"The reason being because its slowly dawning on him that everything he is doing is out of his power."
Ruled by Secrecy starts off very quiet, followed by an explosion of sound. It was one of the band's (and Tom Kirk's) favourite songs to play live during the Absolution tour.
At 3:19 in the song, there is a very subtle mistake in Bellamy's playing.
The video that plays in the background during live performances counts down to the piano climax, appearing to count down to an apocalyptic event, such as an atomic bomb explosion.
The title and the song's meaning are also related to a book called Rule by Secrecy by Jim Marrs, a book about conspiracy theories of how there are secret societies dictating the way the world is run. The song probably refers to the 'underground' group called Illuminati.
At the end, a heart-beat can be heard. It's very quiet though it is possible to hear. There is also a Shepard Tone as the songs fades out.
Rule by Secrecy
Muse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Still the pressure and the pain
Wash the blood off your hands
This time she won't understand
Change in the air
And they'll hide everywhere
And no one knows who's in control
You're working so hard
And you're never in charge
Your death creates success
And you'll build and suppress
Change in the air
And they'll hide everywhere
And no one knows who's in control
Change in the air
And they'll hide everywhere
And no one knows who's in control
In "Ruled by Secrecy," Muse touches upon the idea of an individual who is seen as a mere pawn in a larger, more intricate game of power and control. The lyrics talk about repression and restraint- the idea of bottling up feelings and emotions- in order to keep up appearances and comply with the ruling group's orders. The singer of the song is struggling with a sense of inner turmoil, as they are forced to do things against their will and are unable to express themselves for fear of what will happen if they do. They find themselves out of control, as they are constantly being pulled in different directions and don't know who is truly in charge.
The chorus speaks about the changes in the air, and how they are causing everyone to hide and remain hidden. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for the changing political climate or the struggle for power among certain groups. The repeated line, "no one knows who's in control" further emphasizes the idea of confusion and lack of clarity in this world of secrecy and control.
Line by Line Meaning
Repress and restrain
Suppressing and controlling oneself
Still the pressure and the pain
Ignoring one's own discomfort
Wash the blood off your hands
Trying to cleanse oneself of guilt
This time she won't understand
A lack of empathy from others
Change in the air
A shift in the environment
And they'll hide everywhere
People trying to conceal themselves
And no one knows who's in control
A lack of transparency in power dynamics
You're working so hard
Putting in a lot of effort
And you're never in charge
Not having control over one's own life
Your death creates success
Sacrificing oneself for others' benefit
And you'll build and suppress
Building a system that oppresses others
Change in the air
A shift in the environment
And they'll hide everywhere
People trying to conceal themselves
And no one knows who's in control
A lack of transparency in power dynamics
Change in the air
A shift in the environment
And they'll hide everywhere
People trying to conceal themselves
And no one knows who's in control
A lack of transparency in power dynamics
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MATTHEW JAMES BELLAMY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bassdrummer 98
Seriously; this song grows on you the more you listen to it. Its dreamy, dark, big...
Silhouetto of a Man
I can safely say it hooked me from the start. It's quiet, it's brooding, it may possibly be the most subtle song Muse have ever performed!
faerygoddyss
Was just about to listen to the newest Musse single ….in 2022 and thought I would revisit this album from 2004. Still holds up.
Valinypse
Man, what does MUSE do to be so great? Just crying right now.
Alejandro Nuñez
My favorite Muse album
Jack Lumber
Muse tie me in fucking knots when I try to decide my favourite album. Sign of a great band or what?!!!
Alejandro Nuñez
@Jack Lumber It's a great band no doubt about it, but Absolution was the first Muse album that i heard, and it's got a piece of my heart in it.
Alina
Mine too. One of the few albums that i listen to without skipping a single song.
sapphire
i could probably figure out the meaning of life faster than i could decide my favourite muse album lmfao
Alejandro Nuñez
@sapphire this album was the first one that my mom bought me in 2005 (this one and The Bends in the same day) so, Absolution has a special place in my heart. And yes, i can definitely say, this is my favorite album. But i understand you, Muse has a lot of great albums you can't decide which one is better than the other.