Fax Machine Anthem
Beck Lyrics


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Looking for my place on assembly lines
Fake prizes rising out of the bomb holes
Skeleton boys hyped up in purple
Smoke rings blow from across the disco

Bank notes, burn like broken equipment
Looking for shelter via juxtaposition
Thought control, those written confessions
Two dimensions, dumb your head down

Duck, don't look now, company missiles
Power is raunchy when the cops are watching
Make your dreams out of paper mache
Clinched wasted hate taste-tested

Hell yes, now I'm moving this way, I'm doing this thing
(Please enjoy)
Hell yes, now I'm turning it on, I'm working my legs
Hell yes, now I'm calling you out, I'm switching my plates
(Please enjoy)
Hell yes now I'm cleaning the floor, my beat is correct

Stretched to the limit, attention spared
Snap back the track, collapsin' the laugh tracks
Noise response, applause and hand claps
Floodgates open to the sound of the rainbow

Makin' points on the verge of pointless
Fools anointed to the follower's fanfare
Look for the common, not superficial
Code red cola? War conformity crisis

Perfunctory idols rewriting their bibles
With magic markers running out of their ink
Lives and white out, turn the lights out
Fax machine anthems, get your damned hands up

Hell yes, now I'm moving this way, I'm doing this thing
(Please enjoy)
Hell yes, now I'm turning it on, I'm working my legs
Hell yes, now I'm calling you out, I'm switching my plates
(Please enjoy)
Hell yes, now I'm cleaning the floor, my beat is correct

(Hi, yeah, that's it)
Let me see, yeah, that's it
Let me see, yeah, that's it
(Hi)

Let me see, yeah, that's it
Let me see, seriously, Yea, that's it

Yes, hi
(I like your bass)
Your beat is nice, yeah, that's it




(Yes, yes)
Hell yes

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in Beck's song "Fax Machine Anthem" are a commentary on the culture and society of the present day. The first verse talks about the struggles and challenges of finding one's place amidst the chaos of the assembly lines. Beck paints a picture of a world where everything has become cheap and superficial, with fake prizes being offered in bomb holes and skeleton boys hyped up on purple. Smoke rings and the sound of the disco add to the surreal and twisted atmosphere.


In the next set of lines, Beck talks about the power dynamics in society, with bank notes burning like broken equipment and people looking for shelter through juxtaposition. The theme of thought control and self-censorship is also present, with written confessions being divulged for the sake of control. The last verse highlights the pointless nature of the culture in the present day, as fools are anointed to the followers' fanfare and people are encouraged to look for the superficial instead of the real.


Overall, "Fax Machine Anthem" is a biting critique of modern society and culture, bringing to light the struggles and challenges of the individual amidst the superficiality and chaos of present-day life.


Line by Line Meaning

Looking for my place on assembly lines
Searching for a sense of purpose in a society that values conformity.


Fake prizes rising out of the bomb holes
The fleeting and meaningless rewards that society offers to distract people from the harsh reality of the world.


Skeleton boys hyped up in purple
Young boys who are trying to stand out and make a name for themselves in a world that doesn't value individuality.


Smoke rings blow from across the disco
A surreal and superficial world that is fueled by escape and hedonism.


Bank notes, burn like broken equipment
The pain and frustration of working hard for scarce resources that don't provide real value or fulfillment.


Looking for shelter via juxtaposition
Seeking refuge from the harsh realities of the world by creating a stark contrast to the norm.


Thought control, those written confessions
Self-censorship and conformity as a result of societal expectations and pressure.


Two dimensions, dumb your head down
The lack of depth and complexity in society and culture that discourages critical thinking.


Duck, don't look now, company missiles
The dangers and harm caused by blindly following corporate interests and greed.


Power is raunchy when the cops are watching
The abuse of power and authority when there is no accountability or oversight.


Make your dreams out of paper mache
The fragility and unrealistic nature of societal ideals and aspirations that are built on a weak foundation.


Clinched wasted hate taste-tested
The bitterness and resentment towards a society that doesn't meet one's expectations.


Hell yes, now I'm moving this way, I'm doing this thing
Embracing individuality and taking control of one's life by pursuing one's passions.


Stretched to the limit, attention spared
Struggling to keep up with the expectations of society and neglecting one's own needs and desires as a result.


Snap back the track, collapsin' the laugh tracks
Rejecting the artificial and forced nature of entertainment that relies on cheap humor and manipulation of emotions.


Noise response, applause and hand claps
The emptiness and superficiality of modern entertainment that doesn't offer anything substantial or of real value.


Floodgates open to the sound of the rainbow
An explosion of creativity and inspiration that is unleashed when one embraces individuality and freedom of expression.


Makin' points on the verge of pointless
Pursuing goals and ideals that don't have real significance or value in the world.


Fools anointed to the follower's fanfare
The glorification of mediocrity and conformity in a society that discourages individuality and free thinking.


Look for the common, not superficial
Searching for real connections and community based on shared values and ideals, rather than superficial appearances or status.


Code red cola? War conformity crisis
A culture and society that values conformity and superficiality over individuality and real connections.


Perfunctory idols rewriting their bibles
The artificial and superficial nature of modern idols and celebrities that are created and maintained by the media machine.


With magic markers running out of their ink
The fleeting nature of fame and superficiality, which is unsustainable and ultimately fades away.


Lives and white out, turn the lights out
The erasure and suppression of true identity and individuality in favor of conformity and societal expectations.


Fax machine anthems, get your damned hands up
An embrace of individuality and freedom of expression in a world that values conformity and superficiality.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BECK DAVID HANSEN, JOHN ROBERT KING, MICHAEL S. SIMPSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

a

this goes so hard

Martin Williams

I like your bass, your beat is nice

ji_ 2001

weird one. kind of like it

Pokoyo

Scratch it with a PS 1

Baron Kimball

Fuck it Steve Higgins is the corrective... Hell Yes. Larry Sanders.

Scott Gmoney

Gooberfish! From lake VadiVostock!!!! Meow!!!!; Ummm!

Jeffy Bolduc

Too smelly

Alex Clark

Eishhhhh…….don’t quit your day job

PixilatedPosse

Hai

Tony Tiger

i dont even like the original... now ill never listen to it again....

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