Live, Seaweed were a full-on rock experience, a bouncing, bounding post-hardcore rock outfit who combined double fast melodic punk with crunching guitars.
Red tape parade
Seaweed Lyrics
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from the roman states
lost in litigation
i don't wanna wait no more
dragging out the issues
recognizing fate
nothing will dismiss you
i got my paper
but can't escape
too many takers
don't wanna wait
red tape parade
i see you skid
scar
scrape
cut
chafe
bleed
burn
first you're pushing forward
then you're pulling back
morality is lowered
and i won't cut slack no more
giving it an answer
waiting for the name
it's growing like a cancer
the blame is yours
The lyrics to Seaweed's song "Red Tape Parade" explore the frustration and helplessness that can come with being mired in bureaucracy and legal battles. The opening lines refer to the "force of concentration from the roman states," which could be interpreted as a metaphor for the weight and complexity of legal systems. The idea of being "lost in litigation" is a common one - legal proceedings can so easily become labyrinthine and overwhelming. The singer is saying that they don't want to wait anymore - they're tired of being dragged along in a process that feels futile.
The next lines emphasize the sense of powerlessness that comes with dealing with red tape: "nothing will dismiss you / no way no more." It's a bleak sentiment, but one that many people can relate to - especially those who have dealt with corporate or governmental bureaucracy. The singer has a sense of urgency - they have their "paper," or evidence, but they still feel trapped.
The chorus, with its repetition of "red tape parade," further emphasizes the weariness and frustration of dealing with bureaucracy. The list of injuries - "skid, scar, scrape, cut, chafe, bleed, burn" - gives a sense of all the ways in which the singer is being hurt or hindered by the system. The second verse continues with the theme of feeling blocked and frustrated, with the singer saying, "first you're pushing forward / then you're pulling back." The final lines of the song place blame on an unknown other party, stating that "it's growing like a cancer / the blame is yours."
Line by Line Meaning
the force of concentration
The intensity of attention and focus
from the Roman states
From an ancient, bureaucratic system that emphasized order and control
lost in litigation
Buried in legal disputes, tied up in bureaucracy
i don't wanna wait no more
I am tired of delays, tired of being held back by red tape
dragging out the issues
Making problems worse, prolonging difficulty
recognizing fate
Acknowledging that destiny has a role in how things play out
nothing will dismiss you
You cannot be ignored, problems cannot be brushed aside
no way no more
I refuse to put up with this any longer
i got my paper
I have the necessary documentation, the proper forms in order
but can't escape
But that is not enough, I am still caught up in the system
too many takers
There are too many people taking advantage of the system, too many obstacles to overcome
don't wanna wait
I am impatient, I am eager for resolution and progress
red tape parade
A mocking description of the bureaucratic process and its inefficiencies
i see you skid
I see you struggle, falter
scar
I see your wounds, your losses and setbacks
scrape
I see you barely scraping by, struggling to make progress
cut
I see you suffering, experiencing pain and trauma
chafe
I see you struggling against restrictions and limitations, feeling constricted
bleed
I see your raw emotions and vulnerability, your wounds at your core
burn
I see your passion and frustration, the fire that burns within you
first you're pushing forward
At first, you are making progress, striving for success
then you're pulling back
But then, you are pushed back, dragged down by bureaucracy and obstacles
morality is lowered
The system is corrupt, it goes against what is right and just
and i won't cut slack no more
I will not give in, I will not compromise my values and standards any longer
giving it an answer
Providing a solution, a response to the problem
waiting for the name
Waiting for someone to be held accountable, waiting for the person responsible to be identified
it's growing like a cancer
The problem is spreading, becoming more pervasive and harmful
the blame is yours
The responsibility lies with you, the person who created or enabled the problem
Contributed by Charlie M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.