www.progarchives.com
2) Birth Control are also a newer band from Philadelphia, featuring Sean McGuiness of Pissed Jeans. They play a strange form of punk that embodies anything that defies normality and embraces the unknown. Their music, if capable of being compared to anything/anyone at all, is similar to having your questions constantly going unanswered. Further information and mp3s can be found at: http://www.freelegalhighs.org/ and www.birth-control.de
3) Birth Control was a new wave/minimal synth band from Sweden. They released a cassette entitled Lobotomi on the Swedish label Neuköln (NK-008) in 1986.
Plastic People
Birth Control Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They compose and find themselves
In their instant milk coffees
Driving in a plastic seated omnibus
Plastic people's parade's moving
Slowly to the void, to the void
Daring not to think too much
Pretending to be cool
Never mind, there might be a deeper sense
Cracking silly jokes for idiots
Living in their trash, in their trash
Hey you plastic people
Proud, please keep flexible
Where do you go when your time is gone
What will you do if the day has come now
A plastic pachyderm could be their president
Lying pamphlets for the people
Would influence their choice
When it's dark, just might see their private moon
Looking like a curry sausage
On a plastic spoon, plastic spoon
Hey you plastic people
Proud, please keep flexible
Where do you go when your time is gone
What will you do if the day has come
What will you do
What will you do
What will you do
The lyrics to "Plastic People" by Birth Control paint a picture of a world where individuals have lost touch with their authenticity, reduced to mere puppets following the societal norm. The first verse describes how people put on their masks or faces after sunrise, compose themselves and then end up drinking instant milk coffees, highlighting the fast-paced lifestyle of the era. The second verse mentions the parade of the plastic people, who are moving slowly to the void, which can be interpreted as them moving towards a meaningless existence. They have developed their own philosophies but are afraid to think too much, pretending to be cool instead. The lyrics suggest that they might be cracking silly jokes for fools, living in their trash, and have no deeper sense of understanding of their lives.
The chorus addresses the plastic people directly, admitting their flexibility and asking them where they will go when their time is gone. The final verse is more political, describing how a plastic pachyderm could be their president, highlighting the absurdity of politics. The lying pamphlets for the people could influence their choice, and when it's dark, they might see their private moon, resembling a curry sausage on a plastic spoon. This image indicates how the plastic world is created and curated by their leaders, who don't genuinely care about their people. The song ends with the line, "What will you do?" a question asked to the plastic people, making them reflect on their lives and the direction they are taking.
Overall, "Plastic People" by Birth Control is a punk rock classic that critiques society's obsession with conformity, consumerism and superficiality. The song is a protest against the depersonalization of individuals, who have forgotten their true selves, living in a world where plastic has become the norm.
Line by Line Meaning
After sunrise when they put their faces on
When the sun comes up, they paint on their facades
They compose and find themselves
They construct their identities and sense of self
In their instant milk coffees
Through their temporary, quick fix pleasures
Driving in a plastic seated omnibus
They travel in a cheap, uniform mode of transport
Plastic people's parade's moving
Their assembly of fake personas proceeds in stilted uniformity
Slowly to the void, to the void
Their procession moves robotic, towards an empty existence
They have tinkered up their own philosophies
They have constructed their own belief systems
Daring not to think too much
But with a reluctance to deeply consider their beliefs or actions
Pretending to be cool
Faking a sense of detachment or apathy to seem trendy
Never mind, there might be a deeper sense
However, they maintain a faint hope for some significant truth
Cracking silly jokes for idiots
As they entertain themselves and others with trivial or foolish humor
Living in their trash, in their trash
They dwell in the filth of their own superficiality
Hey you plastic people
Addressing those embodying these characteristics with a sense of disdain
Proud, please keep flexible
Advocating for them to continue to be malleable to societal pressures
Where do you go when your time is gone
Questioning where their meaningless existence will lead them
What will you do if the day has come now
Asking how they will respond when confronted with the sobering reality of life
A plastic pachyderm could be their president
Commenting on their susceptibility to electing disingenuous individuals
Lying pamphlets for the people
Spreading misinformation to manipulate the masses
Would influence their choice
And sway their decision-making accordingly
When it's dark, just might see their private moon
During night time, they may reveal their hidden true selves
Looking like a curry sausage
Which may come off as bizarre or unappetizing
On a plastic spoon, plastic spoon
Served up in yet another synthetic, disposable medium
What will you do
Reiterating the earlier question of how they will face the reality of life
What will you do
Asking how they will respond when confronted with the sobering reality of life
What will you do
Echoing the same question to drive home its gravity
Contributed by Eli P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ludmila Kokk
I have heard Birth Control's all album and this is their best album musically to my mind and maybe most progressive also. Before this album what they done every album has few good tracks but not all. This one has every tracks are good and that's why this is their best album to my ears. One of the better ones from German krautrock scene.
David Eveson
Operation is the best.
Wilss
Yeah this one and 'Backdoor Possibilities' are my favourite.
solosoyvictor
Great track, amazing band!!!
QuanticFive
Excelente musica e uma relidade assustadora
mclarsj
This was the 70's! There are a lot of plastic people hanging around again nowadays!Fucking incredible music is the main thing!That's what counts, and this is it!!!
J J
the awesomeness is strong with this one
RWB Cos
I bought this album from a charity shop in nottingham in the 70's/80's on spec, mostly the title and cover, surprisingly good album. ;)
ljubisa krajisnik
Perfect song!!!
Temo Tull
So terrible, that there is no live version of this song on youtube... anyone got an idea where to find a live version? or have they ever played/recorded ?