Parental Advisory
Proof and Proving Lyrics
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Instead of trying to figure out what's wrong I'll just sit
and play another song as I wait for you to wake up.
You're the paper tiger and I'm the lighter that doesn't work
but now we're in a gas filled room.
My spark is still good and I care less for my plastic
than you do for your folds.
Those who come within an inch of death have us a story.
Those ones who are dead don't really do well at telling stories,
and he exacerbated the degrading of his company in his out-loud narrative
by using words like "exacerbated".
You're the paper tiger and I'm the lighter that doesn't work
but now we're in a gas filled room.
My spark is still good and I care less for my plastic
than you do for your folds.
I've had some time to reconsider the situation.
My mind has changed, and we should go home together tonight.
Tonight we'll stay together for the kids, I'm sure you'll agree.
I feel it important to state that I support the lost cause.
The opening line of Proof and Proving's song Parental Advisory sets the tone for the rest of the track. The lyric conveys a sense of apathy and resignation in the face of an insurmountable problem. The lost cause that the singer refers to could be any number of things, but it's clear from the context of the rest of the song that there's a sense of hopelessness and futility that pervades the entire track.
Instead of trying to figure out what's wrong, the singer decides to wait around for something to happen. The metaphor of playing another song is a powerful one, as it suggests that the singer is just going through the motions without really engaging with the world around them. This feeling of disconnection is reinforced by the next line, which compares the singer and their partner to a paper tiger and a non-working lighter. Both of these objects are symbols of something that looks like it has a lot of power, but ultimately fails to deliver.
The rest of the song builds on these themes of powerlessness and resignation, with a repeated chorus that reinforces the idea that the singer is stuck in a situation that they can't control. The references to media and corporate degradation suggest a broader social context in which these feelings of frustration and disempowerment are common. Overall, Parental Advisory is a powerful and thought-provoking track that speaks to the alienation and disaffection that many people in the modern world feel.
Line by Line Meaning
I feel it important to state that I support the lost cause.
I believe in something that may seem hopeless or difficult to achieve, but it's still worthwhile for me to support and fight for it.
Instead of trying to figure out what's wrong I'll just sit and play another song as I wait for you to wake up.
I don't want to deal with our problems and conflicts, so I choose to distract myself with music while I wait for you to change or wake up.
You're the paper tiger and I'm the lighter that doesn't work but now we're in a gas-filled room. My spark is still good and I care less for my plastic than you do for your folds. Let the mediums and the medias bastardize a cause.
You seem tough and frightening, but you have no real power or control over me. I may seem weak or ineffective, but I can still ignite and cause damage. I am less concerned about my own reputation than you are about yours. We should not let the media distort or manipulate our beliefs or causes.
Those who come within an inch of death have us a story. Those ones who are dead don't really do well at telling stories, and he exacerbated the degrading of his company in his out-loud narrative by using words like "exacerbated".
Survivors of dangerous or risky situations can share valuable and compelling stories. People who have died cannot share their experiences or perspective. He made his company's reputation worse by unintentionally making it seem worse through his choice of words.
I've had some time to reconsider the situation. My mind has changed, and we should go home together tonight. Tonight we'll stay together for the kids, I'm sure you'll agree.
After thinking it over, I've changed my mind and want us to reconcile and go back home together. We should put aside our differences for our children's sake and spend the night together as a family.
Contributed by Aaron W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.