Compared to What
Flack Roberta Lyrics
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Hangin' on, with a push and shove
Possession is the motivation
that is hangin' up the God-damn nation
Looks like we always end up in a rut (everybody now)
Tryin' to make it real, compared to what?
Slaughterhouse is killin' hogs
Poor dumb rednecks rollin' logs
Tired old ladies kissin' dogs
Hate the human, love that stinking mutt (I can't stand it)
Try to make it real, compared to what?
The President, he's got his war
Folks don't know just what it's for
Nobody gives us rhyme or reason
Have one doubt, they call it treason
We're chicken-feathers, all without one gut (God damn it)
Tryin' to make it real, compared to what? (Sock it to me, now)
Church on Sunday, sleep and nod
Tryin' to duck the wrath of God
Preacher's fillin' us with fright
Tryin' to tell us what he thinks is right
He really got to be some kind of nut (I can't use it)
Tryin' to make it real, compared to what?
Where's that bee and where's that honey?
Where's my God and where's my money
Unreal values, crass distortion
Unwed mothers need abortion
Kind of brings to mind ol' young King Tut (He did it now)
Tried to make it real — compared to what?!
The lyrics of Flack Roberta's song Compared to What is a social commentary on the state of America in the 1960s with a blend of jazz, soul, and funk. The song compares different aspects of society and highlights the absurdity of it all. The first verse talks about the futility of possession and how it is the motivation behind the nation's downfall. The second verse observes the dehumanizing nature of different events such as slaughterhouses, animal cruelty, and war, showcasing the discrepancy between what is considered civilized and uncivilized. The third verse features a criticism of religious and societal norms and values and how they are nothing but distractions from the truth.
The song's repeated chorus "tryin' to make it real, compared to what?" implies that society's attempts to create an idealistic world are futile since the reality is a far cry from it. The song's message is clear - we are chasing fabricated notions of success, happiness, and progress while overlooking the harsh truths and destructive forces that are undermining humanity. It is a bold and thought-provoking statement that still rings true in many ways today.
Line by Line Meaning
Love the lie and lie the love
We accept lies as a form of affection and affection is shown with lies.
Hangin' on, with a push and shove
We're barely holding on to life with little guidance and many conflicts
Possession is the motivation that is hangin' up the God-damn nation
We're overly focused on acquiring material things and that obsession is ruining our nation
Looks like we always end up in a rut (everybody now)
We seem to stay stuck in the same problems and situations (as a society)
Tryin' to make it real, compared to what?
We're trying to make sense of our difficult reality but are lost and unsure of what to compare it to
Slaughterhouse is killin' hogs
The meat industry is slaughtering animals in order to produce food for us
Twisted children killin' frogs
Children are engaging in cruelty towards animals, which is a disturbing trend
Poor dumb rednecks rollin' logs
Uneducated, poor people are forced to do difficult labor just to get by
Tired old ladies kissin' dogs
Elderly women are finding more companionship in their pets than in humans
Hate the human, love that stinking mutt (I can't stand it)
We despise each other but have no issue loving our pets, which is ironic
Try to make it real, compared to what?
We're still struggling to find the meaning in our reality, especially when we treat pets better than humans
The President, he's got his war
The President is initiating and leading a war
Folks don't know just what it's for
The people don't truly understand the reason for the war
Nobody gives us rhyme or reason
There seems to be no clear explanation for the war or its purpose
Have one doubt, they call it treason
Anyone who doubts the reason for the war is accused of being a traitor to the country
We're chicken-feathers, all without one gut (God damn it)
We are too afraid and too cowardly to stand up for what we believe as a society
Tryin' to make it real, compared to what? (Sock it to me, now)
Our goal is still to find the true meaning behind our actions and beliefs, but we're still unsure what to compare it to
Church on Sunday, sleep and nod
Many people attend church on Sunday and passively listen to religious teachings
Tryin' to duck the wrath of God
They are trying to avoid God's anger by being 'good Christians'
Preacher's fillin' us with fright
The preacher is instilling fear in the congregation
Tryin' to tell us what he thinks is right
He is trying to impose his views on the congregation and make them believe what he thinks is right
He really got to be some kind of nut (I can't use it)
The preacher is crazy and the artist cannot accept his teachings
Tryin' to make it real, compared to what?
The quest for understanding is still ongoing even when it comes to religious beliefs, especially when they seem unrealistic
Where's that bee and where's that honey?
We have lost track of the important things in life
Where's my God and where's my money
People are more focused on tangible things like money rather than faith
Unreal values, crass distortion
Our values are not genuine and there's a sense of disgust towards them
Unwed mothers need abortion
There's a strong belief that pregnant single women need to have abortions
Kind of brings to mind ol' young King Tut (He did it now)
These views are similar to those of a ruler from ancient Egypt, King Tut, and cast doubts on their relevance in modern times
Tried to make it real — compared to what?!
We're still trying to understand what's important and meaningful in life as our values have shifted and twisted
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: EUGENE MCDANIELS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind