Wanting to encourage the independent music scene, GrimSkunk have started Indica Records, opened up Skunk recording studio and set up a concert network in which bands exchange concerts in their respective fan based strongholds in order to guarantee exposure and crowds.
In studio, GrimSkunk usually produce their records as if playing a live show. They've been known to produce albums in very little time. In fact their self titled 1994 album was recorded and mixed in only eight days.
Power Word Kill
GrimSkunk Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And fear has struck all over the world
The leaders know where to hide
We just shit and wait to die
Power word kill
It's the government's will
To end the human race
Nowhere to run nowhere to hide
World war 3 we all die
Have to try to survive
Have to protect our own lives
[Chorus]
They're planning final termination
It's plan 9 contamination
I don't know what they fight about
But I'm sweating, I'm shaking
I'm freaking out
I fear death
The sickness and the pain
Evil minds at work
Ending all that we've done
End the arms race
Not the human race
I want to live my life
I don't want to die
Religious warpigs scaring me
I feel like I'm not free
Maybe hell's not as bad as here
But it's still death I fear
POWER WORD KILL
It's the government's will
To end your puny race
With nuclear warheads way
out in the deep depths of space
The lyrics of GrimSkunk's song "Power Word Kill" are a commentary on the extreme and dangerous power governments have through their ability to initiate nuclear warfare. The opening lines of the song communicate the idea that a single word, a command given by a government or military leader, can hold the fate of the world in its hands. This is a terrifying thought, as it implies that the average citizen is powerless to stop those in positions of power from making decisions that could lead to global destruction.
The chorus of the song reinforces this message, with the repetition of the phrase "power word kill" and the assertion that it is the government's will to end the human race. The song goes on to suggest that there may be nowhere to run or hide in the face of such an event, with World War III being a certainty if nuclear warfare were to begin. This creates a sense of urgency in the listener, urging them to take action to try and protect themselves and their loved ones from a potentially catastrophic event.
The final verse of the song alludes to the idea that religious extremism and fanaticism could be another driving force behind the desire to initiate nuclear war. The artist expresses their fear that they are not truly free, and that the possibility of death is looming over them. The song ultimately urges listeners to end the arms race rather than the human race, and to fight for peace and an end to nuclear proliferation.
Line by Line Meaning
Just have to say a single word
The power to create fear and induce terror is so immense that it only takes one word to do so.
And fear has struck all over the world
Once that one word is spoken, fear spreads across the world like wildfire.
The leaders know where to hide
The leaders of the world have already made plans to protect themselves, leaving the rest of humanity to fend for themselves.
We just shit and wait to die
With no means of protection, the rest of humanity is left paralyzed with fear, accepting their fate of inevitable death.
Power word kill
The word, 'kill' carries so much power that it can result in mass destruction and the end of the human race.
It's the government's will
The decision to end the human race is in the hands of those in power, namely the government.
To end the human race
The ultimate goal of those in power is to destroy the entirety of the human race and all that it represents.
From a nuclear base
The means of destruction is nuclear war, most likely initiated from a secret military base.
Nowhere to run nowhere to hide
In the face of impending doom, there is no escape or means of self-protection. Humanity is doomed to an unfortunate fate.
World war 3 we all die
The event that will result in the end of humanity is World War III, a global conflict that will see every human perish.
Have to try to survive
Despite the odds being stacked against them, humanity must do everything in its power to survive.
Have to protect our own lives
In times of crisis, the preservation of individual life becomes paramount and the only thing worth fighting for.
They're planning final termination
The people in power have already decided on the final outcome, which is the complete annihilation of humanity.
It's plan 9 contamination
The plan for total destruction is so comprehensive that it's akin to Plan 9 from Outer Space, a movie known for its absurdity and nonsensical plot.
I don't know what they fight about
As an ordinary person, the singer has no idea why people in power would make a decision that would result in the end of humanity.
But I'm sweating, I'm shaking
Despite not understanding the details, the artist is still overcome with fear and anxiety as they contemplate the inevitability of their impending doom.
I'm freaking out
The immense weight of the situation is causing the artist to panic and lose control of their emotions.
I fear death
The singer is consumed by their fear of death and the unknown that comes with it.
The sickness and the pain
The singer is afraid of the physical suffering that comes with death, such as the sickness and pain experienced in the process of dying.
Evil minds at work
The decision-makers that have resolved to end humanity are deemed as evil due to the magnitude and scale of destruction they are capable of causing.
Ending all that we've done
The decision to destroy humanity is also a decision to erase all the progress and the legacy of the human race, rendering it insignificant and meaningless in the grand scheme of things.
End the arms race
Instead of focusing on a race for more destructive weaponry, the artist pleads for humanity to end the arms race and avoid the inevitable destruction that would come from it.
Not the human race
While ending the arms race should be a priority, the preservation of humanity itself must come first and foremost, as it is the most valuable and precious resource we have.
I want to live my life
The artist expresses their desire to stay alive and continue living their life despite the impending doom that surrounds them.
I don't want to die
The singer reiterates their vehement disagreement with the decision to end humanity and their unwillingness to accept their fate of death.
Religious warpigs scaring me
The singer blames religious figures for being a source of terror due to their claims of an inevitable apocalypse.
I feel like I'm not free
The singer feels that their divine and fundamental rights have been stripped away, leaving them powerless and at the mercy of outside forces.
Maybe hell's not as bad as here
The artist prefers the idea of eternal damnation in hell over the terror and chaos surrounding them in the present.
But it's still death I fear
Despite the horrific events and circumstances surrounding them, the artist acknowledges that death is still a terrifying concept that they cannot escape from.
It's the government's will
The decision to end humanity is a deliberate and conscious decision made by the government and its representatives.
To end your puny race
The people in power view humanity as insignificant and puny, not worth sparing in the event of an apocalypse.
With nuclear warheads way
The weapon of choice in this planned extinction is nuclear warheads, weapons capable of causing total destruction and obliteration.
out in the deep depths of space
The warheads are said to be stored and launched from secret military bases located in remote regions of the planet or out in space itself.
Contributed by Jasmine M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.