Blank Generation
Richard Hell and the Voidoids Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Even born, it's such a gamble when you get a face
It's fascinatin' to observe what the mirror does
But when I dine it's for the wall that I set a place
I belong to the blank generation and
I can take it or leave it each time, well
I belong to the generation but
Triangles were fallin' at the window as the doctor cursed
He was a cartoon long forsaken by the public eye
The nurse adjusted her garters as I breathed my first
The doctor grabbed my throat and yelled, "God's consolation prize!"
I belong to the blank generation and
I can take it or leave it each time, well
I belong to the generation but
I can take it or leave it each time
To hold the T.V. to my lips, the air so packed with cash
Then carry it up flights of stairs and drop it in the vacant lot
To lose my train of thought and fall into your arms' tracks
And watch beneath the eyelids every passing dot
I belong to the blank generation and
I can take it or leave it each time, well
I belong to the generation but
I can take it or leave it each time
I belong to the blank generation and
I can take it or leave it each time, well
I belong to the generation but
I can take it or leave it each time
The lyrics of Richard Hell and the Voidoids' "Blank Generation" explore themes of detachment, disaffection, and nihilism. The opening lines, "I was sayin' let me out of here before I was / Even born," suggest a sense of existential longing to escape from the world before even entering it. This is followed by a reflection on the transience of physical appearance, with the reference to the "mirror" highlighting the fleeting nature of identity and the sense of fragmentation and disconnection from oneself. The line "when I dine it's for the wall that I set a place" further emphasizes the sense of emptiness and isolation.
The chorus "I belong to the blank generation and / I can take it or leave it each time" underscores the feelings of apathy and indifference towards society and the world at large. The verses that follow, with the references to "the doctor cursed" and "God's consolation prize," add a note of dark humor, highlighting the absurdity of life and the sense of being trapped within a predetermined fate. The final lines about "losing one's train of thought" and falling into someone else's arms' tracks" suggest a desire for human connection, but one that is ultimately fleeting and transitory, only observed "beneath the eyelids" and "every passing dot."
Overall, "Blank Generation" is an anthem for those who feel out of sync with mainstream society and grappling with questions of identity and purpose. It's a song that captures the sense of disillusionment and loss of faith in the face of a world that can feel suffocating and overwhelming.
Line by Line Meaning
I was sayin' let me out of here before I was Even born, it's such a gamble when you get a face
I always wanted to leave life even before I was born. Having a face is risky because your appearance can make or break the chances of survival
It's fascinatin' to observe what the mirror does But when I dine it's for the wall that I set a place
The mirror reflects everything that is visible, while the walls hide everything. However, I prefer to eat in a place that is covered by walls
Triangles were fallin' at the window as the doctor cursed He was a cartoon long forsaken by the public eye The nurse adjusted her garters as I breathed my first The doctor grabbed my throat and yelled, 'God's consolation prize!'
As I was born, it felt like a strange episode of a cartoon. The doctor was angry and not well-known, while the nurse was adjusting her undergarments. The doctor even called me a 'consolation prize from God'
To hold the T.V. to my lips, the air so packed with cash Then carry it up flights of stairs and drop it in the vacant lot To lose my train of thought and fall into your arms' tracks And watch beneath the eyelids every passing dot
The air was full of money and the weight of the television set was heavy. I had to carry it up the stairs and throw it away. When I'm with you, I forget everything and watch the blinking dots under my eyelids
I belong to the blank generation and I can take it or leave it each time, well I belong to the generation but I can take it or leave it each time
I am part of the generation that feels empty and aimless. I don't care about things much and I can take or leave them. Being part of the generation is irrelevant to me
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RICHARD HELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind