Struggle
Happy Campers Lyrics


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You can keep a good man down
If he won't stand up and fight
It's time to wake up
It's time to see the light
Equality doesn't exist
It's just an ideal in the mind
There's not enough to go around
So take what you can find
Mud on your face
Kick me sign on your back
They took it all
It's time to take it back
Do unto others
And watch them beat you down
Don't fall below the surface
They'll let you drown
They'll let you down
Black and blue
Tattered and torn
You've been gettin stepped on
Since the day that you were born
They say give up
Cause you can't win
You're stuck on hte outside
And they won't let you in
I took all the crap I can
And I can't take no more
If they won't let me in
I'm breaking down the door
Disregard the rules
Disregard the laws
They'll get you nothing
I want it all
They'll lead you to believe
That you're doing just fine
They'll live like kings
And you'll fall farther behind
I remember a song I had to sing when I was 10
"this land is your land, this land is mine"
And I believed what they said
And you believed what they said
And we believed what they said
But they lied to me
And they'll lie to you too
And they'll go on denying
And we'll go on dying
I'm not afraid to die
Just afraid to never have lived




And the struggle goes on and on
(we can take no more)

Overall Meaning

The song Struggle by Happy Campers highlights the struggle faced by individuals and groups who are fighting for their rights and equality against the ruling class. The lyrics suggest that a person can keep a good man down if he does not stand up and fight for his rights. The song calls for people to wake up from their slumber, to see the light and to demand equality because it is an ideal in the mind that does not exist practically. The idea of equality is shattered by the fact that there is not enough to go around, and those in power take what they can find. This leaves the common people with mud on their faces and a kick-me sign on their backs.


The song suggests that people should band together and do unto others as they would like to be done unto themselves. They should not fall below the surface where they'll be let down and drowned. The chorus highlights how people have been tattered, torn, and stepped on since the day they were born. The society suggests giving up trying to win because that is the easiest way to keep people outside the circle of power. The song encourages individuals to disregard the rules and laws that do not bring them anything and take what they want. The lyrics remind listeners to remember the lies they've been told since they were young and that they have to fight for their rights or die in silence.


Happy Camper's song Struggle is a punk rock song featured on their album "Razor's Edge" released on March 17th, 1998.


Line by Line Meaning

You can keep a good man down
One can be oppressed and defeated


If he won't stand up and fight
If they don't resist


It's time to wake up
Time to become aware


It's time to see the light
Time to understand the truth


Equality doesn't exist
Equal opportunities aren't real


It's just an ideal in the mind
It's only a concept


There's not enough to go around
Resources are scarce


So take what you can find
Act greedily to survive


Mud on your face
Humiliated


Kick me sign on your back
Signs of vulnerability


They took it all
The powerful took everything


It's time to take it back
Time to regain power


Do unto others
Treat others how you want to be treated


And watch them beat you down
But people will abuse your kindness


Don't fall below the surface
Do not succumb to challenges


They'll let you drown
The powerful will not help


They'll let you down
They'll fail to meet expectations


Black and blue
Injured physically and mentally


Tattered and torn
Worn and used up


You've been gettin stepped on
You've been disrespected


Since the day that you were born
For your whole life


They say give up
They discourage resistance


Cause you can't win
Because they hold all the power


You're stuck on hte outside
You're marginalized


And they won't let you in
You're not allowed to have power


I took all the crap I can
I have faced too much disrespect


And I can't take no more
I refuse to accept it anymore


If they won't let me in
If they won't give me power


I'm breaking down the door
I will use force to take power


Disregard the rules
Do not follow societal norms


Disregard the laws
Do not follow the law


They'll get you nothing
Rules and laws won't get you what you need


I want it all
I want power and resources


They'll lead you to believe
They'll make you think you're doing well


That you're doing just fine
That you have equal opportunities


They'll live like kings
The powerful will live luxuriously


And you'll fall farther behind
But you'll remain marginalized


I remember a song I had to sing when I was 10
I recall a childhood lesson


"this land is your land, this land is mine"
The idea of shared resources


And I believed what they said
I was taught to believe in equal opportunities


And you believed what they said
We all believed it


And we believed what they said
We trusted in equality


But they lied to me
But it's all a lie


And they'll lie to you too
Those in power will deceive everyone


And they'll go on denying
They'll continue to reject the truth


And we'll go on dying
And people will continue to suffer and die


I'm not afraid to die
I'm willing to risk my life


Just afraid to never have lived
But I don't want to live without freedom


And the struggle goes on and on
The fight for freedom continues


(we can take no more)
(we refuse to accept oppression anymore)




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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