The band existed for almost a decade before mainstream success. The members met and played in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Secondary School under the name Pezz and remained underground in Toronto's indie music scene until 2001. The band renamed itself Billy Talent after running into legal trouble with the old name. It was then that Kowalewicz's connection with an employee of Warner Music Canada's A&R department landed the band a record deal and launched them into mainstream success. Since then, Billy Talent has made three multi-platinum records in Canada and continues to expand their success overseas; this included touring for 20 months supporting their second album. They released their third album, Billy Talent III, in 2009, and their fourth album, Dead Silence, in 2012. Dead Silence was followed up by a full UK tour throughout October and November 2012. To commemorate the longevity since the release of their first studio album, the band has released a greatest hits album entitled Hits in 2014. In 2015, they began to prepare material for their fifth studio album. Just before entering the studio, drummer Aaron Solowoniuk decided to sit out the recording sessions while he continued his longstanding battle with multiple sclerosis. Fellow Canadian Jordan Hastings was quickly recruited to play as Solowoniuk's studio stand-in, and, in early 2016, the group completed work on Afraid of Heights, which was released in July of that year. The band's most recent album is Crisis of Faith, released in January 2022.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Talent
Studio albums
Billy Talent (2003)
Billy Talent II (2006)
Billy Talent III (2009)
Dead Silence (2012)
Afraid of Heights (2016)
Crisis of Faith (2022)
Worker Bees
Billy Talent Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Know your enemy!
We take our orders given by the queen
We're not the killers, we're the worker bees
If you resist us you will feel our sting
Surrender now before the swarm sets in
Protect the hive from enemies!
Protect the hive from enemies!
Follow the herd mentality!
Can we fight to save our souls?
March on, worker bees!
Know your enemy!
A pollination coming from the west,
And in a flash we will invade your nest
Supply of honey flowing bottomless
Play by our rules or you'll be powerless
Protect the hive from enemies!
Protect the hive from enemies!
Follow the herd mentality!
Can we fight to save our souls?
And we'll march... along, with our blindfolds on
And we'll ride... the rails, with our pistols drawn
Can the Lord... above, forgive what we've done?
Can we fight to save our souls?
And we'll march... along, with our blindfolds on
And we'll ride... the rails, with our pistols drawn
Can the Lord... above, forgive what we've done?
Can we fight to save our souls?
Will we die to save our home?
The lyrics of Billy Talent's song "Worker Bees" are a metaphor for the struggle of the working class under a system where their labor is exploited by those in power. The lyrics begin with a call to action, inviting the worker bees to march on and reminding them to know their enemy: the ones who give them orders, the queen. The chorus emphasizes the need to protect the hive from enemies and to follow the herd mentality, meaning that the workers must conform to the expectations of their superiors or risk being overpowered.
The lyrics continue with a description of how the worker bees will invade their enemy's nest and take control of the resources they need to survive. However, this comes with a warning that they must play by the rules or they will become powerless. The second verse repeats the chorus but with a sense of urgency and desperation, asking whether the worker bees can fight to save their souls and whether they will die for their home.
The song's meaning goes beyond the metaphor of bees and explores the struggle of the working class to break free from a system that exploits them. It highlights the need for unity and resistance against those in power who maintain the status quo.
Line by Line Meaning
March on, worker bees!
Keep working tirelessly!
Know your enemy!
Be aware of potential threats!
We take our orders given by the queen
We are servants to those in power!
We're not the killers, we're the worker bees
We do not intend to harm, only to work!
If you resist us you will feel our sting
We will not tolerate opposition!
Surrender now before the swarm sets in
Give up before it's too late!
Protect the hive from enemies!
Defend our home at all costs!
Follow the herd mentality!
Do not question the norm!
Can we fight to save our souls?
Is it possible to maintain our morality?
A pollination coming from the west,
An incoming threat from the western front!
And in a flash we will invade your nest
We will attack swiftly and without hesitation!
Supply of honey flowing bottomless
Our resources are plentiful!
Play by our rules or you'll be powerless
Adhere to our terms or face the consequences!
And we'll march... along, with our blindfolds on
We continue forward without awareness!
And we'll ride... the rails, with our pistols drawn
We assert our dominance with force!
Can the Lord... above, forgive what we've done?
Will we be absolved of our sins?
Can we fight to save our souls?
Is it possible to maintain our morality?
Will we die to save our home?
Are we willing to sacrifice everything for our cause?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: AARON SOLOWONIUK, BEN KOWALEWICZ, IAN D'SA, JON GALLANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind