Burning Image is one of the original bands of the early eighties California "deathrock" scene, along with 45 Grave and Christian Death, playing shows with bands including Specimen, Jello Biafra, 45 Grave, Butthole Surfers, and Dr. Timothy Leary.
Burning Image is currently working on a new release for fall of 2023.
Hives
Burning Image Lyrics
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Knock her on the ground, make her understand
What is that you hear?
Language you hold dear
You are naturally moving
Moving toward the hive mind
Wave thought versus sickly words
Talk speak laugh cry, yell tell scream die
Never work so scratch touch smash no!
Can there be no strength in you to change the future path you're on
The broadcast minds of your new queen will, tame you, train you, enslave you
Make you drone and drone and drone
You must leave
Sovereign state of mind!
There is no queen in the territory of my mind is mine
Sovereign individual state
Work work obey obey sell your soul to the queen mother
Work work obey obey sell your soul to the queen mother
(I don't believe you)
You must you must, feed the hive to stay alive, you must strive and strive
Obey
No
Obey
No
Our languages are pretty cages, Inlaid with gold, ten thousand years old
Per chance you might escape, asylum be your mate
We are naturally moving
Moving toward the hive mind
Wave thought versus sickly words
Silence versus breath of myth
The song "Hives" by Burning Image is a commentary on the dangers of conformity and the pressure of giving in to societal norms. The lyrics suggest that people are naturally moving towards the hive mind, which represents the conformist nature of society. The opening lines of the song, "Scratch his face, make him understand, knock her on the ground, make her understand," suggest that there is physical force involved in keeping people in line with what is expected of them. The lines, "Can there be no strength in you to change the future path you're on, the broadcast minds of your new queen will tame you, train you, enslave you, make you drone and drone and drone," depict the idea of a dominant power that controls people's thoughts and actions.
The song encourages people to break free of the hive mind and be their own individual self. The lines, "You must leave, sovereign state of mind, there is no queen in the territory of my mind is mine, sovereign individual state," suggest that one must take control of their own thoughts and not let the dominant power control them. The lyrics describe how conformity can be dangerous, as it can enslave people and prevent them from being their own person. The lines "Our languages are pretty cages, inlaid with gold, ten thousand years old, per chance you might escape, asylum be your mate," suggest that even language can be a trap, and one should try to break free from the language and societal norms that confine them.
Line by Line Meaning
Scratch his face, make him understand
Physically harm him to make him comprehend
Knock her on the ground, make her understand
Physically harm her to make her comprehend
What is that you hear?
What do you perceive?
Language you hold dear
The language that holds importance or meaning to you
You are naturally moving
You are biologically programmed to move
Moving toward the hive mind
Becoming part of a collective consciousness or society
Wave thought versus sickly words
Debating ideas versus using meaningless language
Silence versus - breath of myth
Being quiet versus spreading untrue stories
Talk speak laugh cry, yell tell scream die
Verbal communication expressing emotion and death
Never work so scratch touch smash no!
Don't work hard or engage in physical contact or violence
Can there be no strength in you to change the future path you're on
Can't you find the determination to alter your course?
The broadcast minds of your new queen will, tame you, train you, enslave you
The dominant thoughts of your leader will control and subjugate you
Make you drone and drone and drone
Make you function like a drone repeatedly
You must leave
You need to separate yourself
Sovereign state of mind!
A mindset of personal autonomy
There is no queen in the territory of my mind is mine
No ruler can control my thoughts
Sovereign individual state
Being self-ruling and self-governing
Work work obey obey sell your soul to the queen mother
Submit yourself to a figurative leader and surrender your independence
Work work obey obey sell your soul to the queen mother
Submit yourself to a figurative leader and surrender your independence
(I don't believe you)
I doubt your sincerity
You must you must, feed the hive to stay alive, you must strive and strive
To survive, you must devote yourself to the establishment and work ceaselessly
Obey
Do what authority tells you
No
Refuse to heed authority
Our languages are pretty cages, Inlaid with gold, ten thousand years old
The languages we use trap us and possess impressive histories
Per chance you might escape, asylum be your mate
In case you flee, let refuge be your companion
We are naturally moving
We are biologically programmed to move
Moving toward the hive mind
Becoming part of a collective consciousness or society
Wave thought versus sickly words
Debating ideas versus using meaningless language
Silence versus breath of myth
Being quiet versus spreading untrue stories
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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