Bad Brains are a punk rock band formed in Washington, D.C., USA in 1977. Th… Read Full Bio ↴Bad Brains are a punk rock band formed in Washington, D.C., USA in 1977. They are regarded as one of the pioneers of hardcore punk, though band members have objected to the term to describe their music. They are also an adept reggae band, while later recordings featured elements of other genres like funk, heavy metal, hip-hop and soul. Bad Brains are followers of the Rastafari movement.

Originally formed as a jazz fusion ensemble under the name Mind Power, Bad Brains developed a very fast and intense punk rock sound which came to be labeled "hardcore", and was often played faster and more emphatically than many of their peers. The unique factor of the band's music was the fact that they played more complex rhythms than other hardcore punk bands, also adapting diverse guitar styles into their songs.

Bad Brains have released nine studio albums (one of which is entirely composed of instrumental versions of their early material). The band broke up and reformed several times over the years, sometimes with different singers or drummers. Since 1994, the "classic" lineup of singer H.R. (Human Rights), guitarist Dr. Know, bassist Darryl Jenifer, and drummer Earl Hudson has reunited, albeit performing sporadically.

Discography:
• Bad Brains (1982)
• Rock for Light (1983)
• I Against I (1986)
• Quickness (1989)
• Rise (1993)
• God of Love (1995)
• I & I Survived (2002)
• Build a Nation (2007)
• Into the Future (2012)
• Mind Power (TBA)

Miss Freedom
Bad Brains Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Check out the government
inject the innocent with subliminal
criminal vibes with the message attainable
station to station
tellin' lies to a nation
addressed by the president yo.
You should all be aware that a leader who fooled you
and told you lies to get elected

rejected
a civil rights bill
with skill.
What is he saying.
Subliminal vibes again.

''Chorus:''
You're known as Miss Freedom,
you're known as the land of opportunity.
Yea but what do they know.
They know nothing

The “tell-lies-vision” it's got a nation trapped.
Keepin' you flip back and forth and back.
A remote to your brain
you remain the same.
Intellectual genocide,
it's suicide
because you play the game
and turn it on.
So now you're caught
like a base head visual.
Fiending for the things you see
on your “tell-lies-vision” television!
Subliminal vibes again.

''Chorus''

Subliminal nation,
governmental constitution
emancipated Miss Freedom
was their mendacious solution
to keep us really where we are
mentally, physically and foolishly
abiding by the rules they set.
What do they know. They don't live like we do.
They'll never understand the middle or lower class.
So you better believe we goto overstand ourselves.
From the white house in D.C.
They'll never see you and me,
believe that brother.
So whether you're white or whether you're black
take your brother's hand and sure 'nuff understand
that this world is in need of a new plan.
Stop suffering and bring love across the land

Miss Freedom – they call you Miss Freedom.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Bad Brains’ “Miss Freedom” tackle complex themes of government control, societal manipulation, and freedom. The verses highlight the widespread deception that plagues societies around the world. From governments injecting subliminal messages into citizens' minds to the lies told by leaders to achieve their political goals, the band addresses societal conditioning as a way to maintain control. By using phrases such as “tell-lies-vision” and “subliminal vibes,” Bad Brains highlights the pervasive nature of propaganda in modern-day life.

The chorus of “Miss Freedom” celebrates the United States as the “land of opportunity,” but also criticizes the nation's ignorance of the truth. The chorus underlines how this ignorance results in people remaining trapped in their ways, as the “governmental constitution” allows the nation to retain its control. The song’s final message emphasizes the need to unite, irrespective of race or social class, to bring about a new world, one rooted in love and free from suffering. Through this, the song emphasizes the impact of democracy on freedom, and how true change can only come from a united front.

Line by Line Meaning

Check out the government
Take a closer look at how the government works

inject the innocent with subliminal
The government manipulates people without their knowledge

criminal vibes with the message attainable
Sending messages with the intention to deceive and manipulate

station to station
Sending messages to the masses through various media channels

tellin' lies to a nation
The government spreads falsehoods to the people

addressed by the president yo.
Even the president participates in spreading government propaganda

You should all be aware that a leader who fooled you and told you lies to get elected rejected a civil rights bill with skill. What is he saying.
A leader can deceive people to gain power and then oppose their rights cunningly

Subliminal vibes again.
The government is manipulating people once more

You're known as Miss Freedom, you're known as the land of opportunity. Yea but what do they know. They know nothing
Miss Freedom and land of opportunity are just labels. They have no meaning in reality

The “tell-lies-vision” it's got a nation trapped. Keepin' you flip back and forth and back. A remote to your brain you remain the same.
The media is playing with people's minds like a toy, and people's views remain unchanged

Intellectual genocide, it's suicide because you play the game and turn it on.
The government is destroying people's ability to think for themselves, and people are killing themselves by becoming part of the game

So now you're caught like a base head visual. Fiending for the things you see on your “tell-lies-vision” television!
People are fooled into being addicts to what they watch on TV

Subliminal vibes again.
The government is manipulating people again

Subliminal nation, governmental constitution emancipated Miss Freedom was their mendacious solution to keep us really where we are mentally, physically and foolishly abiding by the rules they set.
The government is using manipulation and deceit to enforce its constitution and keep people oppressed

What do they know. They don't live like we do. They'll never understand the middle or lower class. So you better believe we goto overstand ourselves.
The government officials don't have an understanding of how people live. We need to rely on ourselves for change

From the white house in D.C. They'll never see you and me, believe that brother.
The government officials in the White House don't understand the common people

So whether you're white or whether you're black take your brother's hand and sure 'nuff understand that this world is in need of a new plan. Stop suffering and bring love across the land
We, as people, should set aside our differences, join hands and create a new plan for the world. We need to stop suffering and spread love

Contributed by Connor F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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