A Grown Man
Soilent Green Lyrics


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All given hope's the same
Now it's all time to kill the pain
Complaints covering a whining tongue

Try to speak a mouth of truths
To time to recollect for ill mannered self-neglect

Stand on your own two feet
Stability a broken strand of string
Outstretched, out of reach

Not enough rest for this brain staking quest
These moods among the elite

Sitting down to reexamine mistakes

Overly analytical war gaming
Slurring syllables, un-sober moment one use to regret

Non scapegoat mouth
Oversee several ideas
Losing it inside
These words are like a dyslexic interpretation of the wrong

A quiet moment for love gone bad
No time to waste for a second guess
This look on your face
So pathetic

Stealing fear from an innocent mind
Distilled existence to collapse into tears
All in your hands now
Change it

Don't be what others think or want
Fuck the law, create your own
The heretic, the witch, a martyr for the weak
Shoved down lives of ambition

Stop whispering the truth to yourself
Under a breath of lies, a false disguise
Spell caster of curse words
Spoken stones to be thrown at guilt covered society

Give it till tomorrow
Give it a couple days

Blank face and lying smile
Bothered by flawed events

You only wished you hadn't given till it hurt
A backward decision on your part
Now this is starting over
And less the man
A selfish instinct overdose
Re-assure the growth

A traitor to your own words
These bitter terms swapped
Intentions never there
Never to lend a hand

Don't look back
Behind your backs
They grew to men

Halt! Permission to stand, a grown man
Symbolize the rape of freedom




The loss to see all
To decide on your own

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Soilent Green's "A Grown Man" describe a person who is dealing with self-neglect, inner turmoil, and the pressure to conform to societal expectations. The song starts by suggesting that hope is meaningless and that the only way to cope with pain is to kill it. The lyrics then move to a critique of complaining and whining, suggesting that one must speak the truth and take responsibility for their actions. The person is urged to stand on their own two feet and to find stability, but this is described as a difficult task that is often out of reach.


The lyrics move on to describe the struggle with the mind, the war gaming of overly analytical thoughts and un-sober moments of regret. The person is lost inside and unable to express themselves clearly. They are haunted by love gone bad and are afraid to make a decision, but they are urged to take control and make a change. The lyrics urge the person to be a heretic, to create their own reality, to stop whispering the truth to themselves, and to speak out against society's rules.


The song ends with a call to action, urging the person to reassess their values and to be true to themselves. The lyrics suggest that the person has betrayed their own words and has become a traitor to themselves. The song champions personal growth and encourages the person to move forward and not look back, to stand up and be a grown man.


Line by Line Meaning

All given hope's the same
All hope is the same, no matter who it is given to


Now it's all time to kill the pain
The only solution left is to put an end to the pain


Complaints covering a whining tongue
Whining and complaining, but not taking action to change anything


Try to speak a mouth of truths
Speak the truth, even if it is difficult


To time to recollect for ill mannered self-neglect
Reflect on your past mistakes and bad behavior


Stand on your own two feet
Be independent and self-sufficient


Stability a broken strand of string
Stability is fragile and easily broken


Outstretched, out of reach
Something desirable is just out of reach


Not enough rest for this brain staking quest
An exhausting and mentally straining journey


These moods among the elite
The elite are not immune to emotional rollercoasters


Sitting down to reexamine mistakes
Taking time to reflect on past errors


Overly analytical war gaming
Overthinking, similar to strategizing for war


Slurring syllables, un-sober moment one use to regret
Mistakes made while under the influence of drugs or alcohol


Non scapegoat mouth
Not blaming others for one's own problems


Oversee several ideas
Consider different options before making a decision


Losing it inside
Battling inner demons and struggles


These words are like a dyslexic interpretation of the wrong
Using words incorrectly or confusing their meanings


A quiet moment for love gone bad
Reflecting on a past failed relationship


No time to waste for a second guess
No use in dwelling on past decisions or mistakes


This look on your face
Displeased or unhappy expression


So pathetic
Full of self-pity or feeling sorry for oneself


Stealing fear from an innocent mind
Causing someone innocent to be afraid


Distilled existence to collapse into tears
Boiling down existence to despair and sadness


All in your hands now
It is up to you to change things


Change it
Take action to make things better


Don't be what others think or want
Be true to yourself instead of trying to please others


Fuck the law, create your own
Rejecting societal norms and creating your own path


The heretic, the witch, a martyr for the weak
Being an outsider and standing up for the disadvantaged


Shoved down lives of ambition
Being forced to give up one's dreams and desires


Stop whispering the truth to yourself
Stop lying to yourself and face the reality of the situation


Under a breath of lies, a false disguise
Hiding one's true self with deceit


Spell caster of curse words
Using swear words to express anger or frustration


Spoken stones to be thrown at guilt covered society
Using words as a weapon against a society full of guilt


Give it till tomorrow
Taking a break and coming back to it later


Give it a couple days
Taking more time to think things over


Blank face and lying smile
Putting up a fake smile when feeling empty inside


Bothered by flawed events
Feeling troubled by past events that cannot be changed


You only wished you hadn't given till it hurt
Regret for giving too much, leading to pain


A backward decision on your part
Having made a poor decision


Now this is starting over
The beginning of a new chapter


And less the man
Feeling inadequate or weaker than before


A selfish instinct overdose
Acting selfishly or only looking out for oneself


Re-assure the growth
Focus on personal growth and self-improvement


A traitor to your own words
Going against one's own beliefs and values


These bitter terms swapped
Harsh, unpleasant words being used


Intentions never there
Lack of honest intentions


Never to lend a hand
Refusing to help others


Don't look back
Focusing on the present, not the past


Behind your backs
Unbeknownst to you


They grew to men
Those around you have matured or changed


Halt! Permission to stand, a grown man
Taking control and being a responsible, mature adult


Symbolize the rape of freedom
Representing the loss of freedom or autonomy


The loss to see all
The inability to see the bigger picture or all perspectives


To decide on your own
Making one's own decisions and choices




Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

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