Passive Resistance
Graham Parker Lyrics


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Pre>
Capo at 2 see f see am see f am g
See f am see f am g
Nothing can be further removed, not everybody wants to be soothed ooooh
D see am d g see
They're out there now in their padded cells and armchairs
Am d g
Waiting for the nervous twitch that signals fear
See f am see f am g
Hooked up to a cardiogram set up so it cuts out when you cry or laugh
D see am d g see
Worked by those who if you screw up treat you to a broken nose
Am d g
If you tap your toes
See g f
Passive resistance! if it's not for them then it's not for you
See g f
Passive resistance! where the only view is the right view
See g f g see f
Passive resistance! and it breaks my heart to know there's no heart involved

Put the demographics away, the directors and consultants have the final say
Hired in, take home all the ones who missed for souvenirs, for their kids to play

Passive resistance! it's all programmed by programmers
Passive resistance! you're just a nail underneath their hammers
Passive resistance! and it breaks my heart to know there's no heart in them

Instrumental verse

Nothing can be further removed, not everybody wants to be soothed
Oooh they must be real, people that you never meet and never feel
And they don't feel you

Passive resistance! you get surveyed out of existence
Passive resistance! just one in a million silent listeners
Passive resistance! it's all programmed by programmers
Passive resistance! you're just a nail underneath their hammers
Passive resistance! and it breaks your heart




To know there's no heart involved, involved, involved
/pre>

Overall Meaning

In "Passive Resistance," Graham Parker addresses the modern-day issues of consumerism, conformity, and loss of individuality. The song paints a picture of a society controlled by media and technology, where people are reduced to mere statistics and their emotions are muted. Parker criticizes the greedy corporations that profit from people's insecurities and their willingness to give up their personal freedom for the sake of convenience. He sings about the disturbing realities of modern medicine and how people are turned into lab rats hooked up to machines that monitor their every move. The chorus emphasizes the idea of passive resistance, that it's up to individuals not to comply with the status quo and to fight back against the forces that seek to control them.


The instrumental verse of the song suggests a bleak and desolate world where people are isolated, and their experiences are falsified through technology. The song's final verse focuses on the dehumanization of the individual and the loss of identity in a society where everything is preprogrammed. Parker laments the fact that there seems to be no genuine concern or empathy in the world for those undergoing these changes.


Line by Line Meaning

Nothing can be further removed, not everybody wants to be soothed ooooh
Some people don't want to be comforted and are distant from the rest of society


They're out there now in their padded cells and armchairs
Disconnected individuals are isolated in their own world


Waiting for the nervous twitch that signals fear
Those who control society are waiting to exploit the vulnerable


Hooked up to a cardiogram set up so it cuts out when you cry or laugh
Society is controlled by those who want to suppress emotion


Worked by those who if you screw up treat you to a broken nose
Those who maintain control will use violence against those who resist


If you tap your toes
Even small acts of rebellion will be met with violence


Passive resistance! if it's not for them then it's not for you
Those controlling society don't want anyone to resist their control


Passive resistance! where the only view is the right view
Society is controlled and there is no dissenting opinion allowed


Passive resistance! and it breaks my heart to know there's no heart involved
The lack of empathy and genuine care in society is disheartening


Put the demographics away, the directors and consultants have the final say
Those in power ignore the needs of those they claim to serve


Hired in, take home all the ones who missed for souvenirs, for their kids to play
The wealthy take advantage of the less fortunate and exploit them for their own gain


Passive resistance! it's all programmed by programmers
Society is controlled by technology and those who manipulate it


Passive resistance! you're just a nail underneath their hammers
Individuals are powerless and at the mercy of those in control


Passive resistance! and it breaks your heart To know there's no heart involved, involved, involved
The cruelty and heartlessness of those in power is devastating




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: GRAHAM THOMAS PARKER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Digital Assets

Heard this for the 1st time today-- his snark, his wordplay, his conceits --made my day!

unRompecabezas

Great song, and one of the best descriptions of the corporate music industry's conservatism. Whereas "Mercury Poisoning" was just a slap at his lame record company, in this song Parker shows how the entire recording and broadcast industries profit by conditioning the audience to expect less and less.

Sady Maher

Brillant

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