Autonomadic's new album Gift of the Sun is loaded with catchy hooks and provoking lyrics. It will start hammering away at you from the very first track, "Burn," with its infectious Oi-style chorus. Next, the fierce burst of angst from "Discordia" will knock you clean over. Then the poppy "Blood & Guts" will bounce in, to sweep up the wreckage; and you'll be hooked until the dying strains of the bittersweet anthem "Postcards," on track twenty.
The trio first established their punk-rock swagger back in 2003 with a self-released EP, Sterilize the Poor in Spirit. Over the next two years Autonomadic toured like bandits up and down the West Coast, from Anchorage, Alaska to Orange County, California; from Edmonton, Alberta to Reno, Nevada. Finally they paused in 2005 to record a full-length album, Lies, Fear, & Hate.
But then the band's original drummer, Chad Schultz, quit, burnt out from the late nights and long drives. The two remaining members, guitarist Justin Ludwig and bassist Todd Weaver, spent months searching for the right replacement. They found him in musical prodigy Robert Baker, who was just seventeen at the time.
Slowly Autonomadic got back up to speed with their new drummer, recording a fiery seven-song EP, The Missionary, in 2007. Then the band took a year off to deal with some personal issues. In the fall of 2008 the trio got back together, and began working furiously on new material — the results of which would become Gift of the Sun. Now they're back in action, playing shows in Seattle, and touring in support of their new album.
MAY
Autonomadic Lyrics
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And when the muezzin call, they sing for justice
But when the people come, they come for vengeance
And when the people come, they put down women
Can you take it all away
With your lies and your fear and your hate?
Can you take it all away
When the ministers preach, they say "Love thy neighbor"
And when the ministers preach, they say "Follow the Savior."
But when the people go home, they take some more drugs
And when the people go home, they load up their guns
When the politicians speak, they'll talk of freedom
And when the politicians speak, they'll mention justice
But when you look at what they've done -- there ain't no justice
And when they tell you what to think -- that sure ain't freedom
The lyrics of the song May by Autonomadic express the hypocrisy of those in power, who claim to promote freedom and justice but in reality, they act towards their own interests. The song talks about three different groups - the muezzin, ministers, and politicians, who represent religious leaders, spiritual guides, and governmental authorities. The first two groups are often seen as symbols of hope and morality, while the third group may not always have that perception. However, the song argues that when it comes to the common man, their motives are often sinister, and they exploit their power to gain vengeance, take advantage of women, use drugs, and load up their guns.
The song encourages reflection and urges us to think about the lies, fear, and hate used by those in power to control the masses. The lyrics challenge the listeners to question if they can really take everything away with guns, bombs, and tanks. The song explores the theme of dualism, between the reality of the situation, and the rhetoric propagated by the leaders. The use of the word 'May' in the title of the song further highlights this divide, and how it is often difficult to differentiate between the truth and the lies.
In conclusion, the lyrics of the song May by Autonomadic reveal the hidden agenda of those in power and encourages us to think critically about the narrative that they create. The song reminds us that despite the rhetoric of freedom and justice, there still exists intolerance, biases, and inequality.
Line by Line Meaning
When the muezzin call, they sing for freedom
The muezzin's call to prayer symbolizes and represents the call for freedom.
And when the muezzin call, they sing for justice
The muezzin's call to prayer symbolizes and represents the call for justice.
But when the people come, they come for vengeance
When people come together, they often seek vengeance.
And when the people come, they put down women
When people come together, they often treat women unfairly.
Can you take it all away
With your lies and your fear and your hate?
The artist questions whether those who use lies, fear, and hate can truly take away people's freedom and justice.
Can you take it all away
With your guns and your bombs and your tanks?
The singer questions whether those who use weapons of war can truly take away people's freedom and justice.
When the ministers preach, they say "Love thy neighbor"
Ministers often preach about loving one's neighbor.
And when the ministers preach, they say "Follow the Savior."
Ministers often preach about following the teachings of Jesus Christ.
But when the people go home, they take some more drugs
People often turn to drugs for temporary relief from their problems.
And when the people go home, they load up their guns
People often arm themselves in preparation for violence or conflict.
When the politicians speak, they'll talk of freedom
Politicians often speak about freedom as a political value.
And when the politicians speak, they'll mention justice
Politicians often speak about justice as a political value.
But when you look at what they've done -- there ain't no justice
The actions of politicians often do not lead to justice being served.
And when they tell you what to think -- that sure ain't freedom
Being told what to think by others takes away one's freedom of thought.
Contributed by Caden I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.