A Floater Left With Pleasure In The Executive Washroom.
Dillinger Four Lyrics
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With a brass ring so deceiving
Chipped away to a status cult
Where indifference breeds control
And then with time comes "toe the line"
Cherish this pride made numb from feeling
The we have denial
"It's all in my head"
Will we do anything for bread?
If anything we've ever said
Means nothing now than it never did
Believe me
This isn't what we want
This isn't what we need
This is what we can afford
Where once there was a pat on the back
Is now just a crack of the whip
Where once there was a celebrated coming of age
Is just a uniform that doesn't fit
Witness this most common breed
Whittled down to property
And keep on singin'
"It's all in my head"
Will we do anything for bread?
If anything we've ever said
Means nothing now than it never did
Believe me
This isn't what we want
This isn't what we need
This is what we can afford
Where once there was a pat on the back
Is now just a crack of the whip
Where once there was a celebrated coming of age
Is just a uniform that doesn't fit
Witness this most common breed
Whittled down to property
And keep on singin'
"It's all in my head"
Celebrate this sorry state
With anecdotes of what you hate
And try to take comfort in the fact
That you're not alone
This isn't you
It's just what you do
Don't mistake the irony of calling it a "living"
If you feel like no one
If you feel like nothing
You've only been taking what they're giving
The lyrics of Dillinger Four’s “A Floater Left With Pleasure In The Executive Washroom” are a critique of corporate culture and the way it dehumanizes people. The song describes how people are born into a system where they are expected to conform and obey without question. This is symbolized by “single file lines born by design” and the “brass ring so deceiving” which represent the expectations placed on individuals from an early age. As people work their way up the corporate ladder, they become more and more indoctrinated by the system until they become indifferent to the world around them. This indifference is what leads to “denial” and the belief that “it’s all in my head”. The song suggests that this apathy towards others leads people to do anything for bread, meaning that they will compromise their own values and beliefs in order to succeed in the corporate world.
However, the song encourages listeners to reject this way of life. The repeated refrain “this isn’t what we want, this isn’t what we need, this is what we can afford” speaks to the notion that we need to push back against the system that dehumanizes us, even if we can’t escape it completely. The song encourages us to acknowledge the ways in which we have become “whittled down to property” and to resist the urge to simply accept our lot in life. Instead, we should “celebrate this sorry state with anecdotes of what [we] hate” and find solidarity with others who feel the same way. In other words, the song encourages us to take action, to recognize that we are not alone, and to fight against the systems of oppression that make us feel like we are nothing.
Line by Line Meaning
Single file lines born by design
The system has been intentionally designed to work in a certain way, with people following rules in a linear fashion.
With a brass ring so deceiving
The promise of success and reward is an illusion, designed to deceive people into following the rules.
Chipped away to a status cult
Over time, the system becomes a cult-like culture with a certain status quo that everyone follows.
Where indifference breeds control
Through a culture of indifference, people in power are able to control those who are following the rules.
And then with time comes "toe the line"
Eventually, people are expected to strictly follow the rules without questioning the system.
Cherish this pride made numb from feeling
People are forced to give up their own feelings and emotions to become a part of the system, but are also proud to be a part of it.
The we have denial
People are in denial about the negative aspects of the system, refusing to acknowledge its problems.
"It's all in my head"
People try to convince themselves that any problems they see with the system are just in their own head and not a reflection of reality.
Will we do anything for bread?
Are people willing to sacrifice their own values and beliefs just to get by in the system and make a living?
If anything we've ever said means nothing now than it never did
The values and ideas that were once important to people are no longer as meaningful or relevant in the context of the system.
Believe me / This isn't what we want / This isn't what we need / This is what we can afford
People are aware that the system is not ideal, but it is all they can realistically afford and make a living in.
Where once there was a pat on the back / Is now just a crack of the whip
The positive reinforcement of the past has been replaced with harsher punishment and discipline to keep people in line.
Where once there was a celebrated coming of age / Is just a uniform that doesn't fit
The idea of growing and developing in the system has been replaced with the stifling conformity of a uniform.
Witness this most common breed / Whittled down to property
People are reduced to mere property of the system, stripped of individuality and freedom of thought.
And keep on singin' / "It's all in my head"
Despite everything, people continue to try and ignore the reality of the system by convincing themselves that their thoughts and feelings aren't really a reflection of the system itself.
Celebrate this sorry state / With anecdotes of what you hate / And try to take comfort in the fact / That you're not alone
People commiserate about the problems of the system and find comfort in the fact that they're not alone in their struggles.
This isn't you / It's just what you do / Don't mistake the irony of calling it a "living"
People need to remember that the system they're a part of is not a reflection of who they are as individuals. They should be aware of the irony of calling their participation in the system "living."
If you feel like no one / If you feel like nothing / You've only been taking what they're giving
People who feel powerless and insignificant in the system are only receiving what they've been given by those in power, and need to take action to change their situation.
Contributed by Isaac S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.