Swallowing Shit was possibly one of the most extreme musical projects ever … Read Full Bio ↴Swallowing Shit was possibly one of the most extreme musical projects ever to come out of the prairie wasteland known as Winnipeg - unrelenting and hideous, their particular brand of political grindcore remains in a league of its own.

Swallowing Shit's last show occurred June, 1997, at the West End Cultural Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Picketed and stormed by nearly 300 Christians angered by their smash radio hit "Pro-Abortion, Anti-Christ", the show signaled the end of an era in Winnipeg, as the band were subsequently banned from public performance by city council, citing an obscure and hitherto unenforced 103-year old civic ordinance criminalizing challenges to the authority of the Church within city limits.

Many of the ever-changing membership are still active in the Winnipeg music scene. Todd (guitar) plays bass for Propagandhi, Mike (vocals) sings for Putrescence and books shows in Winnipeg, Jahmeel (bass) is now based out of Vancouver and plays bass in numerous projects including the Black Halos and Cory (drums) is currently playing in a black metal project with other former members of Malefaction in Of Human Bondage.

Overcome By...
Swallowing Shit Lyrics

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From high on the godly throne of your conservative morality, your truth is waived in front of me. you shake your righteous head and centuries of intolerance continue as we pave your streets of gold. but don't you feel just a little to blame? to reverse and to remove you. to force you to feel what you never have. to change your fearful ways. to open your eyes to what you've caused. the effigy of your savior, the murderer of this land: i reject what i've been told. your truth cannot save me. fuck your god, set mine free

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Swallowing Shit's song "Overcome By..." are a scathing critique of conservative morality and the intolerance that it perpetuates. The singer in the song is clearly fed up with the self-righteousness of those who would claim to have a monopoly on truth and morality, and is calling for a radical transformation of the status quo.

The first line of the song is particularly powerful: "From high on the godly throne of your conservative morality..." This image speaks to the arrogance and sense of superiority that often accompanies conservative moral positions. The singer goes on to accuse these moralists of perpetuating centuries of intolerance and paving streets of gold on the backs of the oppressed.

But the singer doesn't just lay blame at the feet of their ideological opponents - they also challenge them to change their ways. They call for the conservatives to be "forced" to feel what they've never felt before, to open their eyes to the harm they've caused. The final lines of the song are a direct rejection of the conservative worldview: "the effigy of your savior, the murderer of this land: I reject what I've been told. Your truth cannot save me. Fuck your god, set mine free." Here, the singer is explicitly rejecting the Christian God in favor of their own personal beliefs.

Overall, "Overcome By..." is a powerful indictment of conservative morality and a call to action for those who would challenge it.

Line by Line Meaning

From high on the godly throne of your conservative morality, your truth is waived in front of me.
Your conservative beliefs are preached at me as if they were divine commands, as if you were on a godly throne.

you shake your righteous head and centuries of intolerance continue as we pave your streets of gold.
As you shake your head in disapproval, you perpetuate centuries of intolerance while we suffer and work hard to make your life comfortable.

but don't you feel just a little to blame?
Do you not feel any responsibility for the suffering and intolerance that you are perpetuating?

to reverse and to remove you.
To undo the harm that you have caused, and to remove you from your position of power.

to force you to feel what you never have.
To make you experience the pain and suffering that you have caused others, and to force you to empathize with them.

to change your fearful ways.
To make you change your ways of intolerance and fear, and to embrace understanding and acceptance.

to open your eyes to what you've caused.
To make you understand the damage that you have inflicted on others, and to make you see the consequences of your actions.

the effigy of your savior, the murderer of this land:
Your savior, whom you hold in high regard, is responsible for the destruction and death that have taken place in this land.

i reject what i've been told.
I refuse to accept the beliefs that have been forced upon me.

your truth cannot save me.
Your version of truth is not enough to save me or anyone else from the harm and damage that has been inflicted.

fuck your god, set mine free
My beliefs free me from your religious shackles, and I reject your god in favor of my own beliefs.

Contributed by Miles S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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