Slave to the Grind
Sebastian Bach Lyrics


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"Tokyo, would you please welcome USA's original Youth Gone Wild: Sebastian Bach and His Friends"

You got me forced to crack my lids in two
I'm still stuck inside this rubber room
I gotta punch the clock that leads the blind
I'm just another gear in the assembly line - oh no

The noose gets tighter around my throat
But I ain't at the end of my rope

Won't be the one left behind
Can't be king of the world
If you're slave to the grind
Tear down the rat racial slime
Can't be king of the world
If you're slave to the grind

A routine injection, a lethal dose
But my day in the sun ain't even close
There's no need to waste your prayers on me
You better mark my words 'cause I'm history
Yes indeed

You might beg for mercy to get by
But I'd rather tear this thorn from my side

Won't be the one left behind
Can't be a king of the world
If you're slave to the grind
Tear down the rat racial slime
Can't be king of the world
If you're slave to the grind

Swallow their daggers by turning their trick
Tore my intentions apart brick by brick
I'm sick of the jive, talk verbal insecticide

Tokyo!

Swallowed their daggers by turning their trick
Tore my intentions apart brick by brick
I'm sick of the jive, you talk verbal insecticide

I won't be the one left behind
Can't be king of the world
If you're slave to the grind
Tear down the rat racial slime
Can't be a king of the world
If you're slave to the grind
Slave to the grind
Slave to the grind
Slave to the grind





Tokyo!
Tokyo!

Overall Meaning

The introduction to Sebastian Bach's "Slave to the Grind" sets the stage for a powerful performance as the crowd welcomes "USA's original Youth Gone Wild." The verses describe the frustration of being stuck in a monotonous routine, punching the clock and feeling like just another cog in the machine. The pressure and tension build with the metaphor of a noose tightening around the throat, but the singer is defiant, insisting that they won't be left behind and that they can't be a king of the world if they're a slave to the grind. The lyrics urge the listener to tear down the "rat racial slime," to reject the constraints of society and its demands for conformity.


The chorus is a call to action and proclamation of personal empowerment, rejecting the idea of being a passive follower. The bridge describes the singer's anger and frustration at being manipulated and deceived by others, tearing apart their intention brick by brick. The repetition of "Tokyo" at the end serves as a shout of defiance and an expression of solidarity with the audience, who has welcomed the band with open arms.


Line by Line Meaning

You got me forced to crack my lids in two
I am under immense pressure to keep my eyes open


I'm still stuck inside this rubber room
I feel trapped and unable to escape my current situation


I gotta punch the clock that leads the blind
I am obligated to follow orders that do not make sense or benefit me


I'm just another gear in the assembly line - oh no
I am just a small component in a larger system that does not value me as an individual


The noose gets tighter around my throat
I feel more and more constrained and restrained


But I ain't at the end of my rope
But I still have some fight left in me


Won't be the one left behind
I refuse to be left behind or forgotten


Can't be king of the world If you're slave to the grind
I cannot achieve greatness or fulfill my potential if I am constantly bogged down by menial tasks and obligations


Tear down the rat racial slime
We must dismantle oppressive systems that hold people down and prevent them from reaching their full potential


A routine injection, a lethal dose But my day in the sun ain't even close There's no need to waste your prayers on me You better mark my words 'cause I'm history Yes indeed
I may have been struck down, but I refuse to give up on my dreams and will continue to fight until I succeed


You might beg for mercy to get by But I'd rather tear this thorn from my side
I refuse to rely on the mercy of others and would rather free myself from hardship and suffering


Swallow their daggers by turning their trick Tore my intentions apart brick by brick I'm sick of the jive, talk verbal insecticide
I have been betrayed and deceived, but I will not let it bring me down and will instead retaliate against those who wronged me


I won't be the one left behind
I will fight tooth and nail to achieve my goals and not let anyone hold me back


Can't be king of the world If you're slave to the grind
I refuse to be a mere pawn in someone else's game and will pave my own way to greatness


Slave to the grind
To be a slave to the grind is to be trapped in a never-ending cycle of mundane, repetitive work that prevents you from reaching your full potential


Tokyo!
An expression of excitement and enthusiasm for the city of Tokyo where this performance is taking place




Contributed by Landon A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Paul Palmer

30 years later and still hits harder than my dad

Dunmore's Movie Mania

That's hilarious. And tragic.

thennek

i always rough housed with my kid. I told him that if anyone hits him at school to say, "What the fuck was that? That aint shit, my dad hits harder than that!"
sorry to hear about your situation though. that suck bro, but it sounds like you survived.

Carla Laudicina

❤️

Joe Biden’s Mistress

Nice? I think you need therapy…

19 More Replies...

JB Mann

Slave to the Grind is the first heavy metal album to chart at number one on the Billboard 200. And not just chart, but debut at number 1. In a time when there wasn't an internet full of information and sharing, no social media, no spotify or apple music, this album sold 134,000 copies in its first week. Freakin' amazing.

eeL Desconocido XRX

1983 reminds you that Quiet Riot's Metal Health álbum had already achieved number one on the Billboard 200 Top Albums

devious187

@eeL Desconocido XRX also, this album does seriously rock, but no one in their right mind would consider this album heavy metal

Eugène Monfourny

@devious187 True

Beaky Turf

Appetite for Destruction went straight in at number 1 on the billboard 100...i've never heard of the billboard 200. What in the hell is the billboard 200?

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