In the middle of the late-'80s hair rock jungle of Orange County, No for an… Read Full Bio ↴In the middle of the late-'80s hair rock jungle of Orange County, No for an Answer was making intelligent, confrontational, straight-from-the-heart hardcore punk that couldn't have been more at odds with most of the music coming out of the area at the time. Utilizing a kind of furious speed-rap hardcore style that recalls some early Bad Brains, singer Dan O'Mahoney (later of 411 and Speak 714) ranted, sometimes brilliantly, about social pressure, desperation, and isolation. The featured track, "Don't Look Away," is a fierce straight-edge manifesto, containing the band's most central message: "Acquiring a taste spells addiction to me/It's safest, it's smartest to live poison free."

Matter of Fact
No For An Answer Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Where is the love?
I have seen so much sickness,
I have seen so much wrong,
But when my hatred goes unchecked,
The agony is just prolonged,
(Chorus)
We cannot hope for freedom,
We cannot ask for peace,

We cannot look for solace,
When we ignore our own disease,

Is there a point to all this pressure?
Is there a need for all this pain?
Is there a point in such pretension,
When tragedy is all that's gained?

(Chorus)

We try to make such an impression,
We try to force things to be said,
We try to gain such acceptance,
We force our message to lie dead.

(Chorus)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of No For An Answer's "Matter of Fact" speak to the frustration and despair one feels when confronted with the horrors of the world we live in. The first verse opens with the question, "Where is the love?" which sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer has seen too much sickness and wrong, and when their hatred goes unchecked, it only prolongs the agony. This highlights the fact that hate and negativity only lead to more suffering.

In the chorus, the lyrics acknowledge that we cannot hope for freedom or peace when we ignore our own disease. This is a powerful statement to make, as it suggests that the problems of the world start with the individual. The second verse questions the point in all the pressure and pain of trying to make an impression or force a message. It makes the listener reflect on whether what they are doing is actually making a difference.

Overall, the song serves as a powerful commentary on the state of the world and the need for individuals to take responsibility for their actions and work towards positive change.

Line by Line Meaning

Where is the love?
What has happened to compassion and empathy in our world?

I have seen so much sickness,
I have witnessed an overwhelming amount of physical and mental illness.

I have seen so much wrong,
I have witnessed countless immoral actions and injustices.

But when my hatred goes unchecked,
However, when I allow myself to become consumed with anger and resentment,

The agony is just prolonged,
the pain and suffering only persists and intensifies.

(Chorus)
Refrain:

We cannot hope for freedom,
We cannot attain a state of liberation,

We cannot ask for peace,
We cannot request harmony and calm,

We cannot look for solace,
We cannot seek comfort and relief,

When we ignore our own disease,
If we neglect to address our personal and societal problems.

Is there a point to all this pressure?
What is the purpose of this overwhelming stress and tension?

Is there a need for all this pain?
Is there a necessity for all of these distressing experiences?

Is there a point in such pretension,
Is it worthwhile to act in a manner that is not genuine or sincere,

When tragedy is all that's gained?
especially when the outcome is nothing but disaster?

(Chorus)
Refrain:

We try to make such an impression,
We strive to create an impact or influence,

We try to force things to be said,
We attempt to compel others to express their thoughts and feelings,

We try to gain such acceptance,
We endeavor to attain approval and recognition,

We force our message to lie dead.
However, we ultimately cause our message to become meaningless and ineffective.

(Chorus)
Refrain:

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHRISTOPHER BRATTON, GAVIN OGLESBY, DANIEL O'MAHONY, STERLING WILSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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