Brave New World
Public Image Ltd Lyrics

The song "Brave New World" by Public Image Ltd (PiL) is a critique of modern society and consumer culture. The lyrics start with an image of a "diplomatic washing machine," which can be interpreted as a symbol of diplomacy that just washes away problems rather than confronting them. The next line, "climb down from cloud cuckoo land," further emphasizes that people need to face reality and stop living in a fantasy world. The phrase "dish this dirt for the senile convert" can be interpreted as a call to expose the truth about the hypocrisies of society to those who are blindly following it. The lines "Clean living as in the adverts" is a direct criticism of the culture of advertising that presents an idealistic version of reality.

The chorus repeats the phrase "brave new world," which is a reference to Aldous Huxley's dystopian novel of the same name. The singer in the novel discovers that the new world is not as perfect as it seems, and the same message is conveyed in PiL's song. The use of the phrase "Proud is the Philistine" emphasizes the idea that people are satisfied with the superficial and lack an appreciation for real substance.

The verse "Dig this grave, don't make no waves, fairy tales, stagnant pool" could represent how society is content with burying problems rather than addressing them, and believing in unrealistic stories about success and progress. The line "This ideal vision propped up on a stool" suggests that what is often presented as ideal is not necessarily attainable or even desirable.

Overall, "Brave New World" is a commentary on the pitfalls of modern society, where a culture of superficiality and consumerism has replaced genuine human interaction and progress.