The song speaks against missionaries pushing their ideas on people who don't want them, and the song's name itself is a derogatory pun on the Christian phrase "Hallowed be thy Name" from the Lord's Prayer.
The original working title for "Shallow Be Thy Game" was called "Epic."
Shallow Be Thy Game
Red Hot Chili Peppers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the likeness of a fraud
Your hell is something scary
I prefer a loving god
We are not the center
Of this funny universe
And what is something worse
I do not serveIn fear of such a curse
Shallow be thy game
Two thousand years look in the mirror
You play the game of shame
And tell your people live in fear
A rival to the way you see
The bible let him be
I'm a threat to your survival
And your control company
You'll never burn me
You'll never burn me
I'll be your heretic
You can't contain me
I am the power free
Truth belongs to everybody
To anyone who's listenin'
You're not born into sin
The guilt they try and give you
Puke it in the nearest bin
Missionary madness
Sweep up culture with a broom
Is par for the course
It's fucking rude
To think that you're above
The laws of nature is a joke
Purple sashes feeding masses
Smoke on which to choke
I might be a monkey
When it comes to being holy
Fundamental hatred
Get down on your knees and
You'll never burn me
You'll never burn me
I'll be your heretic
You can't contain me
I am the power free
Truth belongs to everybody
The lyrics to Red Hot Chili Peppers' song "Shallow Be Thy Game" convey a sense of rebellion against organized religion and the notion of being born into sin. The chorus speaks of rejecting the control that religion attempts to exert over individuals, with the lines "You play the game of shame / And tell your people live in fear" highlighting the fear tactics often used by religious institutions. The song suggests that there is something fundamentally wrong with the way religion operates, referring to it as "missionary madness" that seeks to sweep up culture with a broom and trashes ancient ways. The lines "The guilt they try and give you / Puke it in the nearest bin" are an emphatic rejection of the idea that humans are inherently sinful, with the singer encouraging listeners to reject the guilt and fear that religion attempts to instill in them.
The second verse takes on the idea that religion is the one true path, suggesting that there are other ways of looking at the world that are just as valid. The line "A rival to the way you see / The bible let him be" highlights the idea that religion does not have a monopoly on truth, and that there are other ways of navigating the world that can be just as valid. The song is a call to reject religious dogma and embrace a more open-minded approach to spirituality and morality, with the singer asserting their right to think freely and reject the narrow-minded worldview that religion can seek to impose.
Line by Line Meaning
I was not created
I was not made in the likeness of a fraud.
In the likeness of a fraud
In the likeness of someone who is deceitful or dishonest.
Your hell is something scary
The concept of your hell is terrifying.
I prefer a loving god
I believe in a kind and compassionate god.
We are not the center
Humans are not the most important thing in the universe.
Of this funny universe
Of this strange, peculiar cosmos.
And what is something worse
And what is even worse.
I do not serve
I do not worship or follow blindly.
In fear of such a curse
Out of fear of a supposed divine punishment.
Shallow be thy game
Your beliefs and convictions are superficial and shallow.
Two thousand years look in the mirror
Reflect on two millennia of religious dogma.
You play the game of shame
You use guilt and fear to control people.
And tell your people live in fear
And you instruct your followers to exist in a constant state of terror.
A rival to the way you see
A challenger to your religious worldview.
The Bible let him be
Let him interpret the Bible in his own way.
I'm a threat to your survival
I pose a danger to your survival as an institution.
And your control company
And your organization that seeks to control people.
You'll never burn me
You will never silence me or destroy me.
I'll be your heretic
I will be seen as a dissenter or outsider to your beliefs.
You can't contain me
You cannot limit or restrict me.
I am the power free
I am a free agent who possesses power.
Truth belongs to everybody
The truth is accessible and relevant to all individuals.
To anyone who's listenin'
To anyone who is paying attention.
You're not born into sin
You are not inherently sinful from birth.
The guilt they try and give you
The feelings of shame and blame that they try to impose on you.
Puke it in the nearest bin
Get rid of it and reject those negative emotions.
Missionary madness
The irrational and harmful zeal of religious converters.
Sweep up culture with a broom
The destruction of cultural traditions and practices in the name of religious purity.
Trashing ancient ways
Disrespecting and disregarding time-honored customs and beliefs.
Is par for the course
Is typical or expected behavior from religious zealots.
It's fucking rude
It is exceedingly disrespectful.
To think that you're above
To believe that you are greater or more important than.
The laws of nature is a joke
Is a ridiculous and misguided notion.
Purple sashes feeding masses
Elaborate and luxurious clothing worn by religious leaders who exploit their followers.
Smoke on which to choke
The deceptive and suffocating ideologies that they spread.
I might be a monkey
I may be seen as crude or primitive.
When it comes to being holy
But being sanctified is not my priority.
Fundamental hatred
The intense aversion to those who do not conform to strict religious doctrine.
Get down on your knees and
Bow down and surrender.
Lyrics Ā© MoeBeToBlame
Written by: MICHAEL BALZARY, ANTHONY KIEDIS, DAVID MICHAEL NAVARRO, CHAD SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alex Alvarez
on Californication
People who harness the power of the mind try to manipulate your emotions
Young girls aspire to Hollywood fame and fortune while reciting memorable movie quotes
If you desire superficial fame and materialistic success, California is the place to be
California represents the epitome of the quintessential Western society
Although the sun rises in the East, California remains a constant and established location in contrast to the ever-changing world
Hollywood creates and sells the illusion of the California dream
Spend a lot of money to prevent or delay the physical symptoms of aging
The superficial appearance of celebrities can be deceiving; they may be fighting a personal battle to maintain their image
The rarities and impossible things that are unique to California
The explicit and suggestive nature of the entertainment industry in California
Marry me and be my inspiration to create new things and leave a mark in the world
Young women with information and resources at their disposal may make decisions that lead them down certain paths, such as becoming pregnant at a young age
Owning a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is a symbol of achieving fame and fortune, representative of the Californian dream
Despite space being seen as the most uncertain and mysterious frontier, the idea of it is created by Hollywood and is not a reality
Kurt Cobain, who died before the song was written, may still be listening to music in another realm
The fictional planet Alderaan from Star Wars represents another aspect of the Californian dream or illusion created by Hollywood
People in California are often raised with the idea that control over population is important and necessary
Everyone has experienced being controlled or manipulating others in some way, which is not limited to people being on vacation
While destruction can lead to difficult times, it can also provide the opportunity for new and creative things to be born
Earthquakes, which may be seen as destructive and terrifying, can also be seen as inspiring or beneficial, similar to how a girl's guitar strings vibrate to produce beautiful music
Even in the face of disaster, the draw and allure of the Californian dream or illusion created by Hollywood remains strong
There is no way to measure someone's mental or emotional state, but perhaps you crave these superficial things that come with the Californian illusion
mexican tranny
on Right on Time
amo a fela kuti
Jesus Lopez Solsol
on Otherside
lo maximo