Borrowing its styles from metal bands such as Limp Bizkit, Slipknot, and Korn, and given its resemblence to Rage Against the Machine, “Kill or Be Killed” is a heavier reminiscence and mixture of Muse’s old-fashioned heavy tracks.
The song could be interpreted as an uprising-themed anthem to stand up and fight back opressions, probably inspired by the revolts occuring round the globe. The desolation portrayed in the verses may as well refer to a generic war scenario, where every ‘love and compassion’ and every ‘hope and dream’ gets replaced by a mere fight for survival.
“Kill Or Be Killed” is Muse at their heaviest! We wanted to update our hard rock sound on this album and with “Kill Or Be Killed” we found a modern metal sound featuring double bass drum action and even a death growl. Lyrically the song takes influence from my favourite Paul McCartney song “Live And Let Die”, a dark take on how life’s adversity can sometimes bring out the worst human instincts to survival at any costs.
– Muse, Facebook
“It’s the first death growl ever on a Muse record. Well, the ‘ugh!’, it just came out like a high-pitched falsetto whale. Whenever I go loud, that’s where it goes. That is us going, ‘Okay, if we’re going to go heavy, let’s go heavy.’ Dom had a different kit for everything, pretty much. But I was really pushing him on the double bass drum stuff.“
— Matt Bellamy via Apple Music
Kill Or Be Killed
Muse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cornered, I'm exhausted with fear
Our love and compassion dissolved
And demons have materialized in me
Can't fight them, they're taking control
And we've tried, oh, we've tried so hard to be good
Fate
Is driving me insane
It's forcing me to face
I must kill or be killed
(Kill or be killed)
They've driven a stake right through my heart
I'm growing so cold and detached
And I've tried, oh, I've tried so hard to spread love
But she prefers it when I assert control
Fate
Has brought us here to face
Our hopes and dreams erased
Either kill or be killed
(Kill or be killed)
War
(Kill or be killed)
Either kill or be killed
Fate
Is driving me insane
It's forcing me to face
I must kill or be killed
(Kill or be killed)
(Kill or be killed)
(Kill or be killed)
(Kill or be)
The song "Kill Or Be Killed" by Muse is a powerful track about the struggle between good and evil within oneself. It begins with the singer describing their state of mind as exhausted and filled with fear. They feel that the love and compassion they have within themselves is disappearing, leaving them vulnerable to the demons that have taken control. The chorus emphasizes the idea of fate driving the singer to either kill or be killed, both physically and emotionally. They feel they have no choice in the matter, as their inner demons and external circumstances are pushing them towards a violent end.
In the second verse, the singer describes feeling cold and detached as they are driven further away from love and compassion. They recount how they have tried to spread love in the world, but their efforts go unappreciated. Instead, they find that people prefer when they assert control, forcing the singer to confront their inner turmoil once again. The final chorus is a repetition of the idea that fate is driving the singer to kill or be killed, emphasizing the feeling of inevitability in the situation.
The song is a commentary on the human condition, exploring the dark parts of ourselves that we try to repress. It delves into the struggle between good and evil within each person, and the idea that sometimes we are forced to confront the parts of ourselves that we fear the most. In this way, "Kill Or Be Killed" is a haunting reminder that we are all capable of both great good and great evil, and that our choices ultimately determine our fate.
Line by Line Meaning
Crawling, I'm exhausted with fear
I am overcome with fear and anxiety, feeling powerless in the face of impending danger.
Our love and compassion dissolves
The positivity and compassion we once shared seem distant and unattainable now.
And demons have materialized in me
I am consumed by negative thoughts and actions that feel almost like a possession or external force.
Can't fight them, they're taking control
I am unable to counteract the negative influences and am losing agency over my own actions.
And we've tried, oh, we've tried so hard to be good
We have attempted to maintain a positive outlook and do what is right, but it feels like it is not enough.
But the world rewards us when we're bad
Society seems to encourage and incentivize negative behavior rather than rewarding good actions.
Fate
Is driving me insane
It's forcing me to face
I must kill or be killed
The circumstances of my existence and environment have led me to a point where I am forced to make a decision that could involve violence or self-preservation.
They've driven a stake right through my heart
Someone or something has caused me immense emotional pain and distress.
I'm growing so cold and detached
I am becoming numb and distant from others as a result of this emotional trauma.
And I've tried, oh, I've tried so hard to spread love
I have attempted to cultivate positivity and connection with others, but it feels futile and unappreciated.
But she prefers it when I assert control
Someone in my life seems to respond positively to my negative behavior and displays of dominance rather than kindness.
Fate
Has brought us here to face
Our hopes and dreams erased
Either kill or be killed
The trajectory of our lives has led us to a point where we must engage in a violent or self-protective act due to the loss of our aspirations and goals.
Ah, yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah
Yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah
Kill or be killed
A repeated reminder of the dire decision that must be made and the intense pressure that accompanies it.
Fate
Is driving me insane
Is forcing me to face
I must kill or be killed
Reiterated again, the unavoidable nature of the conflict and the difficult decision that must be made in order to survive.
(Kill or be killed)
A haunting refrain that underscores the precariousness of the situation and the high stakes involved.
(Kill or be)
A truncated version of the refrain that highlights the urgency and tension of the situation.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Matthew James Bellamy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@muse
“KILL OR BE KILLED”
Cornered, I’m exhausted with fear
Our love and compassion dissolved
And demons, have materialised in me
Can’t fight them, they’re taking control
And we’ve tried, oh we’ve tried so hard to be good
But the world rewards us when we’re bad
Fate, is driving me insane
It’s forcing me to face
I must kill or be killed
Kill or be killed
They’ve driven a stake right through my heart
I’m growing so cold and detached
And I’ve tried, oh I’ve tried so hard to spread love
But she prefers it when I assert control
Fate has brought us here to face
Our hopes and dreams erased
Either kill or be killed
Yah, Yah Yah Yah, Yah Yahweh Yah Yahweh Yah Yah Yah
Yah Yah Yah
Ah Eh Yah Yah
Yah Yah Yah
Kill or be killed
War
Kill or be killed
Yaaahhh
Yah Yah Yah Yah Yah Yah
Either kill or be killed
Fate, is driving me insane
It’s forcing me to face
I must kill or be killed
Kill or be killed
Kill or be killed
Kill or be killed
Kill or be killed
Kill or be killed
@-lazarus-
- The Handler for the intro
- Hyper Music for the main riff
- Reapers (the scream on "kill or be killed lyrics reminds me a lot of "Here come the drones" lyrics)
- Map Of The Problematique / Resistance on the pre-chorus (drums, background atmosphere)
- Blockades for the chorus (vocals)
- Mercy / Stockholm Syndrome (synth)
- Break It To Me (phrygian rythm before the solo)
- Psycho for the break ( it's remind me the loud guitar)
- New Born (solo)
Yeah, probably the best Muse song.
@muse
“‘Kill Or Be Killed’ is Muse at their heaviest! We wanted to update our hard rock sound on this album and with KOBK we found a modern metal sound featuring double bass drum action and even a death growl. Lyrically the song takes influence from my favourite Paul McCartney song “Live and Let Die”, a dark take on how life’s adversity can sometimes bring out the worst human instincts to survival at any costs.” - Matt
@Ohmwise
ITS SO GOOD
@hafiziashaari2588
After this, is there another track in a heavy album?
@Padders
Best song on the album so far
@henrianquetil2133
This song rules! <3
@Davis38
Awesome! Can't wait to hear the whole album!
@geetraldinha
Dominic Howard is a killer drummer yet so underrated.
I won't be surprised if their next album is a full metal album. But whatever you want, Muse. Even if it's a jazz album, I'll be happy... won't take it for granted.
As long as you're still here together and healthy....
@kirizute
well said, finally someone not complaining lmao
@zrzmtz6131
A proper muse fan 🙏👆
@geetraldinha
@@kirizute I won't spend much time complaining about my faves after my most fave musician died years ago. It's really devastating even to date because he had to deal with health problem and mass bullying for years and years. The later led to his death as a broken soul. He also didn't release many albums. It took him around 4-6 years to release one. So I feel lucky Muse have released 9 albums so far. They have their ups and downs just like other human being but seeing them still making whatever music they want with original line up, healthy and enjoy performing live, anything else is not worth to be complained about. Not all bands/solo artists on this planet could survive this long like them.