Bellamy told the Metro how his television viewing as a child influenced his thinking. "'I'm part of that generation who had ecological concerns instilled into us by Blue Peter and Newsround," he said. "At the same time, there's that tension about whether we should restrict our natural state or push forward and survive against the odds. As a species, we have limited resources but at the same time I don't want to regress."
Matt Bellamy discussed with Q magazine how this mainly instrumental piece, "devolves into the sound of the universe cooling down." He explained: "In my mind I'm saying, 'I want to create the sound of the universe cooling down' [laughs], even though it's a ridiculously abstract idea it makes you approach a sound in a particular day. You're thinking, this piano part should slowing down, there should be some deep reverb here and it goes further and further. It's things like that, abstract ideas, that you try to get the music to conjure up in some way."
This song features in the zombie-apocalypse thriller, World War Z. "When we started making this film a couple years ago we discussed trying to find a 'Tubular Bells,' which is the theme song to The Exorcist," explained the film's producer and star Brad Pitt. "It wasn't written for The Exorcist. The Exorcist appropriated it and then it became the theme song from there. But we wanted to have that same kind of feeling."
When Pitt and crew arrived at this song, they discovered the Muse band members had been reading the Max Brooks authored World War Z book when they recorded The 2nd Law.
The 2nd Law: Isolated System
Muse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In an isolated system, entropy can only increase
In an isolated system, entropy can only increase
In an isolated system, in an isolated system, entropy
Isolated system, entropy can only increase
Isolated system, entropy
Isolated
Isolated
Isolated
Isolated
Isolated
Isolated
Isolated
The song "The 2nd Law: Isolated System" by Muse is a hauntingly beautiful electronic instrumental featuring a repeating sample of a voice saying "In an isolated system, entropy can only increase". The lyrics serve as a metaphor for the state of the world today, highlighting the increasing disorder and chaos that we constantly see around us. The concept of entropy, which refers to the amount of disorder in a system, is used as a symbol for everything that is wrong with our society, from environmental degradation to social inequality.
The repetition of the phrase "isolated system" is also significant as it evokes a sense of loneliness and detachment, which is an apt description for the state of many individuals in our modern society. Despite advances in technology and communication, people are increasingly disconnected from each other, leading to feelings of loneliness and isolation. The song's melancholic tone is thus reflective of the feelings of despair and disillusionment that many people experience in the face of these problems.
Line by Line Meaning
In an isolated system, entropy can only increase
Within a closed system, the total amount of disorder or randomness can only ever rise and never decrease
In an isolated system, entropy can only increase
Only the amount of chaos present in a self-contained system can ever go up and not down
In an isolated system, entropy can only increase
The level of disorder in an enclosed environment will inevitably climb upwards and not downwards
In an isolated system, in an isolated system, entropy
The amount of disorder within a closed environment, yes within a closed environment, will continue to rise
Isolated system, entropy can only increase
A system that is wholly self-contained will have ever-increasing levels of disorder and cannot avoid it
Isolated system, entropy
A closed environment that is brought to entropy, to chaos
Isolated
Cut off, separated, not interacting with the outside world
Isolated
Disconnected, secluded, not subject to any influence from external sources
Isolated
Alone, apart, enclosed and not connected to anything beyond
Isolated
Solitary, independent, in a closed-off and self-sufficient condition
Isolated
Detached, insulated, isolated from any outside involvement or impact
Isolated
Singular, unaccompanied, not part of any larger set or system
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Matthew James Bellamy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@NikoDeus
My dad left this world yesterday. This was him phone ring song and liked it a lot. Rest in Peace, Dad. 1970 - 2022
@CosmicAlgorithm
I'm sorry for your loss😔
@lh2738
I'm so sorry man, I know how badly it hurts 'cause I went through the same thing.
The only useful advice I can give you is: keep looking forward. I know it's difficult, but the pain will become bearable eventually, and you'll start living again. Scarred, for sure, but the wound will be healed. Do it for him, and for you.
Best wishes! 💪
@sarveshraajganeshraj4517
I am really sorry for your loss
May he rest in peace
@wooler78
Sorry for your loss lad
@user-mf5cy4kd2k
My friend left this world too
@marianasaldana3228
Am I the only one who thinks that this song sounds amazing but at the same time haunting? It's just so... mesmerizing.
@Sergekow
as the onset of the matrix
@bigkahunaburger8211
It kinda sounds like the exorcist theme to me
@wtglb
"Tubular Bells" by Mike Oldfield. Such a creepy (in a good way!) piece.