hu·man·i·fes·to (n.):
A public declaration of intent on the reformation … Read Full Bio ↴hu·man·i·fes·to (n.):
A public declaration of intent on the reformation of the current human condition.

The powerful montreal-based (quebec, canada) punk/hardcore-band Humanifesto is
Phil (bass/vocals), Franck (guitar/vocals), Rich (drums).
The "bunch of skinny vegan dorks" (Mote, MGZN) are very politcal. Their songs deal with war, racism, police brutality, veganism and everything they feel is imporant to talk about.

visit them at: www.humanifesto.ca

Gifts
Humanifesto Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

There's an imbalance with grave consequence
In this world, it doesn't make much fucking sense
We take from the poor just to give the rich more
The abuse that we've caused can't be ignored anymore

What's the point in lying? There's no use denying
It's not that we can't help them, we're not even trying
We spend more on soldiers, following orders

But there'd be no war if we'd forget our borders

So why, with all the gifts we have, are there still ones who cry?
What do we really have when half the world is living in shanty towns
And barely living day to day?
There's still 41, 000 children starving every single day

Ahmet's never learned to read, books and schools are things he just cannot afford
While Michael's crying because cable's out and he's missing his favorite show
And while the people in the us scream the cost of oil is too fucking high
In the Middle East they're dying

There's still 41, 000 children dying every single day.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in Humanifesto's song "Gifts" painfully highlights the inequality and injustice that exists in the world. The first line highlights the grave consequence that results from the imbalance of resources and opportunities. The world we live in does not make sense because we continue to take from the poor and give to the rich, thereby perpetrating the cycle of poverty. The abuse we cause is evident and cannot be ignored anymore. The second stanza questions why we lie about our inability to help when in reality, we do not even try. Instead of investing in the well-being of others, we spend more on soldiers following orders. The third stanza is highly critical of the senseless wars fought on borders. It calls for unity beyond boundaries.

The chorus powerfully emphasizes the dichotomy between the gifts we have and the stark realities others face despite our abundance. Half the world lives in shanty towns while we indulge in excesses. The third line shames the extravagances we engage in while children are starving. The bridge forms a highly poignant part of the song, where two contrasting scenarios are presented. The first is of a boy named Ahmet unable to access basic education while the other scenario is of a boy named Michael upset about missing his show due to cable issues. The final line of the song serves as a haunting reminder of the 41,000 children that die due to poverty every single day.

Line by Line Meaning

There's an imbalance with grave consequence
There is a serious imbalance in the world that has severe consequences

In this world, it doesn't make much fucking sense
The state of the world is illogical and nonsensical

We take from the poor just to give the rich more
Society unfairly benefits the wealthy by exploiting the poor for their own gain

The abuse that we've caused can't be ignored anymore
The harm caused by society's actions cannot be dismissed or overlooked any longer

What's the point in lying? There's no use denying
It's pointless to deceive ourselves about the state of the world

It's not that we can't help them, we're not even trying
The issue is not an inability to help, but a lack of effort to do so

We spend more on soldiers, following orders
Society invests more in military action than in aiding those in need

But there'd be no war if we'd forget our borders
If society disregarded national boundaries, there would be no need for armed conflict

So why, with all the gifts we have, are there still ones who cry?
Despite our abundance of resources, suffering still persists

What do we really have when half the world is living in shanty towns
The existence of poverty renders our prosperity meaningless

And barely living day to day?
Many individuals struggle to survive on a daily basis

There's still 41, 000 children starving every single day
A shocking number of children continue to go without adequate food on a daily basis

Ahmet's never learned to read, books and schools are things he just cannot afford
The cost of education is prohibitive for many individuals, such as Ahmet

While Michael's crying because cable's out and he's missing his favorite show
Michael's trivial problems seem insignificant compared to the dire situation faced by others

And while the people in the us scream the cost of oil is too fucking high
Many complain about the price of oil while others are dying from a lack of basic necessities

In the Middle East they're dying
Individuals in the Middle East suffer as a result of conflict and violence

There's still 41, 000 children dying every single day.
The loss of innocent lives is a tragic reality that persists on a daily basis

Contributed by Lillian M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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