Machines Part II
O'Brother Lyrics

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I’ll lay all my anger aside
And let all my instincts resign
I’ll lay all my anger aside
If you’ll give me a sign

The lyrics of O’Brother’s song Machines Part II showcase a sense of surrender, letting go of all the negative emotions internally and in exchange, looking for a sign of hope, a sign indicating that things will get better. It speaks about the importance of letting go of anger and instincts in order to move forward towards positivity. This song is essentially about control and how to subdue one’s own desires for the sake of a greater good, in our modern world controlled by machines and societal norms.

The artist is trying to convey that despite the suffocating feeling of being trapped within our society's preconceived notions, we can still choose to let go of our emotions and find a glimmer of hope. Giving up control and accepting that we cannot change the things outside of ourselves can lead to introspection and eventually, clarity.

Line by Line Meaning

I’ll lay all my anger aside
I'll set aside my feelings of frustration and resentment

And let all my instincts resign
And abandon my natural impulses and inclinations

I’ll lay all my anger aside
Once again, I'll put my anger aside and try to move on

If you’ll give me a sign
But I need some indication from you that things will improve or change

Contributed by Leo W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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