Civilized
Rollins Band Lyrics

I'm sitting in my room in your prison doin' time
The singer feels trapped and confined in the current situation, as if they are in prison.

Bars on my windows 'cause you got so good at crime
The singer's sense of security has been compromised by someone's repeated criminal activity.

Shirt on your back and a gun in your pants
The criminal has everything they need to carry out a violent act.

Thinking you're the man but you're only a stand in
The criminal may feel powerful, but they are just a small player in a larger system of crime.

Standing in line to be the next bad guy
The cycle of crime continues as new individuals step up to take the place of those that are caught or killed.

Standing on the corner with nothing in your head
The singer perceives the criminal as being empty-headed or having no purpose or direction.

But what do you do when you do what you want
When the criminal gets what they want, they don't know what to do with it.

I see what you do when you use what you got
The artist is witness to the criminal's actions and how they use what they have to achieve their goals.

You're so civilized, you get brutalized
Despite considering themselves civilized, the criminal is subject to violent treatment as a result of their actions.

You're so civilized, man: I watch you get hurt down
The artist observes the criminal's pain and suffering as a result of their actions.

Getting your mind off some guy's record
The criminal is attempting to distract themselves from their own criminal record by focusing on someone else's.

He makes his money off fools like you
The criminal believes that someone is profiting off their criminal behavior, exploiting them in the process.

Singing about killing like it ain't no thing but
The criminal is critical of musicians who glorify violence and murder in their music.

You do the time when you live it for real
The singer suggests that the criminal must pay the price for their actions, unlike musicians who can profit from singing about crime without facing the same consequences.

Paying his way from your death row cell
The singer sees death row as the inevitable outcome of a life of crime, and suggests that someone else is benefiting financially from this system.

You're the last 1 to see, you got sold out
The criminal is oblivious to the fact that they have been betrayed or sold out by someone close to them.

Why the hell do you act like 1
The artist questions the criminal's behavior, calling them out for acting like a pig despite claiming to dislike them.

I hear you say you hate pigs so much then
The singer has heard the criminal express dislike for police officers, but believes that their actions are hypocritical.

I wonder what you're like without the gun
The singer is curious about what the criminal would do without the aid of a weapon.

I'd like to see when you're not hiding behind the gun
The artist believes that the criminal is using the gun as a shield or crutch, and wants to see them without it.

How you've lived your life without the gun
The artist is interested in how the criminal would have lived their life if they hadn't resorted to using a gun.

'Cause I know how I lived mine
The artist is contrasting their own life experience with that of the criminal.

Because you got one, yeah, 'cause that's what it is
The singer suggests that the criminal's reliance on a gun is what defines them.

You hide behind your gun
The artist believes that the criminal is using the gun as a form of protection.

You gotta have a gun then you're just another pig to me
The singer sees the criminal as being no different from a police officer, since they both carry guns.

You think you're different but you're just another pig
The singer believes that the criminal is delusional if they think they're any different from a police officer.

You take life, you're just another pig to me
The singer believes that anyone who takes another person's life is no different from a police officer, as they are both capable of taking life.

Yeah, a pig, yeah
The artist is doubling down on their comparison of the criminal with a police officer.

You gotta have a gun, you're a pig to me, just a pig to me
The artist emphasizes that their main issue with the criminal is their reliance on a gun.

You got a gun, you're just another pig
The singer is reiterating that a person who carries a gun is not inherently different from a police officer.

A gun in your hand makes a fool out of you, oh yeah
The singer believes that the criminal's reliance on a gun is a sign of their foolishness or weakness.

A gun in your hand makes a target out of me, oh no
The artist is afraid of being targeted or victimized by someone with a gun.

Freedom, you ain't no freedom, you want your freedom,
The artist suggests that the criminal's actions are not truly in pursuit of freedom, despite what they may claim.

Your freedom is killing you man, freedom
The artist believes that the criminal is bringing harm upon themselves in the name of freedom.

And now you're dying for it you can't handle your freedom, hey
The singer is suggesting that the criminal is receiving negative consequences for their actions and may not be able to handle the weight of their own freedom.