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.
Pssyche
Killing Joke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're feeling life's finished but you keep on going
The reason is there but you won't find it till you've been and gone
Because you're living a hoax, someone's got you sussed, oh
Dull your brain or seek inspiration
You fearin' an illusion and then you're findin' a transfer
Drugs for the machine to play with your head
Look at the controller, a Nazi with a social degree
A middle-class hero, a rapist with your eyes on me
You feast on masturbation, a priest cheers to the nuns you fuck
You'd wipe out spastics if you had the chance but Jesus wouldn't like it
The lyrics of Killing Joke's song "Pssyche" are deeply introspective and deal with themes such as alienation, disillusionment, and the distortion of reality. The first line, "You're alone in the pack, you're feeling like you wanna go home" suggests that the singer is struggling with feelings of loneliness and disconnection from society. They feel like they don't belong and that they long for a place they can call "home". However, despite feeling like life is over, they continue to push forward.
The next line, "The reason is there but you won't find it till you've been and gone" suggests that the singer is searching for a deeper meaning to their existence, but they won't be able to find it until they have gone through their journey of life. The following lines suggest that they feel like the world is a façade, and someone has figured them out.
The chorus of the song offers two choices: either dull your brain or seek inspiration. This could be interpreted as either succumbing to the emptiness and lack of purpose or trying to find inspiration in creativity or spirituality. The song then goes on to talk about the use of drugs as a means for the machine to play with one's head, again emphasizing the distortion of reality.
The lyrics then take a more confrontational turn, as the singer calls out the controllers of society, describing them as Nazis with social degrees, and middle-class heroes who are secretly rapists. The last line talks about wiping out "spastics", a derogatory term for people with developmental disabilities, indicating violence and cruelty. Overall, the song is a commentary on the confusion and disillusionment that can arise from living in a society that values conformity, control, and exploitation.
Line by Line Meaning
You're alone in the pack, you're feeling like you wanna go home
You feel isolated in a crowd and crave solitude.
You're feeling life's finished but you keep on going
You feel hopeless, but still persist in life.
The reason is there but you won't find it till you've been and gone
You will only comprehend the purpose of your life on your deathbed.
Because you're living a hoax, someone's got you sussed, oh
You are living a fake life, and someone knows the truth about you.
Dull your brain or seek inspiration
You can either numb your mind or seek enlightenment.
You fearin' an illusion and then you're findin' a transfer
You are terrified of a false reality and then discover a new dimension.
Drugs for the machine to play with your head
Medications function as tools to manipulate your emotions.
So you can stand back and watch or take part and learn
You can be a mere observer or fully participate and acquire knowledge.
Look at the controller, a Nazi with a social degree
The person who governs your life is an educated oppressor.
A middle-class hero, a rapist with your eyes on me
You admire an individual who is socially accepted, but deeply immoral.
You feast on masturbation, a priest cheers to the nuns you fuck
You indulge in self-pleasure, and the clergy approves of your unlawful acts.
You'd wipe out spastics if you had the chance but Jesus wouldn't like it
You harbor prejudice against individuals with disabilities, but are aware that it goes against Christian principles.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAZ COLEMAN, KEVIN WALKER, MARTIN GLOVER, MATTHEW FERGUSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@madiggy77
lyrics You're alone in the pack
You're feeling like you wanna go home
You're feeling life's finished,but you keep on going
The reason is there
You won't find it till you've been and gone cos you're living a hoax!
Someones got you sussed!
Dull your brain, or seek inspiration
You feel illusion,and then you finally say transfer
Transorm a machine, to play with your head
So you can stand back and watch,or take part and learn
If you don't know the game,then you're still part of it
Because out on the streets it's strange
To see the show
Knowing full well that you're on the range
Dodge the bullets! or carry the gun,the choice is yours
Look at the controller
A Nazi with a social degree
A middle-class hero
A rapist with your eyes on me
Increase your masturbation, three cheers for the nuns you fuck
You'd wipe out spastics if you had the chance,but Jesus wouldn't like it
No
@ChameleonsFan
Wardance / Psyche - one of the best singles in the history of mankind.
@patthewoodboy
I would struggle to argue with that
@HeavyMetalTones
ain’t that the bloody truth
@HeavyMetalTones
@@mrjgm7340 my copy got stolen i had to get one later on at some expense but i have to have it
@vantastroganoff4370
Say it again
@andyjordan79
It's certainly up there with change/requiem or tension/follow the leaders or turn to red/nervous system/are you receiving.Let's play a new game.It's called let's spot the 'b-side' such is the quality of genius
@DrCJames
I was listening to this in the early 80s and it has NEVER dated, such is musical genius.
@blakeyonthebuses
I'm 56 and only just realizing how good they are. It must be the times because this year I've got out my Rage Against The Machine and Cypress Hill stuff and fuck what anyone sez!
@eyeseer1
Killing Joke- Running while others still crawl. Since 1980.
@janeholstead3745
Heard this for the first time last year - didn't realise it's 40 years old! Love it!!!