Musically, the group were influenced by trip-hop, ambient music, and French electronic groups such as Air. However, the lyrics to these lush and romantic melodies are frequently bleak, ironic or sarcastic.
Brutality
Black Box Recorder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Whatever happened to church on Sunday?
Whatever happened to the velvet glove?
And the iron fist
Whatever happened to the social season?
Whatever happened to the debutants?
Whatever happened to the South of France?
Good old fashioned brutality
Everything in it's place
Good old fashioned barbarity
Leave the room in disgrace
Whatever happened to drinking and driving
And doing the decent thing?
Hiding out on the continent
Getting over a nervous breakdown
Close the ranks and remove all traces
Say anything to stay out of jail
What it really boils down to,
It always wins, it never fails
[Chorus]
Driving back from a late night party
Took a corner much too fast
Head-on collision with the 21st century
Whatever happened to brutality?
The lyrics to Black Box Recorder's song Brutality point to a sense of nostalgia for a bygone era where society had a certain order and morality. The opening lines of the song ask what happened to the fear of God and attending church on Sunday, implying a loss of religious values as a societal guide. The reference to the velvet glove and iron fist suggest a time when there was a balance between gentle and strong approach to issues, but it has been replaced by a more aggressive and authoritarian approach. The lyrics question the disappearance of debutante balls and the social season that were symbols of class distinction and privilege. The mention of the South of France highlights the loss of luxury and a carefree lifestyle.
The chorus is a commentary on the acceptance of brutality and barbarity as a normalized form of behavior. The lyrics suggest a certain detachment from the consequences of one's actions and a desire to inflict pain and suffering on others. The line "leave the room in disgrace" indicates a satisfaction in causing humiliation to others.
The second verse describes a society that values self-preservation over morality. The reference to drinking and driving and doing the decent thing illustrates a disregard for the welfare of others. Escaping to the continent after a nervous breakdown represents a lack of support and the need to remove oneself from societal pressures. The final lines suggest that despite society's efforts to appear civilized, it always reverts to brutality as a means of asserting power and control.
Overall, Black Box Recorder's song Brutality is a commentary on a society that has lost its moral compass and replaced it with violence and aggression. The lyrics are a critique of a world that values power and self-interest over compassion and empathy.
Line by Line Meaning
Whatever happened to the fear of god?
What happened to the genuine sense of fear and awe towards God?
Whatever happened to church on Sunday?
What happened to the practice of regular church attendance on Sundays?
Whatever happened to the velvet glove?
What happened to the gentle and polite way of dealing with people and situations?
And the iron fist
And the firm and unyielding way of exerting power and authority?
Whatever happened to the social season?
What happened to the period of the year when wealthy and fashionable people participate in social events?
Whatever happened to the debutants?
What happened to the young women making their first public appearance in high society?
Whatever happened to the South of France?
What happened to the French region where the rich and famous used to spend their summers?
[Chorus]
Refrain
Good old fashioned brutality
The use of physical violence and cruelty, the traditional way
Everything in it's place
Violence is used to assert dominance and maintain order
Good old fashioned barbarity
The use of extreme and brutal methods, the traditional way
Leave the room in disgrace
The victim is humiliated and ostracized afterward
Whatever happened to drinking and driving
What happened to the practice of consuming alcohol and operating a vehicle?
And doing the decent thing?
And behaving morally and ethically?
Hiding out on the continent
Escaping to another country to avoid consequences
Getting over a nervous breakdown
Recovering from a mental breakdown caused by stress or trauma
Close the ranks and remove all traces
Cover up the incident and silence anyone who knows about it
Say anything to stay out of jail
Lie or make false statements to avoid being arrested or imprisoned
What it really boils down to,
In reality,
It always wins, it never fails
Brutality and violence are effective methods of achieving one's goals and objectives
[Chorus]
Refrain
Driving back from a late night party
Returning home after attending a social event
Took a corner much too fast
Driving recklessly and dangerously
Head-on collision with the 21st century
Experiencing the reality of the modern era's emphasis on safety and responsibility
Whatever happened to brutality?
What happened to the use of violence and aggressive behavior?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN MOORE, LUKE MICHAEL HAINES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Shnabbles
This is the kind of gem that somehow got overlooked - it's shiny and beautiful!
nevermind
уникальный голос
VincentRose91
This is a great song.
Gerald Keaney
May be everything was always just an escape from brutality...so it all fell apart w/out enough substance to resist rapid change.
chibiplease
Anyone know where I can download this?
sadie376
Gotta love BBR... 8-D
Francis Peppercorn
yeah, this is sweet.
D-man
Get me the belt, like this song!
OprahruruFenrir
Great song! And the world needs a little more 'Good ole fashioned brutality'.
A L
So is this the same moment as when people watch "Starship troopers" and go "Fascism is cool actually"? :D