Eight
Ghostlimb Lyrics
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of inopportune and forced decisions
they'd disinfect and in darkness scrub clean
but it's all over the air and under sheets
you say the very fiber of my emotion is suspect
and I say the very basis of your fundamentalism is neglect
of anyone who disagrees or follows a path distinctively
while you indulge the limbs of dismembered poets
and where the ruts in your mind
wreathed in glowing light
are accepted
and where our progeny live on
to see the long unset sun of injustice
dignity is not yours for the taking
Context:
Eight
California, supposedly one of the most liberal places in the United States, has recently fought over the ability of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people to wed and retain familial rights under law. The campaign for Proposition 8 was backed and created by a large, well-funded and well-organized conservative right coalition. Armed with out-of-context Biblical references, improperly-quoted Constitutional statements and a mess of cash, they aimed to bar their opponents from besmirching a ritual sanctity a lot of people aren't all that interested in anyways. There are no valid grounds for denying others civil rights, this conversation should not even exist and those "valiantly" fighting against the sexuality, livelihood and security of others who can aptly govern themselves would act very different if the roles were reversed.
The lyrics to Ghostlimb's song "Eight" address the issue of Proposition 8 and the fight for gay rights in California. The first line "Our bodies talk and we listen" refers to the physical feeling that comes from being denied one's rights and the need to listen to the pain that comes with oppression. The next line "of inopportune and forced decisions" highlights how the decision to deny certain groups their rights is often arbitrary and rushed, without considering the long-term consequences. The line "they'd disinfect and in darkness scrub clean" speaks to the idea that those in power try to hide their discriminatory actions by claiming they are moral or righteous when in reality they are simply perpetuating oppression.
The chorus continues with "you say the very fiber of my emotion is suspect and I say the very basis of your fundamentalism is neglect." This line highlights the two sides of the argument, where those who are anti-gay rights claim that the very existence of LGBTQ+ people is wrong, while those fighting for rights claim that the fundamentalist beliefs that oppress a group of people are neglectful of basic human rights. The line "dignity is not yours for the taking" emphasizes that dignity and respect are not things to be given or taken away by those in power, but are inherent to all people and should be recognized as such.
Line by Line Meaning
Our bodies talk and we listen
We are attuned to our physical and emotional states
of inopportune and forced decisions
We are faced with difficult situations that we did not choose
they'd disinfect and in darkness scrub clean
Others try to clean up our messes after the fact
but it's all over the air and under sheets
Our struggles affect all aspects of our lives
you say the very fiber of my emotion is suspect
You challenge my authenticity and sincerity
and I say the very basis of your fundamentalism is neglect
I challenge your closed-mindedness and lack of empathy
of anyone who disagrees or follows a path distinctively
You are intolerant of anyone who does not conform to your beliefs
while you indulge the limbs of dismembered poets
You romanticize the past without considering its flaws
with no cultural or temporal context
You ignore the historical and social context of the past
and where the ruts in your mind
Your thought patterns are entrenched
wreathed in glowing light
You believe your beliefs are superior and enlightened
are accepted
Your beliefs are not challenged or questioned
and where our progeny live on
Future generations will suffer the consequences of our actions
to see the long unset sun of injustice
Injustice will persist for a long time
dignity is not yours for the taking
You cannot claim moral superiority or dignity if you deny others their rights
Contributed by Miles F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.