Amnesty
Gavin Mikhail Lyrics


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If I could be the man you idolize and sensualize the wisdom of the hunt capture penalize free-thinking making basing all who run the world and glamorize the business you can see I would be less the man the stand I take and further all who seek the twisted ethic live the ways and means of daring profit-sharing with the meek free to think of me uncaring in the race of money making climbing taking chances cancel those who gamble ramble on about achieving still believing they can make it...

I cannot reach you caught between
The love you hate, the hate you need
'Cause all your life you've traded me
The freedom for your amnesty
The lock and key that keeps you tied to me
The days you live and breathe
The "might have been" that you pretend
So you can cash our past in...

Now I stumble slowly forward through the twisted ethic bore you with the details of the me inept but free to push the morals fact debris of scattered ashes you believe after the fashion now I see you for what you came to be in person fact and fiction evolution self-exertion charm them into your submission make them tow the line to the letter better now than later how we stand and take it is the measure of the better man than he who claims to be the thinker blinks to find his fame is never free...

I cannot reach you caught between
The love you hate, the hate you need
'Cause all your life you've traded me
The freedom for your amnesty
The lock and key that keeps you tied to me
The days you live and breathe
The "might have been" that you pretend
So you can cash our past in...

Now I see a life of more than beautiful
Where I can be the everything you hide...
I cannot reach you caught between
The love you hate, the hate you need
'Cause all your life you've traded me
The freedom for your pride...

I cannot reach you caught between
The love you hate, the hate you need
'Cause all your life you've traded me
The freedom for your amnesty
The lock and key that keeps you tied to me
The days you live and breathe




The "might have been" that you pretend
So you can cash our past in...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Gavin Mikhail's "Amnesty" revolve around the theme of being caught between two competing desires or identities. The singer in the song laments his inability to live up to the expectations of someone else ("If I could be the man you idolize") while also feeling like he is compromising his own values ("I would be less the man the stand I take"). He describes a world where success is measured by the pursuit of profit and the ability to manipulate others into submission, and criticizes those who are willing to sacrifice their morals and ethics in order to get ahead.


The chorus of the song ("I cannot reach you caught between the love you hate, the hate you need") suggests a sense of desperation or frustration at the singer's inability to connect with the person he is addressing, who seems to be trapped in a cycle of self-deception and self-preservation at the expense of their relationship. The singer understands that this person has given up their sense of freedom ("the freedom for your amnesty") in exchange for the security of the known and the familiar, even if it means living a life of regret and missed opportunities ("the 'might have been' that you pretend/So you can cash our past in").


Overall, "Amnesty" presents a complex and nuanced view of relationships, individual identity, and societal norms, and invites listeners to reflect on the ways in which they navigate these competing demands in their own lives.


Line by Line Meaning

If I could be the man you idolize and sensualize the wisdom of the hunt capture penalize free-thinking making basing all who run the world and glamorize the business you can see
If I could become the person you admire and prioritize the ability to capture, punish and restrict free-thought processes upon all those who control the world and glorify the corporate industry.


I would be less the man the stand I take and further all who seek the twisted ethic live the ways and means of daring profit-sharing with the meek free to think of me uncaring in the race of money making climbing taking chances cancel those who gamble ramble on about achieving still believing they can make it...
I would be perceived as weaker by not taking the stand I believe in and supporting those who follow dubious business ethics, who encourage meek individuals to take risks and gamble in pursuit of profit, canceling out those who advise caution, yet still believing in the possibility of success.


I cannot reach you caught between The love you hate, the hate you need 'Cause all your life you've traded me The freedom for your amnesty The lock and key that keeps you tied to me The days you live and breathe The "might have been" that you pretend So you can cash our past in...
I cannot connect with you because of your internal battle between your feelings of affection and animosity, as you have sacrificed your freedom in exchange for a safety net that keeps you tethered to me. These days define you, and you use our past memories to justify your current state of being.


Now I stumble slowly forward through the twisted ethic bore you with the details of the me inept but free to push the morals fact debris of scattered ashes you believe after the fashion now I see you for what you came to be in person fact and fiction evolution self-exertion charm them into your submission make them tow the line to the letter better now than later how we stand and take it is the measure of the better man than he who claims to be the thinker blinks to find his fame is never free...
Now I struggle forward through a world where twisted ethics dictate people's actions, forced to explain my own shortcomings and inexperienced knowledge, but free to express my own set of morals. The debris of past failures surround us, which you believe in because it is popular opinion. Now I see you for who you truly are- your reality, fiction, and how you evolved to be this way. However, you use charm to bring people under your control and force them to follow you blindly. It's better to take a stand now than regret it later. The true measure of a better man is how they handle a difficult situation; the one who claims to be wise but uses it to gain fame must pay a price.


Now I see a life of more than beautiful Where I can be the everything you hide...
Now I can envision a life that is more than just beautiful, where I can be everything you try to conceal.


I cannot reach you caught between The love you hate, the hate you need 'Cause all your life you've traded me The freedom for your pride...
I cannot reach you because of your inner conflict between the emotions you despise and the ones you crave. Throughout your life, you have given up your freedom in exchange for confidence in oneself.


I cannot reach you caught between The love you hate, the hate you need 'Cause all your life you've traded me The freedom for your amnesty The lock and key that keeps you tied to me The days you live and breathe The "might have been" that you pretend So you can cash our past in...
I cannot reach you because of your inner struggle between the emotions you love and the ones you resent. You have sacrificed your freedom to secure yourself and be tied to me. These days define you, and you are ruthless because of the potential outcomes of the past.




Contributed by Penelope P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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