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)
Target Audience
Marilyn Manson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Put your knives in babies backs.
Am I sorry you killed the Kennedy's,
And Huxley too?
But I'm sorry Shakespeare was your scapegoat,
And your apple sticking into my throat.
Sorry your Sunday smiles are rusty nails,
But I'm just a pitiful; anonymous.
I see all the young believers;
Your target audience.
I see all the old deceivers,
And we all just sing their song.
Am I sorry to just be alive
Putting my face in the bee-hive?
Am I sorry for Booth and Oswald,
Pinks and cocaine too?
Sorry I never check
The bag in my head for a bomb,
And my halo was a needle hole.
Sorry I saw a priest being beaten,
And I made a wish.
But I'm just a pitiful; anonymous.
I see all the young believers;
Your target audience.
I see all the old deceivers,
And we all just sing their song.
I see all the young believers;
Your target audience.
I see all the old deceivers,
And we all just sing their song.
We all just sing their song.
We all just sing their song.
"Valley of death we are free;
Your father's your prison you see."
"Valley of death we are free;
Your father's your prison you see."
I see all the young believers;
Your target audience.
I see all the old deceivers;
We all just sing this song.
You're just a copy of an imitation.
You're just a copy of an imitation.
The president is dead; let us pray.
The song "Target Audience" by Marilyn Manson provides insight into the society we live in and the people who influence it. It is a commentary on the manipulation of people's beliefs and how the media and powerful figures control their followers. Manson suggests that young people are the most vulnerable to this manipulation, and they are the target audience. He also accuses the older generation of being deceivers, who have created a society in which we are all entrapped.
Manson begins the song by apologizing for the state of humanity, listing past events such as the Kennedy assassination and the killing of Aldous Huxley, questioning whether or not he should be sorry for such incidents. He then moves on to criticize the way that religion and marketing are employed to manipulate and control people, suggesting that it is all just a ploy.
Throughout the song, Manson compares himself to those in power, referring to himself as "I'm just a pitiful anonymous," suggesting that he is just as much a product of society as anyone else. He acknowledges that we all sing the same song, indicating that we are all affected by society's manipulation, whether we want to or not.
Overall, "Target Audience" is an introspective look at the state society is in and the way people are being controlled by powerful figures. Manson encourages the listener to look beyond the façade, to recognize the manipulations of others, and ultimately to create their personal path.
Line by Line Meaning
Am I'm sorry your sky went black?
Are you mourning the loss of something you valued dearly?
Put your knives in babies backs.
You are hurting the innocent and weak.
Am I sorry you killed the Kennedy's,
Do you regret committing acts of violence upon those in power?
And Huxley too?
Did you also take down those who criticized you, even if you admired their genius?
But I'm sorry Shakespeare was your scapegoat,
You blame an artist for your problems and issues, which is unfair.
And your apple sticking into my throat.
You force your beliefs on me, making it difficult to express my own opinions.
Sorry your Sunday smiles are rusty nails,
Your insincerity is painful to see, especially during times of enjoyment or celebration.
And your crucifixion commercials failed.
You tried to sell a message of suffering and pain, but nobody bought it.
But I'm just a pitiful; anonymous.
I am insignificant and powerless in comparison to those in authority or with a large following.
I see all the young believers;
I notice those who are easily influenced and manipulated by those in power.
Your target audience.
You aim your message and propaganda towards these individuals to maintain control and influence.
I see all the old deceivers,
I recognize those who have been in power for a long time and use their influence to deceive and maintain control.
And we all just sing their song.
We blindly follow their messages and beliefs without questioning their true motives or intentions.
Am I sorry to just be alive
Am I ashamed of my existence, and wish to be someone else?
Putting my face in the bee-hive?
Do I intentionally put myself in dangerous situations, despite the consequences?
Am I sorry for Booth and Oswald,
Do I feel remorse for those who have committed violent acts, even if I didn't know them personally?
Pinks and cocaine too?
Are you guilty of indulging in illegal or dangerous activities to escape reality?
Sorry I never check
I regret not being more careful or vigilant about the dangers around me.
The bag in my head for a bomb,
I'm oblivious to potential threats and dangers to myself and those around me.
And my halo was a needle hole.
I rely on drugs or other vices to cope with my pain and hardships, instead of seeking help.
Sorry I saw a priest being beaten,
I'm sorry I was a witness to violence and suffering, but didn't intervene or seek justice.
And I made a wish.
Despite my regret, I still express hope or desire for things to be different or better.
I see all the old deceivers;
I recognize those who have been in power for a long time and use their influence to deceive and maintain control.
We all just sing their song.
We blindly follow their messages and beliefs without questioning their true motives or intentions.
We all just sing their song.
We continue to repeat the same cycles of corruption and abuse, without seeking lasting change or progress.
"Valley of death we are free;
Despite our suffering and struggles, we are still alive and experience moments of freedom or release.
Your father's your prison you see."
You are confined and trapped by familial obligations or expectations, which prevent you from being your true self.
"Valley of death we are free;
Despite our suffering and struggles, we are still alive and experience moments of freedom or release.
Your father's your prison you see."
You are confined and trapped by familial obligations or expectations, which prevent you from being your true self.
You're just a copy of an imitation.
You are not authentic or original, but merely trying to copy others who you admire or fear.
You're just a copy of an imitation.
You are not authentic or original, but merely trying to copy others who you admire or fear.
The president is dead; let us pray.
Despite the death of those in power, we continue to put our faith and trust in those who we believe will succeed them.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: JEORDIE WHITE, JOHN LOWERY, BRIAN HUGH WARNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
SabrinaOnlineFan96
on Use Your Fist and Not Your Mouth
I woke up today and wished for tomorrow, I don't wanna be like anyone else!
DrJKintobor
on The Speed of Pain
This song reminds me of Shadow the Hedgehog falling to Earth. The lyrics "I hope we die holding hands, always" refers to him and Maria.
DrJKintobor
on Spade
This is the saddest song on the album.
SabrinaOnlineFan96
on Cyclops
Correction, this song makes me think of the dark night.
SabrinaOnlineFan96
on HALF-WAY & ONE STEP FORWARD
This song is so dark, it makes me think of Endora from Sabrina Online: Skunk's Day Out.
SabrinaOnlineFan96
on I Want to Disappear
This is Zaphod Beeblebrox's theme from Hitchhikers Guide to The Galaxy.
SabrinaOnlineFan96
on Posthuman
This song reminds me of the Mike Teavee Oompa Loompa song from the 2005 Willy Wonka movie, which is funny since Johnny Depp is friends with Marilyn Manson.
SabrinaOnlineFan96
on Tattooed In Reverse
This song gives me Blitzo from Helluva Boss vibes.
SabrinaOnlineFan96
on Long Hard Road Out of Hell
This song reminds me of Shadow the Hedgehog.
DrJKintobor
on Killing Strangers
Me when my dog is killed by Russian gangsters.