Marilyn Manson is an American rock band formed by namesake lead singer Mari… Read Full Bio ↴Marilyn Manson is an American rock band formed by namesake lead singer Marilyn Manson and guitarist Daisy Berkowitz in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 1989. Originally named Marilyn Manson & the Spooky Kids, they gained a local cult following in South Florida in the early 1990s with their theatrical live performances. In 1993, they were the first act signed to Trent Reznor's Nothing Records label. Until 1996, the name of each member was created by combining the first name of a female sex symbol and the last name of a serial killer, for example Marilyn Monroe and Charles Manson. Their lineup has changed between many of their album releases; the eponymous lead singer is the only remaining original member.

In the past, band members dressed in outlandish makeup and costumes, and engaged in intentionally shocking behavior both onstage and off. Their lyrics often received criticism for their anti-religious sentiment and references to sex, violence and drugs, while their live performances were frequently called offensive and obscene. On several occasions, protests and petitions led to the group being blocked from performing, with at least three US states passing legislation banning the group from performing at state-owned venues. They released a number of platinum-selling albums, including Antichrist Superstar (1996) and Mechanical Animals (1998). These albums, along with their highly stylized music videos and worldwide touring, brought public recognition to Marilyn Manson. In 1999, news media, infamously, falsely blamed the band for influencing the perpetrators of the Columbine High School massacre.

As this controversy began to wane throughout the 2000s, so did the band's mainstream popularity. Despite this, Jon Wiederhorn of MTV, in June 2003, referred to Marilyn Manson as "the only true artist today". Marilyn Manson is widely regarded as being one of the most iconic and controversial figures in rock music, with the band and its lead singer influencing numerous other groups and musicians, both in metal-associated acts and also in wider popular culture. VH1 ranked Marilyn Manson as the seventy-eighth best rock band on their 100 Great Artists of Hard Rock. They were inducted into the Kerrang! Hall of Fame in 2000, and have been nominated for four Grammy Awards. In the U.S., the band has seen ten of its releases debut in the top ten, including two number-one albums. Marilyn Manson have sold in excess of 50 million records worldwide.

Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marilyn_Manson_(band)

Studio albums
Portrait of an American Family (1994)
Antichrist Superstar (1996)
Mechanical Animals (1998)
Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death) (2000)
The Golden Age of Grotesque (2003)
Eat Me, Drink Me (2007)
The High End of Low (2009)
Born Villain (2012)
The Pale Emperor (2015)
Heaven Upside Down (2017)
We Are Chaos (2020)

Break You Down
Marilyn Manson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I got a gun in my hand and
I feel like a man
I'm the pope of my generation
I got to push myself
Over your goddamn walls
I don't listen to your condemnation

Can't you see the

Is the only cause of everything
That you wish to stop
And bring to an end
But it only makes me hate you more

Careful what you wish for
It can only bring you down
keep your spirit on the ground
Emptiness the only sound

I know what it takes to break you down
And I'll kill everything that made you
(I know what it takes to break you down)

Take everything you tried to teach me
It don't add up to a pile of shit
All the methods you use
As you tried to reach me
They don't matter a single bit

I'm alright inside
I'm just trying to hide
From all the propaganda
You want to choke me with

keep your face away
keep your hands away
Don't want your fingers
In and out of my life

I know what it takes to break you down
(I know what it takes to break you down)
And I'll kill everything that made you
(I know what it takes to break you down)

I know what it takes to break you down
And I'll kill everything that made you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Marilyn Manson’s “Break You Down” are full of aggressive imagery and angry thoughts that speak to the idea of power and control. The persona of the song is a megalomaniac who sees himself as the leader of his generation, with a gun in his hand, and judgment for everything he deems immoral. He believes that his detractors are only fueled by hatred and, in turn, their condemnation of him serves to make him feel more powerful, not less. The persona recognizes that he is different, that he is not interested in listening or obeying anyone, and he has a nihilistic view of life.

The song seems to be about the idea of manipulation or control, with the persona of the song seeking to break down everything that made his detractors who they are. He is rejecting all the attempts made to teach him, and claiming that he knows what it takes to break down his detractors. While the lyrics are angry, and the persona is violent, there is also a clear sense of desperation and loneliness that speaks to the idea of alienation. The persona is trying to hide from the world, from the propaganda of society that seeks to define him, and to control him.

Overall, the song “Break You Down” is about anger and power, control, and the idea of feeling different or alienated from society. The song speaks to the idea of being desperate for power, and how that power can be both alluring and dangerous.

Line by Line Meaning

I got a gun in my hand and
I feel powerful and in control with a weapon in my possession.

I feel like a man
Being armed makes me feel manly and dominant.

I'm the pope of my generation
I see myself as a leader of my peers, with the authority to promote my beliefs and opinions.

I got to push myself
I need to prove my superiority and strength by breaking through any obstacles and limitations.

Over your goddamn walls
I want to transcend the barriers and rules set by the society and authority figures that I despise.

I don't listen to your condemnation
I refuse to accept any criticism or judgment from those I consider inferior or hypocritical.

Can't you see the
Don't you understand that the

Is the only cause of everything
The evil and corruption in the world stem from the same thing that you want to control and suppress.

That you wish to stop
Your attempts to stop this force reflect your fear and ignorance.

And bring to an end
You hope to eliminate it completely, but that only fuels my defiance and hatred.

But it only makes me hate you more
Your opposition and hostility towards me and my beliefs only increase my animosity towards you and your values.

Careful what you wish for
You should be cautious about what you hope to achieve, as it may have unintended consequences.

It can only bring you down
Your relentless pursuit of power and control will eventually lead to your downfall and misery.

keep your spirit on the ground
You should stay humble and grounded, rather than seeking to elevate yourself above others.

Emptiness the only sound
When you achieve your goals, you may find that the resulting emptiness and lack of purpose are the only things you hear or feel.

I know what it takes to break you down
I understand how to weaken and defeat you psychologically and emotionally.

And I'll kill everything that made you
I will destroy whatever factors or experiences contributed to your current position or identity.

(I know what it takes to break you down)
(I have the knowledge and ability to emotionally dismantle you)

Take everything you tried to teach me
I reject all the values and lessons you tried to instill in me.

It don't add up to a pile of shit
All the education and guidance you provided me with are worthless and meaningless to me.

All the methods you use
The tactics and strategies you employ to control me and make me conform.

As you tried to reach me
As you attempted to influence and mold me into your image.

They don't matter a single bit
None of these methods or efforts have any impact on me or my beliefs.

I'm alright inside
Despite my rebellious and confrontational attitude, I feel secure and confident in myself.

I'm just trying to hide
However, I conceal my true feelings and vulnerabilities from others.

From all the propaganda
I am wary of all the misleading and manipulative messages that bombard me from various sources.

You want to choke me with
You intend to suffocate and suppress my individuality and creativity, through your propaganda and expectations.

keep your face away
Don't get too close or personal with me.

keep your hands away
Don't touch or interfere with me without my consent.

Don't want your fingers
I strongly resist any attempts to control or manipulate me.

In and out of my life
Whether you leave or stay, I won't allow you to dominate or exploit me.

I know what it takes to break you down
I possess the knowledge and skill to weaken and destroy you emotionally and mentally.

(I know what it takes to break you down)
(I am confident in my ability to psychologically dismantle you)

And I'll kill everything that made you
I will obliterate whatever factors or experiences contributed to your current state or persona.

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAMES M. O'CONNOR, JASON CHARLES MILLER, MICHAEL K. MILLER, ULLRICH GERD HEPPERLIN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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