For the popular band, featuring Tool vocalist Maynard James Keenan, see: A Perfect Circle.
Annihilation
Perfect Circle Lyrics
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For the benefit of the nation or its destruction
Power, power, the law of the land,
Those living for death will die by their own hand,
Life's no ordeal if you come to terms,
Reject the system dictating the norms
To hasten the nation towards its destruction
Power, power, the law of the land,
Those living for death will die by their own hand,
Life's no ordeal if you come to terms,
Reject the system dictating the norms
From dehumanization to arms production,
To hasten the nation towards its destruction
Power, power, the law of the land,
Those living for death will die by their own hand,
Life's no ordeal if you come to terms,
Reject the system dictating the norms
From dehumanization to arms production,
To hasten this nation towards its destruction,
It's your choice, your choice, your choice, your choice,
Peace or annihilation
The lyrics of "Annihilation" by A Perfect Circle delve into the destructive tendencies of nations that prioritize weapon production and dehumanization over peace and compassion. The first line, "From dehumanization to arms production," alludes to the concept of objectifying people and turning them into mere cogs in a war machine. The next line, "For the benefit of the nation or its destruction," highlights the irony that weapons of destruction are created for the supposed benefit of a nation, yet they ultimately lead to its downfall.
The repetition of "power, power, the law of the land" drives home the message that it is those in positions of power who determine the direction of a country, often at the cost of the lives of its citizens. The line "Those living for death will die by their own hand" suggests that those who are willing to sacrifice everything for war and violence will ultimately meet their own cruel fate.
However, the song ends on a hopeful note, with the lines "It's your choice, your choice, your choice, your choice, Peace or annihilation." The final line points to the idea that individuals have the power to choose between peace or destruction, and it is up to us to reject the oppressive systems that dictate the norms of society.
Line by Line Meaning
From dehumanization to arms production,
Starting from regarding people as objects, all the way up to large-scale weapons manufacturing,
For the benefit of the nation or its destruction
Either supposedly serving the country's interests or harming it altogether
Power, power, the law of the land,
Might is right, that's what the state adheres to,
Those living for death will die by their own hand,
If you seek to end lives, you'll ultimately lose your own,
Life's no ordeal if you come to terms,
A pain-free existence comes from accepting reality,
Reject the system dictating the norms
Don't conform to societal norms that the system imposes,
It's your choice, your choice, your choice, your choice,
The ultimate fate of humanity lies in our hands alone,
Peace or annihilation
The only two options are either living harmoniously or complete destruction.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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