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.
prologue
Birth Control Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Left up to us to relate
One first of April, some years ago
Striver steps out of his house
Springtime sun is shining down on the city
He has to take the subway, oh what a pity
Proclaiming the best way of life
It's squandermania, it is a creed
You must believe unreserved
Striver's mind is somewhere else in the office
He does not yet know that he will be filed away
Life's a gallop when you play the game
It's oppressing when you're being screwed
Got to learn it, so we'll tell you now
It'll be the day to file you away
When somebody else meets your soul
Don't be ashamed, you're not to blame
It's gonna come to all of us
The lyrics of Birth Control's song Prologue describe a story, not a fantasy, which each of us can relate to. The singer is Striver, who steps out of his house on the first of April, some years ago. It's Spring, and the sun is shining down on the city. Striver has to take the subway, which he finds to be a pity. Everywhere he looks, there are advertisements puffing publicity, proclaiming the best way of life. It's squandermania, which is a creed, and one must believe unreservedly. However, Striver's mind is somewhere else in the office, and he doesn't yet know that he will be filed away. Life is a gallop when you play the game, but it's oppressing when you're being screwed. They've got to teach it, but they'll tell us now. It'll be the day they file us away when someone else meets our soul. We should not feel ashamed because it's going to happen to all of us.
The song Prologue by Birth Control is a commentary on the societal pressure to conform and the sense of helplessness that can come with it. The lyrics speak to the idea that we are all living in a world where advertisements and propaganda try to tell us how to live and what to believe. Birth Control suggests that this pressure to conform can be suffocating and oppressive, leading to a sense of powerlessness. The song evokes feelings of frustration and resignation about the inevitability of being a cog in a machine that doesn't necessarily reflect our values or desires.
Line by Line Meaning
This is a story, it's not fantasy
The following lyrics tell a true story and not a work of imagination
Left up to us to relate
It's our responsibility to share this story with others
One first of April, some years ago
Many years ago, on the first of April
Striver steps out of his house
A man named Striver leaves his home
Springtime sun is shining down on the city
The sun is shining during springtime in the city
He has to take the subway, oh what a pity
He must ride the subway, which is unfortunate
Puffing publicity on every wall
Advertisements are on every wall
Proclaiming the best way of life
These advertisements are promoting a specific lifestyle
It's squandermania, it is a creed
This lifestyle is one of excessive waste, and it's promoted as a set of beliefs
You must believe unreserved
The advertisements demand that you fully believe in this lifestyle
Striver's mind is somewhere else in the office
At work, Striver has other things on his mind
He does not yet know that he will be filed away
He's unaware that his job will result in him being forgotten over time
Life's a gallop when you play the game
Life can feel like a strong and fast-paced race when you're actively participating in it
It's oppressing when you're being screwed
But, it can feel oppressive when things aren't going your way
Got to learn it, so we'll tell you now
However, in this song, the lesson is to learn how to live life despite its challenges
It'll be the day to file you away
There will come a day when you're forgotten
When somebody else meets your soul
And someone new takes your place
Don't be ashamed, you're not to blame
It's not something to be ashamed of or blamed for
It's gonna come to all of us
Everyone will face this inevitable outcome
Contributed by Arianna N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.