Coliseum formed in November of 2003 and has since toured and recorded with … Read Full Bio ↴Coliseum formed in November of 2003 and has since toured and recorded with relentless abandon for the better part of a decade. They issued a self-titled debut album on Level Plane in 2004, followed by the Goddamage EP in 2005, and their second album No Salvation on Relapse Records in 2007. The band has been on countless tours across North America, Europe, Australia and Japan, with Converge, Rise Against, High On Fire, Mono, Napalm Death, Baroness, Russian Circles, Torche, Integrity, and many others. Coliseum joined the Temporary Residence Limited roster in 2010 with the release of their third long-player, House With A Curse, and a deluxe reissue of the their Goddamage EP on TRL followed soon after. Members also play in Black God, Legion, Yautja, and Central Fires.

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American Machine
Coliseum Lyrics

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Forget the quest for right or wrong ahead. American machine forges on and on. We never learned, we never could. To stand on our own and still help those left down below. We've got our right to safety, I've got my reason to hate. Greed is the machine. Complacency fuels their machine. Every time we buy our way into their promised dream. We're part of the machine. I've got a right to hope and I'll take it. I've got a right to health and I'll take it. I've got a right to truth and I'll take it. I've got my right

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Coliseum's song, American Machine, highlight the idea of the American dream being fueled by greed and complacency. The lines "We never learned, we never could. To stand on our own and still help those left down below" imply that society has lost sight of what it means to truly be self-sufficient and compassionate towards those in need. The metaphorical machine of capitalism continues to move forward without regard for those left behind.

The chorus of the song emphasizes the idea that individuals can still strive for their rights to safety, health, and truth, despite the toxic nature of the American Machine. The use of the first-person pronoun "I" in these lines implies a sense of individuality and personal responsibility in achieving these rights.

Overall, the lyrics of American Machine critique the current state of American society and the detrimental effects of capitalism and greed.

Line by Line Meaning

Forget the quest for right or wrong ahead.
Stop worrying about what's right or wrong in the future and focus on the present.

American machine forges on and on.
The American system of capitalism continues without stopping.

We never learned, we never could.
We never learned how to live in a fair and just society.

To stand on our own and still help those left down below.
To be independent but still help those who are disadvantaged.

We've got our right to safety, I've got my reason to hate.
We have the right to feel safe, but some individuals have personal reasons to feel angry or resentful.

Greed is the machine.
Greed drives the capitalist machine.

Complacency fuels their machine.
People's lack of action and complacency give power to the capitalist machine.

Every time we buy our way into their promised dream.
Every time we invest in the capitalist system, we support its false promises and illusions of wealth.

We're part of the machine.
We are caught up in the capitalist system and cannot escape its influence.

I've got a right to hope and I'll take it.
Despite the flaws of the system, we still have the right to hope for a better future.

I've got a right to health and I'll take it.
We have the right to access healthcare and should demand it.

I've got a right to truth and I'll take it.
We deserve to know the truth regardless of how uncomfortable it may be.

I've got my right.
We have our individual rights, but we must also consider the rights and needs of others.

Contributed by Zachary H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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