Their first demo tape, Life in a Grave, was produced in 1985. They toured extensively in support of the albums Convicted (1986) and Money Talks (1987) which demonstrated their [/]political[/] element in the band. They are often credited as one of the progenitors of "metal-crossover", the fast-core and hardcore punk genre, along with such seminal acts as D.R.I. and Corrosion of Conformity. Shortly after the recording of their next album, Stream of Consciousness, the band broke up in 1989 as a result of Crooks and Peterson leaving the band, as well as financial and managerial problems. Shortly after this, however, guitarist Les Evans and bassist Rob Nicholson recruited new members and continued the band.
Black And White
Cryptic Slaughter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Racial groups, they plan attack
I'm tired of white man's crimes
It looks to be for good this time
They kill one another
Without a real cause
Fight for what's fair
For what's really theirs
Only to get themselves lost
Whites took the land from the blacks
Killed their children to keep them back
Stole their land and shot their pride
Started up this useless fight
Riots start as whites flee
Their last chance to be free
Rocks fly throughout the skies
A gun is shot, a child dies
The song "Black and White" by Cryptic Slaughter is a scathing commentary on the racial violence and injustice that has plagued society for centuries. The first verse and chorus set the stage for the song's theme: violence is rampant, racial groups are planning attacks against one another, and the white man's crimes have sparked a conflict that seems to be escalating.
The second verse highlights the senseless violence that often ensues in these situations. Brother turns against brother, with no real cause for the bloodshed. People fight for what they believe is fair and just, but in the end, they often lose sight of what's really important - the preservation of human life.
The third verse delves into the historical roots of this conflict, pointing out the way whites have systematically oppressed and exploited people of color throughout history. They have taken their land, killed their children, and stripped them of their dignity and pride. The song suggests that this aggression has led to a boiling point where the oppressed have risen up in rebellion, resulting in riots and deadly violence.
Overall, "Black and White" is a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for social justice and equality, and the damage that discrimination and prejudice can cause.
Line by Line Meaning
Violence throughout the land
There is a lot of violence and conflict happening everywhere
Racial groups, they plan attack
People from different racial groups are planning to hurt each other
I'm tired of white man's crimes
I am sick and exhausted of the crimes white men have committed
It looks to be for good this time
It seems like things might be changing for the better permanently
Brother and brother
People who are like brothers to each other
They kill one another
They hurt and kill each other
Without a real cause
Without a justifiable reason
Fight for what's fair
Struggle for what is right and fair
For what's really theirs
For what they truly own or deserve
Only to get themselves lost
But end up getting confused or misled
Whites took the land from the blacks
White people stole land that belonged to black people
Killed their children to keep them back
White people killed black children to prevent them from advancing
Stole their land and shot their pride
White people took away black people's pride by taking their land and property
Started up this useless fight
Started this battle that has no purpose or end goal
Riots start as whites flee
As white people try to escape, riots begin to occur
Their last chance to be free
This is the last opportunity for white people to leave or escape
Rocks fly throughout the skies
People start throwing rocks all over the place
A gun is shot, a child dies
Someone shoots a gun and a child loses their life
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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