SFA (Stands For Anything) are a New York hardcore band, formed in the winte… Read Full Bio ↴SFA (Stands For Anything) are a New York hardcore band, formed in the winter of 1984 by local zine writer Mike Bullshit. They played their first gig on Easter Sunday 1985 with Major Conflict, Sheer Terror and Token Entry. Coincidentally, their first drummer, Tim McArdle, left SFA in 1986 to sing for Token Entry. Their first release was a 7" named New York with vocal duties shared by Mike Bullshit and Brendan. Mike later left the band and formed another legendary NYHC band, GO!. Other members of importance were Bill Arbizu, Jan Lorenzen and Kid Lynch on bass, guitar and drums respectively. After the aforementioned 7" they released New Morality LP, So What? LP, Unclean 7" and Solace LP. They also appeared on various compilations such as "Look at all the children now", "Squat or Rot".

Unbowed
SFA Lyrics

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I am a man, as a man I must think freely
I can't believe all I'm told
I try all I can, all I can, but I see clearly
There is no immortal soul
If God is so just, how can he damn me
If He made me who I am
God is a lie and the lie must be wiped out
Man chooses his own fate

They say that Jesus died to take away my sins
No one takes from me, not even Him
They say the Torah is God's law, more laws to keep me down
Krsna says there's karma, what goes around comes around
But I'm a nonbeliever, the biggest sinner you ever met
I sin every day, and I'm not dead yet

I'll fight against your God, I'll fight against his lie
If I must live to please God then I'd rather die

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Super Furry Animals' song "Unbowed" explore the idea of personal agency, free will, and the questioning of religious beliefs. The song's protagonist, who identifies themselves as a man, believes in thinking independently and rejecting what they do not believe in. The first verse suggests that they cannot blindly accept the beliefs that they are told; instead, they think for themselves and come to the realization that there is no afterlife, no immortal soul that will exist beyond death.

The second verse delves into the contradictions and hypocrisies within religious beliefs. The singer questions the notion of a just God who would damn them for being who they are, suggesting that God, and the religious doctrine surrounding this belief, is a lie that must be exposed. They reject the idea of external agents or figures who can intervene or save them, asserting their own agency and free will to choose their own fate.

The bridge further emphasizes the rejection of religious dogma, alluding to various religious texts such as the Bible, Torah, and Bhagavad Gita. The singer asserts that they are a nonbeliever, despite being labeled as a sinner by religious standards. The final lines assert their desire to fight against the idea of God and the lie that surrounds this belief, suggesting that they would rather die than live according to religious doctrine that they do not believe in.

Overall, the lyrics of "Unbowed" suggest a rejection of religious dogma and an embrace of personal agency and free will. It touches on themes of individuality, inner conflict, and the questioning of religious beliefs that do not align with personal values or beliefs.

Line by Line Meaning

I am a man, as a man I must think freely
As a man, it is important that I am able to think and form my own opinions and beliefs without being influenced by outside forces.

I can't believe all I'm told
Blindly accepting everything that is told to me without questioning its validity is not how I want to live my life.

I try all I can, all I can, but I see clearly
Despite my efforts to believe in certain things, I am able to see clearly that they are not true or valid.

There is no immortal soul
I do not believe in the existence of an immortal soul or an afterlife. This life is all there is.

If God is so just, how can he damn me
If God is a just and fair entity, how can he condemn me for something that I cannot control - my thoughts, opinions and beliefs?

If He made me who I am
If God is the creator of all beings, then he must have made me to be someone who questions, thinks and forms my own opinions.

God is a lie and the lie must be wiped out
I do not believe in the existence of God and I believe that this belief must be eradicated for a more rational and logical society.

Man chooses his own fate
I believe that individuals have complete control over their own destinies and outcomes based on the decisions they make.

They say that Jesus died to take away my sins
According to Christian belief, Jesus sacrificed himself to absolve humanity of their sins.

No one takes from me, not even Him
I do not believe that anyone, not even a deity, can take responsibility for my actions and decisions.

They say the Torah is God's law, more laws to keep me down
The Torah is seen as a divine set of laws that are meant to govern human behavior - however, I see it as an oppressive system aimed at stifling individual thought and behavior.

Krsna says there's karma, what goes around comes around
According to the Hindu religion, individuals are responsible for their own actions and will face consequences based on those actions - either in this life or the next.

But I'm a nonbeliever, the biggest sinner you ever met
Since I do not subscribe to any particular religious belief system, some may view me as a sinner or immoral person.

I sin every day, and I'm not dead yet
Like all humans, I make mistakes and fallible decisions on a daily basis - however, I am still alive.

I'll fight against your God, I'll fight against his lie
I am willing to push back against the idea of God and the falsehoods that come with it.

If I must live to please God then I'd rather die
If my life and choices are dictated by a need to please a deity that I do not believe in, then I would rather not be alive at all.

Contributed by Zachary J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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