spread of the disease is resulting in violence and death.
Like Nazis during World War Two, they only follow orders.
Those committing violence as a result of the disease are following unquestioningly, as the Nazis did during World War II.
Hatred! Hatred! A crucifix is your bed,
The spread of the disease has led to a rise in hateful and intolerant attitudes.
Once he turns his eye on you, you'll be better off dead!
Those targeted by the hateful attitudes and actions resulting from the disease are in grave danger.
I'm the walkin' dude, I can see all the world!
The singer of the song sees themselves as an observer of the world being destroyed by the disease.
Twist your minds with fear, I'm the man with the power.
The singer is attempting to use fear to manipulate others into following them.
Among the living, follow me or die!
The singer sees it as a choice between joining them or facing death.
Man, fights Man! Divided they can't stand!
Humanity turning on itself will only lead to further destruction and chaos.
United, they can battle back, and make him force his hand!
Only through unity and cooperation can humanity overcome the destructive forces at work.
Fear, yes fear! His end is growing near,
The person responsible for spreading the disease will face consequences and their time is running out.
He didn't count on Man's good faith,
The person responsible for spreading the disease underestimated humanity's ability to come together and overcome adversity.
And their will to persevere.
Humanity has the resilience and determination to withstand even the greatest challenges.
Fire! Hot fire! Purge the world with fire!!
The only way to eradicate the disease and its destructive legacy is through extreme measures such as burning everything to the ground.
Damnation is the price he'll pay, for an evil man's desire!
The person responsible for spreading the disease will face punishment for their evil actions and desire for power.
Good, versus evil! The stand to vanquish evil!
The fight against the disease and the forces behind it is a battle between good and evil.
Man can only live one way, that place right in the middle.
Humanity must find a balance between the forces of good and evil in order to survive and thrive.
Among Among Among Among Among Among Among Among Among Among Among!
Repetition of the word 'Among' to emphasize the destructive forces at work and the singer's role as an observer.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHARLIE L. BENANTE, DANIEL ALAN SPITZ, FRANK JOSEPH BELLO, JOSEPH A. BELLARDINI, SCOTT IAN ROSENFELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind