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.
Whiteout
Killing Joke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Leave this planet and leave this hell
Born in the east die in the west
I never rest I never rest, whiteout
Backwards backwards take lose all time
Intellect made us blind
Analysis paralysis
Hear dog bark don't ask me why
Be born grow old with grace and die
Salmon leap sower reap
As crow flies so heat rise, whiteout
Need to fill drink this wine
Knock back the juice see the signs
Leave my body lose myself
Leave this planet leave this hell, whiteout
The song "Whiteout" by Killing Joke is a brooding, introspective piece about the relentless cycle of birth and death, and the human condition caught in between. The opening lines "Leave my body, lose myself / Leave this planet, and leave this hell" suggest a desire to transcend the physical world, and a disillusionment with the earthly realm. The singer seems to be longing for an escape from the human condition, which, according to the lyrics, is characterized by restlessness and perpetual motion. The lines "Born in the east, die in the west / I never rest, I never rest, whiteout" suggest both the cyclical nature of life and the constant state of flux that characterizes human existence.
The second verse of the song delves deeper into the notion that the intellect can often be a hindrance rather than a help. The lines "Backwards, backwards, take lose all time / Intellect made us blind / Analysis paralysis / Analysis paralysis, whiteout" suggest that the quest for knowledge and understanding can sometimes lead to a state of paralysis, in which one becomes trapped in endless analysis and contemplation. This intellectual paralysis stands in stark contrast to the intuitive leaps and bounds of the natural world, as suggested by the lines "Salmon leap, sower reap / As crow flies, so heat rise, whiteout".
Finally, the closing lines of the song "Need to fill, drink this wine / Knock back the juice, see the signs / Leave my body, lose myself / Leave this planet, leave this hell, whiteout" suggest a recognition that there is a need for sustenance and indulgence even in the face of the existential questions explored in the song. The repeated refrain "whiteout" seems to imply a kind of mental block or blinding effect, which prevents one from seeing things clearly. Overall, the lyrics of "Whiteout" offer a bleak but powerful exploration of the human condition.
Line by Line Meaning
Leave my body lose myself
Disconnect from my physical self and lose my sense of identity
Leave this planet and leave this hell
Escape from the struggles of living on Earth
Born in the east die in the west
Life is constant movement and change, ultimately ending in death
I never rest I never rest, whiteout
I am constantly active and moving forward, even in the midst of chaos
Backwards backwards take lose all time
Focusing on negative memories and emotions causes time to slip away
Intellect made us blind
Overthinking and analyzing can prevent us from seeing the truth
Analysis paralysis
Overthinking can render us incapable of taking action
Analysis paralysis, whiteout
Being stuck in indecision makes it difficult to see the way forward
Hear dog bark don't ask me why
Observing the present moment without questioning or analyzing it too deeply
Be born grow old with grace and die
Life progresses through natural stages that lead to inevitable death
Salmon leap sower reap
The cycles of nature and life continue endlessly
As crow flies so heat rise, whiteout
Natural laws govern everything, even in the midst of chaos
Need to fill drink this wine
Desire to escape reality and find comfort in alcohol
Knock back the juice see the signs
Drinking to excess can lead to new perspectives, both good and bad
Leave this planet leave this hell, whiteout
Reinforcing the desire to escape the struggles of living on Earth
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: NANA AZUKI, YURI NAKAMURA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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