Here's what's used in the song:
"Everybody knows things are bad. It's a depression. Everybody's out of work or scared of losing their job. The dollar buys a nickel's worth, banks are going bust, shopkeepers keep a gun under the counter. Punks are running wild in the street and there's nobody anywhere who seems to know what to do, and there's no end to it.
We know the air is unfit to breathe and our food is unfit to eat, and we sit watching our TV's while some local newscaster tells us that today we had fifteen homicides and sixty-three violent crimes, as if that's the way it's supposed to be. We know things are bad - worse than bad. They're crazy. It's like everything everywhere is going crazy, so we don't go out anymore. We sit in the house, and slowly the world we are living in is getting smaller, and all we say is, 'Please, at least leave us alone in our living rooms. Let me have my toaster and my TV and my steel-belted radials and I won't say anything. Just leave us alone.' Well, I'm not gonna leave you alone. I want you to get mad!
I don't want you to protest. I don't want you to riot - I don't want you to write to your congressman because I wouldn't know what to tell you to write. I don't know what to do about the depression and the inflation and the Russians and the crime in the street. All I know is that first you've got to get mad.
You've gotta say, "I'm a human being, goddammit! My life has value!" So, I want you to get up now. I want all of you to get up out of your chairs. I want you to get up right now and go to the window, open it, and stick your head out and yell, 'I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!'"
Not for Want of Trying
Maybeshewill Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We know the air is unfit to breathe and our food is unfit to eat. And we sit watching our TVs while some local newscaster tells us that today we had fifteen homicides and sixty-three violent crimes, as if that's the way it's supposed to be! We know things are bad - worse than bad - they're crazy. It's like everything everywhere is going crazy, so we don't go out any more. We sit in the house, and slowly the world we're living in is getting smaller, and all we say is, "Please, at least leave us alone in our living rooms. Let me have my toaster and my TV and my steel-belted radials, and I won't say anything. Just leave us alone."
Well, I'm not going to leave you alone.
I want you to get mad!
I don't want you to protest. I don't want you to riot. I don't want you to write to your Congressman, because I wouldn't know what to tell you to write. I don't know what to do about the depression and the inflation and the Russians and the crime in the street. All I know is that first, you've got to get mad. You've gotta say, "I'm a human being, goddammit! My life has value!"
So, I want you to get up now. I want all of you to get up out of your chairs. I want you to get up right now and go to the window, open it, and stick your head out and yell, "I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!"
Maybeshewill's song "Not for Want of Trying" features a sample from the movie "Network" from 1976. The sample begins with the singer, Howard Beale, a news anchor who is outraged at the state of society. He describes how everything is going crazy, people have lost their jobs, banks are failing, and there seems to be no solution. He also explains how people have become desensitized to violence and crime and are content with being left alone in their living rooms with their TV and other comforts. He then implores people to get mad and take action against the status quo, to stand up and declare that they will not accept the current state of society.
This sample sets the tone for the entire song, which is an instrumental track that seems to be urging people to wake up and take action. The song starts off with a simple piano melody that gradually builds up with layers of instrumentation, including guitar, drums, strings, and horns. As the song progresses, the various melodies and rhythms overlap and weave in and out of each other, creating a complex and powerful sound. The music feels urgent and theatrical, as if it is trying to inspire people to take action against the injustices of the world.
The lyrics in the sample from "Network" are an important part of the song because they highlight the feeling of frustration and helplessness that many people experience in the face of the challenges of the world. However, the song itself is also a call to action that encourages people to get up and do something about these challenges. The music is powerful and soaring, and it seems to be urging the listener to take action against the status quo and fight for a better world.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody knows things are bad. It's a depression.
Everyone is aware that times are tough. The economic situation is dire.
Everybody's out of work, or scared of losing their job.
The majority of people are either unemployed or worried about losing their job.
The dollar buys a nickel's worth; banks are going bust; shopkeepers keep a gun under the counter; punks are running wild in the street, and there's nobody anywhere who seems to know what to do, and there's no end to it.
The economy is so bad that there is rampant inflation. Bank failures are common. Crime is on the rise and there is little hope in sight.
We know the air is unfit to breathe and our food is unfit to eat.
Environmental issues are concerning. Pollution is making the air toxic and food is contaminated.
And we sit watching our TVs while some local newscaster tells us that today we had fifteen homicides and sixty-three violent crimes, as if that's the way it's supposed to be!
We have become desensitized to violence and crime. News reports of high rates of crime are normalized.
We know things are bad - worse than bad - they're crazy. It's like everything everywhere is going crazy, so we don't go out any more.
The situation is not just bad, it's insane. Everywhere we look, there is chaos and turmoil. People are afraid to leave their homes.
Well, I'm not going to leave you alone.
The singer is going to address these issues and motivate people to take action.
I want you to get mad!
The artist wants people to become passionate and outraged about the issues facing society.
I don't want you to protest. I don't want you to riot. I don't want you to write to your Congressman, because I wouldn't know what to tell you to write.
The artist does not want people to engage in ineffective actions like protesting or rioting. The system is broken and he does not have a solution to offer through traditional political channels.
I don't know what to do about the depression and the inflation and the Russians and the crime in the street. All I know is that first, you've got to get mad. You've gotta say, "I'm a human being, goddammit! My life has value!"
The artist acknowledges that he does not have all the answers. However, he knows that people need to realize their worth as human beings and take pride in themselves before they can tackle the problems society faces.
So, I want you to get up now. I want all of you to get up out of your chairs. I want you to get up right now and go to the window, open it, and stick your head out and yell, "I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!"
The singer wants people to take immediate action. He wants people to express their anger and frustration about the issues at hand.
Contributed by Colin S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
V1TaM1n
Я не буду говорить вам что всё плохо.
Все знают что всё плохо.
Доллар не стоит и гроша.
Банки грабят, у продавцов пистолет под прилавком.
Отморозки бегают по улицам и никто не знает что делать, и конца этому не видно.
Мы знаем, что этим воздухом невозможно дышать, а эту еду невозможно есть, и мы сидим и смотрим телек, как какой-то местный диктор в новостях рассказывает, что сегодня было 15 убийств и 63 ограбления, и типа так и должно быть.
Мы знаем что всё плохо. Хуже чем плохо. Они с ума сошли. Все с ума сходят.
Мы никуда уже не ходим, мы сидим дома, а мир в котором мы живём становится всё меньше,
и всё о чём мы просим - "Пожалуйста, оставьте нас в покое в наших комнатах, оставьте мне мой тостер, мой телек, мой фен для волос, мои литые диски.
Я ничего не скажу, только не трогайте меня!".
А я буду вас трогать!
Я хочу чтобы вы сошли с ума.
Мне не надо чтобы вы протестовали.
Мне не надо чтобы вы бунтовали.
Я не прошу вас писать вашему депутату, и я не знаю что там положено писать.
Я ничего не знаю о депрессиях, инфляции, бюджетах, русских, преступности.
Всё что я знаю - вы должны сойти с ума!
Вы должны сказать: "Я - человек, чёрт возьми! Моя жизнь чего-то стоит!".
"I'M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!!
2022, Америка и Европа - посмотрите в зеркало, что вы там видите...
George Staroselskii
This music and the movie were the essential parts of turning me into the man I’m now. The sadness and the reflection I hear in this song and the speech is what you carry thru your whole life. This is good art. I like the video as well. I don’t remember it when listening to the original song. These photos clearly capture my mood, though. Thanks for the efforts.
Efren Perez
A band that was sadly forgotten and suddenly today, not only the visuals but the feeling reverberates through society...
Mental monk3y
Sadly forgotten? They've released a new album, been on tour (which I've been to a gig of) hardly forgotten. Forever loved and cherished maybe but never forgotten.
The visuals and lyrics are stunning though and you feel the same intensity in todays difficulties. Scary to see the harshness of war in this video to only see it happen again and again in generation after generation (Our History will be what we make of it)
Fennec
@Mental monk3y I see them next month... Thought they did quit some years ago, but they seem to be back.
Nox.INk# Records ❶
Heavy Epicness!
So powerful and majestic 🙏 it's wonderful how you merged some scenes from Linkin Park's - What I've Done (official music video) here, it goes well with the entire video
This will always remain as one of my absolute favourites
JadeDragonMeli
Absolutely amazing job on this. I've been thinking of this song a lot lately, and the words that are in it. I'm mad about the exact same things that are in your video. You've created something that perfectly mirrors how I feel when I hear this song. Thank you for that. And boy aren't the words in the song as poignant as ever, eh?
First, you've got to get mad.
Claymann71
That's some profound editing & song-choice. Damn fine work m8. Very emotional!
Oscaryop
What a powerful message! It's so alive!!!
Aurélien Gasnier
I cannot believe it wasn't supposed to be like this. This merging movie is so strong.
Felipe Ortiz
Amazing song!