https://soundcloud.com/assemblage-23
http://surveillance23.bandcamp.com/
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Surveillance is a lo-fi power pop group from Halifax, N.S.
http://surveillance2015.bandcamp.com/
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Surveillance is a heavy metal band from Michigan.
Belief
Surveillance Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A product to be bought and sold
Your faith, a liability
To make you easier to control
Your convictions manipulated
Your intuitions are not your own
You're just a number inside a boardroom
We let you think you're in control
We own you right down to your soul
Your opinions are ours to shape
Like a sculptor molding clay
Your Information is ours to take
Your confidence, ours to betray
Your consent, utterly meaningless
A concept from distant days
Your privacy, completely trivial
A fairy tale whose value has decayed
We let you think you're in control
We own you right down to your soul
Your belief is nothing purposeful
Your very essence is pre-ordained
Your behavior, fully predictable
An algorithm, a link in the chain
Your fear is like our gasoline
Your information, our nourishment
Uncontained and uncontrollable
An assassin of your dissent
We let you think you're in control
We own you right down to your soul
Belief by Surveillance is a thought-provoking song that sheds some light on how the masses are being controlled and manipulated by authority figures in society. This song takes a critical look at societal norms as well as the various institutions that aim to shape people's opinions, behavior, and perception of reality.
The opening lyrics of "Your belief is a commodity, a product to be bought and sold," imply that people's belief systems are manipulated into buying into ideas that are not necessarily beneficial to their well-being. This is often done by those in power, who use propaganda and other forms of manipulation to mold people's beliefs into their own agenda. The second stanza also suggests that people's convictions are often manipulated, and their intuition is not their own. People are therefore just a number in a boardroom, a statistic, a faceless clone.
The chorus of the song further emphasizes the main theme of the song, which is the manipulation of the masses. The line "we own you right down to your soul" suggests that people's lives are fully controlled by certain institutions, and they have no say in how their life is run.
In the third stanza, the song talks about how people's opinions, information, confidence, and consent are all shaped and controlled by authority figures in society. This is done to ensure that people's behavior is fully predictable and that they go along with whatever the institution wants them to do.
The final stanza emphasizes the power of fear and how it is often used for the gain of those in power. Fear discourages people from questioning authority, thus making it easier for them to be controlled. This song, therefore, serves as a reminder for everyone to be cautious of the things they believe and to question authority when necessary.
Line by Line Meaning
Your belief is a commodity
Your faith and belief are viewed as mere products that can be traded and sold to the highest bidder.
A product to be bought and sold
Belief systems are intentionally marketed to the public in order to generate profits and control the masses.
Your faith, a liability
Your personal beliefs and convictions can be used against you to manipulate you in various ways.
To make you easier to control
By shaping your beliefs and faith, those in power can more easily manipulate and control your actions and decisions.
Your convictions manipulated
Those in power have the ability to manipulate your beliefs and values in order to further their own agendas and goals.
Your intuitions are not your own
Your innate sense of right and wrong can be distorted and manipulated to benefit the interests of those in power.
You're just a number inside a boardroom
Your individuality and personal beliefs are not valued, but rather, you are viewed as a mere statistic to be analyzed and exploited.
A statistic, a faceless clone
Those in power do not view you as a unique individual with your own thoughts and beliefs, but rather as an anonymous member of the masses.
We let you think you're in control
Those in power intentionally provide the illusion of personal agency and decision-making capabilities to the public in order to maintain control.
We own you right down to your soul
Those in power have complete control over your thoughts, beliefs, and actions, leaving you with no true agency or autonomy.
Your opinions are ours to shape
By controlling the information and narratives that you are exposed to, those in power can manipulate your opinions and beliefs.
Like a sculptor molding clay
Those in power are able to carefully craft and mold public opinion to further their own goals and objectives.
Your Information is ours to take
Your personal data and private information can be collected and used to further the interests of those in power.
Your consent, utterly meaningless
The concept of consent is irrelevant to those in power, who are able to manipulate and control you regardless of your stated preferences.
A concept from distant days
The idea of individual consent and agency is viewed as outdated and irrelevant by those in power.
Your privacy, completely trivial
The idea of personal privacy is viewed as insignificant and unimportant by those in power.
A fairy tale whose value has decayed
The notion that individuals have a right to personal privacy is viewed as a fanciful and outdated ideal by those in power.
Your belief is nothing purposeful
Your personal beliefs and faith are viewed as insignificant and lacking in true value.
Your very essence is pre-ordained
Your innate characteristics and beliefs are predetermined and cannot be changed or altered.
Your behavior, fully predictable
Your actions and choices are viewed as predetermined and completely predictable by those in power.
An algorithm, a link in the chain
You are viewed as a predictable and easily controlled part of a larger system, with your behavior and choices determined by external forces.
Your fear is like our gasoline
Those in power are able to use public fear and anxiety to further their own goals and objectives, like fuel for a machine.
Your information, our nourishment
Your personal data and private information are viewed as valuable resources to be harvested and exploited by those in power.
Uncontained and uncontrollable
Once unleashed, the public's dissent and opposition can be difficult if not impossible to control or contain.
An assassin of your dissent
By controlling public opinion and shaping beliefs, those in power are able to eliminate any potential for opposition or dissent.
Contributed by Owen M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.