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.
Butcher
Killing Joke Lyrics
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Fruit tasting bitter and lead in the air
Sparkle of colour creating diversion
Butcher the womb and expect her to bear
The liars are out - they have all the assets
Forests are falling there's smoke in my throat
Crawling for oil they were bleeding for gold
Re-assurance from face on my screen
Appointment with destiny for those who will run
Out of the virus immunity comes
out of the virus immunity comes
Watching the decoys of all description
Sparkle of colour creating diversion
Crawling for oil they were bleeding for gold
The liars are out they have all the assets
Fruit tasting bitter and the lead in the air
Butcher the womb and expect her to bear
The lyrics to Killing Joke's song "Butcher" express strong anti-establishment, anti-capitalist sentiments, and delve deep into the environmental and socio-political issues of the time. The song can be seen as a commentary on the negative impact of human greed and corporate exploitation on the natural world, particularly on the destruction of forests and the pollution of the air. The song begins by drawing a comparison between the deceptive tactics of decoys and the manipulation of the masses by those in control. There's a clear sense of disillusionment with the system, as fruit tastes bitter, and the air is filled with lead, making it impossible to breathe.
The song is a call for resistance against the powers that be, whose assets and influence are growing while the world is dying. They are depicted as liars, who use a sparkle of color to create diversion and distract people from the true agenda. The metaphor of butchering the womb and expecting it to bear encapsulates the idea of exploiting nature and then expecting it to continue providing. The title of the song itself is a reference to the brutal treatment of animals, raising an important ethical question about how we treat other beings on this planet. The song ends on a somewhat hopeful note, suggesting that immunity might arise out of the virus, and those who run would find their destiny.
Line by Line Meaning
Watching the decoys of all description
Observing the various distractions that are being used to deceive and manipulate people
Fruit tasting bitter and lead in the air
The natural environment is being poisoned and contaminated, making even fresh produce taste bad
Sparkle of colour creating diversion
Bright and eye-catching distractions are being used to divert attention away from important issues and problems
Butcher the womb and expect her to bear
Society is destroying the natural world and exploiting it for resources, while still expecting it to continue to provide for future generations
The liars are out - they have all the assets
Those who are dishonest and manipulative are the ones who hold the power and wealth in society
Forests are falling there's smoke in my throat
The destruction of forests and natural habitats is causing harm not only to the environment, but also to human health
Crawling for oil they were bleeding for gold
People are willing to sacrifice their own safety and well-being in order to extract valuable resources like oil and gold
machine over man and the mass over mind
Technology and automation are being prioritized over human well-being, and people are being encouraged to adhere to groupthink and conformity instead of thinking for themselves
Re-assurance from face on my screen
People are seeking comfort and reassurance from technology and social media instead of real-life human connections
Appointment with destiny for those who will run
The people who are willing to compete and aggressively pursue their goals are the ones who will succeed, but at what cost?
Out of the virus immunity comes
The current pandemic is exposing the weaknesses and inequalities in our society, but it is also providing an opportunity for change and growth
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JEREMY COLEMAN, PAUL FERGUSON, PAUL VINCENT RAVEN, KEVIN WALKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@degsy1213
Nearly 40 years old and still fucking brilliant...
@michaeldent3669
i worked for nash the slash and lived at the townhouse studios where this lp was recorded -kj invited us for the final mix listen -weve been friends ever since -also -dig this -the 'cutting room' where the lp was mastered by ian was also at townhouse studios -ian and myself were the only 2 peeps in the cutting room and i got to see/hear ian do his magic
@jazp1120
Nash the slash...got one of those giveaway plastic (?) 45’s from Smash Hits (?) in blue ...wondered who NtheS was and now the Big Goooooggly eye tells me Swing Shift ... yes defffo it
@without9103
Best album, a disturbing masterpiece.
@thesoundlikechameleons2082
No, their debut is.
@fstop77
Killing Joke is simply the greatest band in the world.
@BDKR
Geordie Walker is easily one of the best players ever. The things he did were normally super different and the tone he managed from his equipment was one of a kind! Check out "Pleasures of the Flesh", "Fun and Games", "Inside the Termite Mound", and "We have joy". Those songs are in my mind the epitome of Geordie's sonic and harmonic brilliance.
@michaeladdiego7786
Agreed agreed!
@kmacmuzikmafia27
"Fruit tasting bitter and lead in the air, butcher the womb and expect her to bear." What a line. That and, "Out of the virus, immunity comes."
@MariaRamirez-nq4is
they deliver their lyrics to the hypocritical Politicians of the world who continue to turn a blind eye to their evil ways