A key influence on industrial rock, their early music was described by critics Stephen Thomas Erlewine and John Dougan as well as industrial metal and "quasi-metal, dancing to a tune of doom and gloom," which gradually evolved over the years, incorporating elements of electronic music, synth-pop, gothic rock, and alternative rock, though always emphasizing Coleman's "savagely strident vocals."
Finding modest commercial success, Killing Joke have influenced many later bands, such as Nirvana, Ministry, Amen, Lamb of God, Nine Inch Nails, Napalm Death, Amebix, Big Black, Godflesh, Tool, Prong, Metallica, Primus, Jane's Addiction, Soundgarden, Foo Fighters, Faith No More, Blacklist, Shihad and Korn, all of whom have at some point cited some debt of gratitude to Killing Joke.
Are You Receiving
Killing Joke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Our feelings are destroyed
We've got nothing at all
This is life in the fall
We're using everything
We got nothing at all
This is life in the fall
Are you receiving... Are you receiving... Are you receiving
When you're watching TV...??tweaty?? lunacy
We'll treat your heads with our ideas of space
We're like a beam to infinity
We'll let you use your ??mind??
Don't you see what we mean
I'm sure you'll understand...yeah
Are you receiving... Are you receiving... Are you receiving
There's some survival here
It's so boring out there
To find a group control
Cause they're frightened of your soul
But my motivation...shuffled admiration
???? to say it's getting subtle
This is an order from the United Police Force of Great Britain
The minds of the young people today are being infiltrated by the
so-called "beat generation"
These people's identification are on file
We have orders from the new government to detain these people
Immediately
These people must be detained immediately
These people must be detained immediately
Ha Ha Ha
Are you receiving... Are you receiving... Are you
receiving...receiving...receiving...receiving
Are you receiving... Are you receiving... Are you
receiving...receiving...receiving...receiving
The opening lines of Killing Joke's "Are You Receiving" are an immediate indication of the bleak outlook that permeates the song. The lyrics suggest a feeling of aimlessness and despair, as if the destination is unknown and there is no hope in sight. The line "our feelings are destroyed" adds to the sense of melancholy, implying that the singer has experienced some kind of emotional trauma or breakdown. The refrain of "we've got nothing at all, this is life in the fall" reinforces the idea that things are hopeless and there is no way out.
The second verse of the song focuses on outer space and the idea of transmitting messages through beams of light. The lyrics seem to suggest that there is some kind of alternative reality out there beyond what we can see or hear, and that our minds are capable of grasping it if only we're willing to open ourselves up to it. However, the line "Don't you see what we mean" suggests that the message is going over people's heads - perhaps because they're too absorbed in the distractions of daily life to notice.
The final section of the song takes a sudden turn into paranoia and authoritarianism. The lyrics imply that an oppressive government is cracking down on dissent, targeting young people who they see as a threat to their control. The repeated refrain of "are you receiving" takes on an ominous tone, as if to suggest that someone is monitoring our every move and trying to control what we think and feel.
Overall, "Are You Receiving" is a bleak and unsettling song that captures a sense of hopelessness and paranoia that was common in the punk and post-punk era. The lyrics suggest a world where individualism and creativity are being crushed by outside forces, and where it's hard to find any reason to keep going.
Line by Line Meaning
Our destination is nowhere
We lack direction and purpose in life.
Our feelings are destroyed
We are emotionally drained and numb.
We've got nothing at all
We have nothing to show for in life.
This is life in the fall
Life is like autumn - empty, dark, and fading away.
We keep searching for the positive
We strive to find something good in life, despite its difficulties.
We're using everything
We utilize all our resources and efforts.
We got nothing at all
We still have nothing to show for in life.
This is life in the fall
Life is like autumn - gloomy and depressing.
Are you receiving... Are you receiving... Are you receiving
Are you listening? Are you paying attention?
When you're watching TV...??tweaty?? lunacy
When you're watching TV, you are bombarded with crazy, overwhelming information.
We'll treat your heads with our ideas of space
We offer a new perspective on life and the universe.
We're like a beam to infinity
We are a gateway to infinite knowledge and understanding.
We'll let you use your ??mind??
Don't you see what we mean
We encourage you to think for yourself and see the truth.
I'm sure you'll understand...yeah
We have faith that you will comprehend and appreciate our message.
There's some survival here
It's so boring out there
There's some sense of community and vitality here, whereas life outside is dull and dreary.
To find a group control
Cause they're frightened of your soul
People seek to belong to a group or society to feel secure, but they fear losing their individuality and freedom.
But my motivation...shuffled admiration
???? to say it's getting subtle
My drive comes from my mixed feelings of respect and envy for others, and I sense that things are becoming more complicated.
This is an order from the United Police Force of Great Britain
The minds of the young people today are being infiltrated by the
so-called "beat generation"
These people's identification are on file
We have orders from the new government to detain these people
Immediately
These people must be detained immediately
The authorities are trying to suppress the counterculture movement and imprison its members, even though they have done nothing wrong.
Ha Ha Ha
The singer laughs bitterly at the ridiculousness of the situation and the powerlessness of the oppressed.
Are you receiving... Are you receiving... Are you
receiving...receiving...receiving...receiving
Are you receiving... Are you receiving... Are you
receiving...receiving...receiving...receiving
The artist repeats the question to emphasize the importance of actively listening and engaging with the message being conveyed.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JAZ COLEMAN, MATTHEW FERGUSON, MARTIN GLOVER, KEVIN WALKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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