Today
Propagandhi Lyrics


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This tangled web we weave spans from Pine to Ruby Ridge
Back to Shay's defeat
On up to Gufstafsen
Now cue the ass parade of dittoheads and commisars and pricks
Drown out the faintest hint of commie faggot heretics

The nail that sticks up gets hammered down
The master's finest tools are found
Slack-jawed and placid
Amidst the cacophony
Of screaming billboards and Disney-fied history

Sometimes the ties that bind are strange
No justice shines upon the cemetery plots marked Hampton, Weaver, or Anna Mae
Where federal bureas and fraternal orders
Have cast their shadows
Permanent features build into these borders

But undercover of the
The customary gap we find between
History and truth
Founding fathers
Bask in the rockets blinding red glare
Bombs bursting in air

But the truth is
The back country learned of ratification
The people had a coffen painted black
And solemnly born in funeral procession
They buried it deep in the earth
An an emblem of their disillusion
Internment of their public liberty




Someday, somewhere
Today's empires, tomorrow's ashes

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of Propagandhi's "Today's Empires Tomorrows Ashes" highlight the tangled web of deceit and oppression that spans across American history, from the little-known Pine Ridge and Ruby Ridge massacres, to Shay's rebellion and the Gustafsen Lake standoff. The song critiques the facade of American politics and the excessive use of power by those in command.


The middle section of the song takes aim at the passive acceptance of propaganda in American society. The line "Slack-jawed and placid amidst the cacophony of screaming billboards and Disney-fied history" suggests that the public is numbed to the corruption that surrounds them, having become accustomed to the noise of capitalism and the constant bombardment of truth-twisting advertisements. The reference to "Disney-fied history" highlights the way American history is often glamorized and simplified, ignoring the darker truths of the country's past.


The final section of the song explores the ways in which dissent and protest are often silenced or suppressed. The references to the "nail that sticks up" being "hammered down" and the "burial" of liberty as an "emblem of their disillusion" speak to the continued struggles of those who stand up against oppression in America. The line "Today's empires, tomorrow's ashes" suggests that even the most powerful entities are bound to fall or crumble under the weight of their own corruption.


Line by Line Meaning

This tangled web we weave spans from Pine to Ruby Ridge
The convoluted mess of political corruption exists from small towns to nationally known incidents


Back to Shay's defeat
Even back in the 1780s, corrupt government tactics existed in battles like Shays' Rebellion


On up to Gufstafsen
And continue to present-day events, such as the corporate greed and environmental devastation at Gustafsen Lake


Now cue the ass parade of dittoheads and commisars and pricks
Now witness the ignorant and oppressive masses who follow orders without question


Drown out the faintest hint of commie faggot heretics
And silence any opposition or criticism, particularly from those who are deemed 'unpatriotic' or 'deviant'


The nail that sticks up gets hammered down
Those who dare to speak out against the status quo are forcibly silenced


The master's finest tools are found
The oppressors use every tool at their disposal to maintain their power


Slack-jawed and placid
The masses are content with their ignorance and complacency


Amidst the cacophony
Despite the noise and chaos of modern society


Of screaming billboards and Disney-fied history
Including everything from commercial propaganda to watered-down, inaccurate versions of history in pop culture


Sometimes the ties that bind are strange
The connections between corrupt systems and individuals may seem illogical or unexpected


No justice shines upon the cemetery plots marked Hampton, Weaver, or Anna Mae
Those who have been victims of unjust government actions (such as Fred Hampton, Randy Weaver, and Anna Mae Aquash) have not received any form of true justice


Where federal bureas and fraternal orders
These individuals were targeted by the FBI and other organizations with corrupt motives


Have cast their shadows
And their stories and legacies are still impacted by these oppressive forces


Permanent features build into these borders
The effects of corruption and oppression become ingrained into political and social systems


But undercover of the
Despite this, there is still hope for uncovering the truth


The customary gap we find between
The distance between official history and actual truth is often quite large


History and truth
And the truth may never be known about past events and their consequences


Founding fathers
Even revered historical figures like the Founding Fathers


Bask in the rockets blinding red glare
Are celebrated in events like fireworks displays, despite their own involvement in violence and corruption


Bombs bursting in air
Specifically referencing the American national anthem and the glorification of war


But the truth is
It is time to face the reality of the situation


The back country learned of ratification
Even rural populations became aware of the fraudulent practices surrounding the ratification of important documents like the Constitution


The people had a coffen painted black
Symbolizing the death of democracy and freedom


And solemnly born in funeral procession
Mourning the loss of those values


They buried it deep in the earth
An act of rebellion against the current system and its leaders


An an emblem of their disillusion
And a recognition of the disappointment and betrayal they have experienced


Internment of their public liberty
Their loss of freedom and rights


Someday, somewhere
Perhaps one day, in some way, things will change for the better


Today's empires, tomorrow's ashes
However, unless something is done to stop the corruption and oppression in modern times, any empires and leaders of today will eventually crumble and fade away into history




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@blazwinkler108

Tnx for the upload of this amazing album. I'll also be the good guy here:
0:00 Mate Ka Moris Ukun Rasik An
3:02 Fuck The Border
4:36 Today's Empires, Tomorrow's Ashes
7:13 Back To The Motor League
9:57 Natural Disasters
12:03 With Friends Like These Who The Fuck Needs Cointelpro?
15:21 Albright Monument, Baghdad
17:50 Ordinary People Do Fucked Up Things When Fucked Up Things Become Ordinary
20:09 Ladies' Nite In Loserville
21:55 Ego Fum Papa (I Am The Pope)
23:33 New Homes For Idle Hands
25:21 Bullshit Politicians
26:55 March Of The Crabs
28:51 Purina Hall Of Fame



All comments from YouTube:

@blazwinkler108

Tnx for the upload of this amazing album. I'll also be the good guy here:
0:00 Mate Ka Moris Ukun Rasik An
3:02 Fuck The Border
4:36 Today's Empires, Tomorrow's Ashes
7:13 Back To The Motor League
9:57 Natural Disasters
12:03 With Friends Like These Who The Fuck Needs Cointelpro?
15:21 Albright Monument, Baghdad
17:50 Ordinary People Do Fucked Up Things When Fucked Up Things Become Ordinary
20:09 Ladies' Nite In Loserville
21:55 Ego Fum Papa (I Am The Pope)
23:33 New Homes For Idle Hands
25:21 Bullshit Politicians
26:55 March Of The Crabs
28:51 Purina Hall Of Fame

@sebastianlazak2793

Blaž W

@GreasyMcNasty

You're my hero <3

@AntiPatriot009

I've been really busy, I've pinned your comment <3 Thank you for your contribution :D

@godthesaviour8424

+Anti-Patriot009 you're great!

@originas8569

Anti-Patriot009 busy of what? Being idiot?

2 More Replies...

@lienrodeo

I was a fan from the start but had wavered in my conviction in between albums.
This came out and i felt compelled to email them about how this was the kick in the arse that i needed at the time and how their music had affected me.
They deserved to know they were having an effect IMO.
Though i did not ecpect it, i received a reply from Chris thanking me for my kind and inspiring words.
I did not expect a reply but was genuinely happy that they took the time and appreciated that we were all on the same path.
One of the only band's i can think of who actuall got better with evey album. And never lost thier conviction.
Cheers to you Propagandhi!

@scarsunseen24

Purina Hall of Fame still hits hard after all these years

@evanmcgregor3758

agreed, still amazing 20 years later

@diy324

I cannot emphasize enough how deeply this album affected my thinking as a teenager.

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