RISE
Primal Scream Lyrics


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A life of work, is a life of crime
You pay your taxes, you serve your time
All that money, where does it go?
Schools, prisons, hospitals, roads
Government funding of military science
Genetically engineered ultraviolent
DNA, killer genes
To program microchips, marines
See stealth bombers and tomahawks
On CNN, pay-per-view war

Rise, rise
Rise, rise

Hey wage slave where's your profit share?
They got ya down they're gonna keep you there
Freeze your mind, metamorphose
Cocaine karma in the heroin zone
Multinational life is cheap
Soldiers, workers, maggots meat
Get on up, protest riot
Are you collateral damage or a legitimate target?

Rise, rise
Rise, rise

Sweet sixteen dehumanized
Deaths head factory suicide
Sweet sixteen dehumanized
Deaths head factory suicide
Sweet sixteen dehumanized
Deaths head factory suicide
Sweet sixteen dehumanized
Deaths head factory suicide





Rise, rise
Rise, rise

Overall Meaning

Primal Scream's song "Rise" is a powerful and politically charged piece that highlights many social and political issues. The lyrics suggest that living a life of work is akin to living a life of crime because the government uses the tax money of hard-working individuals to fund a corrupt system that benefits only a select few. The lyrics also suggest that the government's funding of military science and genetically engineered ultraviolent DNA is used to program microchips and marines, which is then used to create weapons like stealth bombers and tomahawks. The song suggests that everything can be bought in the modern world, even human life, as soldiers, workers, and maggots are reduced to being just meat to be used to further the nefarious ends of the government. The song invites listeners to rise up against this system and question the legitimacy of the actions of those in power.


Line by Line Meaning

A life of work, is a life of crime
Spending your entire life working is akin to committing a crime.


You pay your taxes, you serve your time
Paying taxes and following laws is just like serving in prison.


All that money, where does it go?
Wondering where all the tax money goes instead of benefiting the people.


Schools, prisons, hospitals, roads
The four major pillars of government spending.


Government funding of military science
The government funds scientific research for the military.


Genetically engineered ultraviolent
Creating genetically modified organisms that have violent tendencies.


DNA, killer genes
Manipulating DNA to create genes that causes death to organisms.


To program microchips, marines
The military is interested in advanced technology to protect their interests.


See stealth bombers and tomahawks
The media shows war machines like stealth bombers and tomahawks as impressive.


On CNN, pay-per-view war
The media broadcasts wars on CNN as entertainment and profit.


Hey wage slave where's your profit share?
Working professionals hardly see a share from their own hard work.


They got ya down they're gonna keep you there
The system keeps you down when you are working as a slave to your job.


Freeze your mind, metamorphose
The workplace suppresses independent thought and forces conformity.


Cocaine karma in the heroin zone
Negative consequences of drug use and addiction from a stressful work environment.


Multinational life is cheap
Multinational corporations do not value their workers' lives.


Soldiers, workers, maggots meat
Workers and soldiers are seen as disposable, worthless individuals.


Get on up, protest riot
It is time to take action and fight for workers' rights.


Are you collateral damage or a legitimate target?
Are you seen as a meaningless casualty or a target of those who benefit from your work?


Sweet sixteen dehumanized, Deaths head factory suicide
Dehumanizing treatment of young workers leads them to commit suicide in dangerous work environments.


RISE, RISE
The call to action to rise up and fight for one's rights.


RISE, RISE
Repeating the call to action to rise up and fight against oppression.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Martin Duffy, Bobby Gillespie, Andrew Innes, Gary Mounfield, Robert Young

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Shoegazer 303

Masterpiece..

djddddddd

omg.

Ian Copestick

How the duck could anyone give this a thumbs down ?
It completely describes western society.
It prophecies the age of Trump.

drrl wht

@mike boosh this guy gets it.

mike boosh

It was written during the age of Clinton and Blair - nothing changes, Democrats, Labour, Republicans, Tories, anyone who thinks they're not the same thing is a moron. Trump is just a novelty act, put in place for 4 years to make the next corporate mass-murderer look like the good guy.

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