Modern World
Joelistics Lyrics

It all about status updates, sample drum brakes
This song is about the modern world and its various aspects such as social media updates and technological advancements like sample drum brakes.

A hole in the head, and the lifelong Monday
The singer feels overwhelmed and burdened by the demands of modern life which feels like an endless cycle of work (lifelong Monday) and impacts them negatively (hole in the head).

Baby bloomers and new computers
The singer is referring to the generational gap between Baby Boomers and younger generations who are more accustomed to new technology like computers.

Social networks, billion users
With billions of users across the world, social networks have become an integral part of modern life and this song refers to their impact on society.

Information, Infomercials
The song acknowledges that in the modern world, we are inundated with information from various sources, including infomercials that sell us products.

Crop circles and trophy wives
This line references the strange and inexplicable phenomena like crop circles and the culture of flaunting wealth through trophy wives.

Hard drives and hate crimes
The singer highlights the contrast between technological advancements like hard drives and the existence of hate crimes in modern society.

State lies, free steak knives
The song speaks about the lies governments tell their citizens and the trivial marketing tactics used to sell products like free steak knives.

Right-wrong riots and rising tides
The artist refers to the chaos and unrest that stems from opinions and beliefs regarding the right and wrong; and how environmental problems like rising tides pose a significant threat.

Catalogs buy and a lord of brides
This line refers to consumerism and how companies manipulate us into buying (catalogs buy) and to the use of arranged marriages (lord of brides) that can also be seen as products with transactions and purchases involved.

Brand names and video games
The singer highlights the prominent role of brand names and popular video games that have become an integral part of modern culture.

All it takes in minimum wage
The artist points out the irony that even though technology has made great advancements, most people still have to work at minimum wage to make ends meet.

Wiki leaks in the world of police
This line is a reference to the online leak of classified government information by the website WikiLeaks, which exposed shady activities of the police.

Secret files and cover up leads
The song highlights that there are secrets being kept and information being suppressed by people in positions of power.

The hunger, the feast
This line refers to the stark contrast between hunger and poverty (the hunger) and the lavish indulgences of the wealthy (the feast).

The church and the priest
The song speaks about the prominence of religion and the role of religious figures (the church and the priest) in modern society.

And the prelate facing the east
The prelate is a high-ranking member of the church and facing east is a reference to the direction of Mecca in Islam, which can be interpreted as a metaphor for religious conflicts and how they affect modern society.

You can live life online
This line speaks about the growing trend of living life online and highlights how it has become possible to lead an entire life without ever leaving the virtual world.

You can live a life of crime
The song acknowledges the fact that technology has also made it easier to commit crimes and that the line between the virtual world and the real world has become blurred.

You can live mine
This line suggests that people can live vicariously through others, whether it’s through social media or other forms of entertainment.

Whatever you want you can find
The song suggests that technology has given us access to almost everything we desire and has made it easier to find anything we want.

You can get fined
The artist points out that freedom comes with a cost and there are consequences for overstepping the boundaries set by society.

You can get filmed from behind
This line refers to the widespread surveillance that exists in modern society, and how our actions are constantly being monitored.

It's a gold rush, let's get famous
The song speaks to the obsession with fame and how it has become a driving force for many in modern society.

Act shameless, call it neighbors
The singer highlights the lack of privacy in modern life and how the media exploits the actions of individuals, turning them into entertainment for others.

You can call it art
The song suggests that anything can be labelled as art in the modern world, with the definition of art becoming more and more abstract with time.

You can call it us
This line suggests that collective experiences and the actions of society as a whole can also be considered art.

You can call it pop
The artist acknowledges the influence of popular culture and how it has become a dominant force in modern society.

And watch it climb the charts
This line speaks to the commercialization of culture, where popular hits are often created and marketed based on their ability to make a profit, rather than their artistic merit.

High rollers and child soldiers
This line references the vast wealth disparity that exists in modern society, where some are privileged and prosperous while others are exploited and oppressed, with the inclusion of child soldiers as victims of poverty and war.

Party people and jive holders
The singer refers to the culture of partying and hedonism that characterizes modern society, where pleasure and fun are used to escape the harsh realities of life.

Cash culture and clashed cultures
The song speaks to the clash of cultures that often arises due to globalization and the influence of capitalism, which have fueled consumerism and a cash-centered culture.

Market crashes, atlas shrugs
This line references the financial instability that exists in modern society and the lack of accountability from those in power to help those who are suffering.

It's a leaky boat that we're all in
The artist points out that we are all in the same boat and that the problems and challenges we face in modern society are shared by all.

And the privileged life is a-callin'
Despite the many challenges that exist in modern society, there are still those who are privileged and enjoy lives of luxury and excess, which the singer points out.

Through the country's boarders you're pourin'
The song acknowledges the issue of immigration and how people are forced to cross borders in search of a better life.

Put your hands up now the sky is fallin'
This line speaks to the sense of panic and desperation that comes from the various issues and problems facing modern society.

We are alive in desperate times
The singer is pointing out the urgency of the issues and the stakes involved in addressing them, in this modern era.

The best of times, messed up times
The song highlights the contradictions of modern life where technological progress and increased access to information coexists with unrest and chaotic times.

Build that fire, chase that prize
This line suggests that in spite of the difficulties, humans persevere and continue to strive towards success and achieving their desires.

Everybody wants a bigger piece of the pie
The song acknowledges the human inclination towards greed and how everyone is striving to claim a bigger share of the wealth in the world, rather than seeking to share it.

These are the days of the disconnect
The singer is pointing out that in modern times, while we have access to more information and connectivity than ever before, people still feel disconnected and distant both from each other and society.

Distant satellites intercept
The song acknowledges the role of technology in driving the growing disconnect between people and society, where electronic communication takes precedence over personal interaction.

Warfare fought in infrared
This line references the growing prominence of technology in warfare, where drones and other advanced equipment are used to conduct combat, further distancing the human experience of war.

Everything you think is incorrect
This line speaks to the growing concern over information sources and how difficult it may be to discern correct information in the modern era of propaganda, misinformation and fake news.

My intellect needs disinfectant
The artist acknowledges their frustration with how the growing volume of information in the modern era can make clarity and objectivity difficult.

Too much information
The song highlights that too much of anything can be detrimental, including the vast amount of information available to us in the modern era.

Too hectic
The pace of modern life often feels overwhelming and chaotic which makes it hard to find moments of rest and solitude.

Twenty-first century I'm shipwrecked in it
This line speaks to the singer's disconnect with the modern world and how it has been shaping their identity.

And we're all just tryin' to connect with it
The song acknowledges the fact that people are still trying to find their place in the modern world despite the difficulties and hardships they face.

And oh my god where do I fit in
The singer highlights the struggle people face in trying to overcome their uncertainties regarding their place in modern society.

Apocalypse now every now and then
This line references the frequent natural disasters, social crises and sensational headlines that often loom large over the collective psyche nowadays.

The world is a book with a cliffhanger plot
This line speaks to the unpredictability and uncertainty of modern times, where things can seem unstable and indeterminate, like a story with an unresolved ending.

And we all want to know how it ends
The singer highlights the universal human desire to seek answers and resolution amidst the chaos and uncertainty of the sprawling modern world.

This modern world
This phrase acts a recurring chorus and refers to the composite of all the aforementioned elements and circumstances that constitute living in the current era.

Keeps me spinning around
This line speaks to the overwhelming and dizzying experience of living in a world that is often tumultuous and demanding.

My god, my feet
The line is a metaphor for the artist feeling groundless and stressed due to the pressures of modern life.

Don't touch the ground
This further elaborates on the above sentiment, referring to the artist's feeling of a lack of grip or control over their life amidst the sweeping societal, economic, and technological transformations of their present day.