Pro-Pain is a New York City-based hardcore band formed in 1991 by vocalist … Read Full Bio ↴Pro-Pain is a New York City-based hardcore band formed in 1991 by vocalist and bassist Gary Meskil and drummer Dan Richardson, both former members of Crumbsuckers. Their debut album 'Foul Taste of Freedom' was released in 1992, displaying hardcore punk and rap metal influences, after which the band was signed to Roadrunner Records, who reissued the album the following year. Their second album 'The Truth Hurts' was initially banned due to the sleeve artwork, featuring a picture of a stitched-up woman after an autopsy. The band has released several more albums with a varying line-up over the years. They have released albums on Roadrunner, Nuclear Blast, Candlelight, Spitfire, and SPV Steamhammer.

Discography—

• Foul Taste of Freedom (1992), Roadrunner
• The Truth Hurts (1994), Roadrunner
• Contents Under Pressure (1996), Concrete
• Pro-Pain (1998), High Gain/Mayhem
• Act of God (1999), Nuclear Blast
• Round 6 (2000), Nuclear Blast/Spitfire
• Shreds of Dignity (2002), Nuclear Blast
• Fistful of Hate (2004), Candlelight
• Prophets of Doom (2005), Continental
• Age of Tyranny (2007), Candlelight
• No End in Sight (2008), Continental
• Absolute Power (2010), Continental/Regain
• Straight To The Dome (2012), Nuclear Blast
• The Final Revolution (2013), SPV
• Voice Of Rebellion (2015), SPV

Murder 101
Pro-Pain Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

TO KEEP THE FIRE BURNIN' YOU MUST FEED THE FLAME
AND THIS FLAME IS BURNIN' FAST
THE DRUG LORDS ARE YEARNIN' FOR YOU GIVE THEM YOUR NAME
FIRST, MIDDLE INITIAL, LAST
"MY JOB SUCKS" YOU SAY IT'S LIKE DOIN' TIME
"I FEEL LIKE SUCH A JERK"
BUT 500 BUCKS A DAY ARE BETTER THAN NINE
DOLLARS FOR TWO HOURS WORK

SO GET OUT YOUR PEN AND PAPER, BETTER START TAKING NOTES
GET A LECTURE FROM THE DEVIL, HE'S ABOUT TO TAKE YOUR COAT
AND WHEN THE CLASS IS OVER, IF YOU PASS YOU GET YOUR GUN
NOTHING'S EVER SACRED HERE IN MURDER 101

A COLD BLOODED KILL IS MY FINAL EXAM
IF HE'S DEAD I PASS
MY BONES START TO CHILL AND MY NERVES START TO JAM
I PUMP THREE MORE SLUGS IN HIS CHEST
WAKE ME UP TOMORROW AND I'LL SHOW YOU NO REMORSE
TO PROVE THAT I'M A MAN

THE ABSENTEE WAS SORROW WHO IS SURE TO FLUNK THE COURSE
WHO WITNESSED THE VIOLENCE AND RAN

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Pro-Pain’s “Murder 101” are a disturbing and graphic depiction of a person’s descent into a life of crime and murder. At the heart of the song is the line “To keep the fire burnin’ you must feed the flame.” This line suggests that once a person starts down the path of violence, it can be hard to turn back. The song goes on to paint a picture of a person who has become involved in drug trafficking as a means of making money. They see their job as a dead-end, but they can’t deny the money is good. The song suggests that this person is essentially selling their soul for the sake of material gain.

The lyrics then take a darker turn as the singer is encouraged to take part in a “lecture” from the devil. The implications here are clear - this person is on a path to destruction, and nothing is sacred in the world of murder. The final lines of the song are particularly disturbing, as the singer gleefully carries out a cold-blooded killing in order to pass their “final exam” and prove their manhood. The song is a stark commentary on the ways in which society can push people to extremes, and on the dangers of a life lived without moral boundaries.

Line by Line Meaning

TO KEEP THE FIRE BURNIN' YOU MUST FEED THE FLAME
To maintain your status and power, you must continue to do whatever it takes to keep it.

AND THIS FLAME IS BURNIN' FAST
The situation is escalating quickly and violence is becoming more frequent.

THE DRUG LORDS ARE YEARNIN' FOR YOU GIVE THEM YOUR NAME
Drug lords are powerful and dangerous and will do whatever it takes to gain control over those who work for them, even if it puts their lives at risk.

FIRST, MIDDLE INITIAL, LAST
The drug lords want complete and accurate identification of those who work for them.

"MY JOB SUCKS" YOU SAY IT'S LIKE DOIN' TIME
Working for drug lords is a miserable, dangerous and unfulfilling job and feels like being in prison.

"I FEEL LIKE SUCH A JERK"
The person recognizes that their actions are hurting others and are morally wrong, but they continue to do it for the money.

BUT 500 BUCKS A DAY ARE BETTER THAN NINE
The high salary is worth the risk and the moral ambiguity for the person in question.

SO GET OUT YOUR PEN AND PAPER, BETTER START TAKING NOTES
The person is being forced to learn how to kill and survive through instruction from those who control them.

GET A LECTURE FROM THE DEVIL, HE'S ABOUT TO TAKE YOUR COAT
Those who teach the person how to kill and survive are evil and demonic, and will soon be sending the person into dangerous situations.

AND WHEN THE CLASS IS OVER, IF YOU PASS YOU GET YOUR GUN
After completing their training, the person is given a weapon indicating that they are officially part of the circle of violence and control.

NOTHING'S EVER SACRED HERE IN MURDER 101
The environment in which they operate and live in is completely devoid of morals, and everything is fair game.

A COLD BLOODED KILL IS MY FINAL EXAM
The only way to truly pass the test and prove loyalty is to commit a murder without any emotional response or remorse.

IF HE'S DEAD I PASS
Killing someone is the only measure of success in this environment and is required to gain respect and power.

MY BONES START TO CHILL AND MY NERVES START TO JAM
Despite the need to kill being drilled into them, the reality of taking someone's life still causes the person to feel nervous and uneasy.

I PUMP THREE MORE SLUGS IN HIS CHEST
The person is so desperate to prove themselves that they go beyond what is necessary to kill their victim and inflict further harm.

WAKE ME UP TOMORROW AND I'LL SHOW YOU NO REMORSE
The person is becoming desensitized to violence and will show no regret or remorse the next day, even when they have time to reflect on what they have done.

TO PROVE THAT I'M A MAN
The person is trying to prove their masculinity through violent and criminal actions, even though it is morally wrong.

THE ABSENTEE WAS SORROW WHO IS SURE TO FLUNK THE COURSE
The person who shows any reluctance to be involved in this environment and those who try to leave are considered failures and may face retribution.

WHO WITNESSED THE VIOLENCE AND RAN
Those who have seen the violence and brutality in this culture often leave as quickly as possible to avoid being caught up in it and risking their lives.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: GARY MESKIL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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