Living Colour rose to fame with their debut album Vivid in 1988. Although the band scored a number of hits, they are best remembered for their signature anthem "Cult of Personality", which won a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance in 1990. They were also named Best New Artist at the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards and won their second Grammy Award for their follow-up album Time's Up. After disbanding in 1995, Living Colour reunited in late 2000.
Go Away
Living Colour Lyrics
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What is the purpose of joy?
Is it true that the winner dies
With the most toys?
A lifetime spent for a dollar
A lifetime twisting in pain
A lifetime gone in an hour
I see the starving Africans on TV
I feel it has nothing to do with me
I sent my twenty dollars to live aid
I've aided my guilty conscience to go away
Now go away
Now go away
Now go away
Go away
I don't want anybody to touch me
I think everybody has aids
What's the point in caring for you?
You're gonna die anyway
A lifetime searching for something
A lifetime going insane
A lifetime running from nothing
A life looking for someone to blame
I see the starving Africans on TV
I feel it has nothing to do with me
I sent my twenty dollars to live aid
I've aided my guilty conscience to go away
Now go away
Now go away
Now go away
Go away
I see the starving Africans on TV
I feel it has nothing to do with me
I sent my twenty dollars to live aid
And paid my guilty conscience to go away
I see the starving Africans on TV
I feel it has nothing to do with me
I sent my twenty dollars to live aid
And paid my guilty conscience
Now go away
Now go away
Now go away
Now go away, go away, go away
The lyrics to Living Colour's song "Go Away" question the meaning of both suffering and joy, and whether the accumulation of material possessions truly leads to a fulfilling life. The first verse highlights the idea of wasting one's life pursuing money and material possessions, only to have it all gone in an instant. The second verse shows a lack of empathy towards the plight of others, with the singer feeling detached from the suffering of starving Africans and only donating money to ease their own guilty conscience. The chorus repeats the phrase "Now go away," possibly directed towards society's shallow values and the singer's own apathy towards the world's problems.
The bridge of the song is particularly cynical, with the singer saying they don't want anyone to touch them and believing that everyone has AIDS. The final verse continues the theme of desperation and searching for meaning, while hinting at a desire to assign blame to someone else. Ultimately, the song suggests that society's focus on acquiring material possessions and apathy towards the suffering of others is a fruitless pursuit that doesn't lead to true happiness or fulfillment.
Overall, "Go Away" is a powerful critique of Western society's materialistic values and lack of empathy towards the less fortunate. Its lyrics encourage listeners to question their own values and to consider the impact of their actions on those around them.
Line by Line Meaning
What is the point of suffering?
Why do people have to go through pain and suffering in life?
What is the purpose of joy?
Why do good things happen in life, and what is the purpose of experiencing joy?
Is it true that the winner dies
With the most toys?
Is it true that people who are very successful or wealthy still die, and that accumulating material possessions does not bring true happiness or fulfillment in life?
A lifetime spent for a dollar
Many people spend their entire lives working solely for money or material gain.
A lifetime twisting in pain
For some people, life is full of physical or emotional pain which can often cause one to suffer.
A lifetime gone in an hour
Life can seem very short, as if it has gone by in only a few moments.
A lifetime playing the game
Life can often feel like a competition, with people constantly trying to outdo each other and emerge on top.
I see the starving Africans on TV
I feel it has nothing to do with me
I sent my twenty dollars to live aid
I've aided my guilty conscience to go away
Some people feel a sense of detachment from the suffering of others, even when exposed to it via the media. To ease their guilt, they may send money to charities or organizations that help those in need.
Now go away
The artist is addressing their own guilty conscience, telling it to go away and leave them feeling better about themselves.
I don't want anybody to touch me
I think everybody has aids
What's the point in caring for you?
You're gonna die anyway
Some people live in fear or paranoia, refusing physical touch and avoiding caring for others out of fear of contracting diseases or believing it is pointless since everyone will eventually die.
A lifetime searching for something
Many people feel like they are constantly searching for meaning or purpose in their lives.
A lifetime going insane
For some people, the search for meaning or purpose can drive them to the brink of insanity or cause them to feel mentally unstable.
A lifetime running from nothing
Some people feel like they are constantly running or chasing something without ever fully knowing what that something is.
A life looking for someone to blame
Sometimes people are so unhappy or discontent in their lives that they try to find someone else to blame for their problems or struggles.
And paid my guilty conscience
The singer is acknowledging that sending money to charity or other causes can help to ease feelings of guilt or responsibility for the suffering of others.
Now go away, go away, go away
The artist repeats their command to their guilty conscience to go away and leave them feeling better about themselves.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Gregory A. Hawkes, Ric Ocasek
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind