The band reunited in February 2012, with a new album to be released in 2015.
Waste
Good Riddance Lyrics
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Who will hear their cries
The ones who cannot speak
As we dehumanize
Incarcerated innocents
Their sentience ignored
Slaughtered by the millions
For the pseudo-carnivores
Of our land of our humanity
Blood-spattered carcass it wets your appetite
Don't you fucking get it
Eating flesh it isn't right for you
For me our children the world
Destroy their machines
Burn their staughterhouses to the ground
Now it's time for us all to defend
The oppressed
Meat is murder
Still we consume the dead and rotting
Products of violence
We've got to make that change
For you for me our children the world
The lyrics to Good Riddance's song Waste provide a powerful message about the inhumane treatment of animals, and the devastating impact that the meat industry has on both the environment and human health. The opening lines, "Who will be their voice, who will hear their cries, the ones who cannot speak, as we dehumanize" highlights the cruel treatment that animals face in the industry, and the fact that they have no one to advocate for them. The first verse also mentions "incarcerated innocents" which alludes to the fact that animals are often kept in small, cramped living spaces.
The second verse is harrowing as it describes how "slaughtered by the millions" animals are killed to fulfill people's desire for meat, without any regard for their sentience. The lyrics "what a waste of our time, of our land of our humanity" reflect the idea that the meat industry has a highly negative impact on the environment, and also makes us very disconnected from nature, and our own compassionate nature. The lyrics "blood-spattered carcass it wets your appetite, don't you fucking get it, eating flesh it isn't right for you, for me our children the world" are a critique of our society's almost insatiable appetite for meat, and the fact that this is not only bad for the animals, but also for our own health.
The chorus of the song reiterates the call for change, highlighting that we need to "destroy their machines, burn their slaughterhouses to the ground", and defend the oppressed. The final line, "meat is murder, still we consume the dead and rotting products of violence, we've got to make that change for you for me our children the world" is the central message of the song, as it urges the listener to consider the consequences of their actions, and to make a change for those who cannot speak.
Line by Line Meaning
Who will be their voice
Who will stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves
Who will hear their cries
Who will listen to their pain and suffering and take action
The ones who cannot speak
The animals who are voiceless and cannot speak out against what is being done to them
As we dehumanize
As we treat animals as objects rather than sentient beings with thoughts and feelings
Incarcerated innocents
Animals who are imprisoned and treated inhumanely for no reason other than human consumption
Their sentience ignored
Their ability to perceive and feel things is disregarded and not taken into consideration
Slaughtered by the millions
Animals are killed in vast quantities to satisfy human consumption
For the pseudo-carnivores
For people who claim to be carnivores but do not need meat to survive
What a waste of our time
The time and effort we spend on exploiting and killing animals could be better used elsewhere
Of our land of our humanity
Our land, resources, and humanity are all impacted by the meat industry
Blood-spattered carcass it wets your appetite
The sight of a slaughtered animal makes some people crave meat even more, despite the horror of the situation
Don't you fucking get it
Are you really not able to comprehend the message here?
Eating flesh it isn't right for you
Consuming meat is not only harmful to animals, but also to humans
For me our children the world
The future of the planet and the people on it is at stake if we continue to consume meat at the current rate
Destroy their machines
Advocating for the dismantling of factory farming equipment and processes
Burn their staughterhouses to the ground
Facilities that cause suffering and death should be shut down
Now it's time for us all to defend
It is our responsibility as individuals to stand up for animal rights and take action against the meat industry
The oppressed
Animals who are exploited, abused, and killed for profit
Meat is murder
Consuming meat is equivalent to participating in the killing of animals
Still we consume the dead and rotting
Despite the knowledge of the harm and suffering caused, many continue to consume meat
Products of violence
Meat and animal products are a result of violence against animals
We've got to make that change
We need to take action and bring awareness to the negative impact of the meat industry
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRIAN MATTHEW DOHERTY, IAN THORNLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind