Respect
Numb Lyrics


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Spitting sightless eyes
Contradicting unreality
Worship in my ear
Erase the path in spite and fear
Encrypt - this prodigal remain
Strike dumb - this maladjusted tongue
Empty set collision / contradicting need
Blacken boot revision / twisted seed

Respect betray
Reject the given twisted blade
Defect decay
Respect sustains the sick crusade

Obsessive strategy
Regressive dirty subroutine
Missing line redrawn
Insulating breeding crawl
Hissing hydra lie
Masochistic lost chronology
Writhing in the wall
Miscomprehend this stricken fall

Sliding splinter
Catatonic clarity
The symptom in the ground
Wiping clean the fact unfound
Lay doubt - spiral through the vein
Impair - any other name




Empty revelation / any word unsure
Recessive generation / crash and burn

Overall Meaning

In the song "Respect" by Numb, it appears that they are expressing their disillusionment towards some form of authority, possibly a government or a religious figure. The lyrics paint a picture of a person who is unable to see the truth due to the lies and deception that are being fed to them. The first verse is about feeling like everything they are being told is contradictory and false. They perceive that they are being worshipped, but this is just an attempt to manipulate and control them. They feel that their path is being erased by fear and spite, leaving them lost and confused.


The chorus of the song speaks to the idea that respect can be a dangerous thing when given to the wrong people. In this case, the "twisted blade" is the authority figure who is wielding it in a harmful manner. The song implies that it is better to reject this abusive authority and the "sick crusade" it represents.


The second verse continues with the idea that the authority figure is using manipulative tactics to control the listener. The lyrics describe the strategy of the abuser as "obsessive" and "dirty". The verses convey a sense of hopelessness as the listener feels trapped and unable to escape. However, the song also encourages the listener to fight back against the abuse and reject the twisted authority.


Overall, the song seems to be an appeal to reject abusive and manipulative authority and to refuse to be controlled by those who use fear and deception as their weapons.


Line by Line Meaning

Spitting sightless eyes
Blindly judging and criticizing without truly seeing or understanding.


Contradicting unreality
Going against what is real or truthful, creating confusion and falsehoods.


Worship in my ear
Blindly following and idolizing without question or reason, even if harmful.


Erase the path in spite and fear
Deliberately getting rid of potential opportunities or possibilities out of anger and anxiety.


Encrypt - this prodigal remain
Keeping hidden or secret something that is considered wasteful or unwise.


Strike dumb - this maladjusted tongue
Muting or silencing oneself due to difficulty fitting into or adapting to societal norms and expectations.


Empty set collision / contradicting need
Essential desires clashing with a feeling of emptiness or hopelessness.


Blacken boot revision / twisted seed
Changing something for the worse or corrupting it, leading to negative consequences.


Respect betray
The violation or breaking of trust, loyalty, or admiration.


Reject the given twisted blade
Refusing to accept a harmful or deceptive situation or circumstance.


Defect decay
Failing to meet expectations or deteriorating over time.


Respect sustains the sick crusade
Blindly following and supporting a harmful or destructive belief or act.


Obsessive strategy
A constant and unwavering focus on a particular goal or objective, often at the expense of other important aspects.


Regressive dirty subroutine
A negative pattern or behavior that continuously repeats or worsens over time.


Missing line redrawn
A previously forgotten or ignored detail that is brought back into focus and given attention.


Insulating breeding crawl
Protecting oneself and one's beliefs from external criticism and opposing ideas.


Hissing hydra lie
A deceitful, multi-dimensional lie with many different parts and aspects.


Masochistic lost chronology
A self-punishing tendency to dwell on past mistakes or missed opportunities.


Writhing in the wall
Feeling trapped, powerless or suffocated within a situation or circumstance.


Miscomprehend this stricken fall
Failing to understand or accept a difficult or transitional period in one's life.


Sliding splinter
A small, easily overlooked piece of something larger, that can still cause great harm and discomfort.


Catatonic clarity
Being frozen, immobile, or incapable of action or change due to a sudden realization or revelation.


The symptom in the ground
The root cause or underlying issue affecting a particular circumstance or situation.


Wiping clean the fact unfound
Removing or disregarding evidence or information that does not fit one's preferred narrative or agenda.


Lay doubt - spiral through the vein
Planting uncertainty, leading to a cycle of destructive thoughts and behaviors.


Impair - any other name
Causing damage or harm without explicitly acknowledging or labeling the act.


Empty revelation / any word unsure
A seemingly profound or meaningful statement that is ultimately hollow or meaningless.


Recessive generation / crash and burn
A declining or diminishing group, with eventual catastrophic consequences.




Contributed by Daniel Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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