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.
ruins
Swallowing Shit Lyrics
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The lyrics of Swallowing Shit's Ruins are charged with anger and frustration towards a society that clings to outdated and oppressive values. The song begins by describing the rotting of hatred in the face of progress, suggesting that despite efforts to move towards a more inclusive and equal society, there are still remnants of discrimination and intolerance that continue to exist. The remains of this hatred ember but do not die, suggesting that it continues to exist in a hidden or subtle way.
The lyrics then go on to describe the ugliness of decaying traditions that are a waste of existence. This can be interpreted as a critique of tradition for tradition's sake, and a call for society to shed outdated ways of thinking that no longer serve a purpose. The song then turns towards the oppression and domination that stems from certain value systems that force us into submission.
The final stanza of the song addresses the institutionalized hatred of womankind and the perpetuation of negative stereotypes and discrimination through language, culture, media, and even within ourselves. This highlights the importance of recognizing and breaking down systems of oppression in order to create a more just and equitable society.
Line by Line Meaning
Rotting hatred in the face of progress.
Hating on the advancements we make as a people is regressive and decaying.
Your remains ember but do not die.
The remnants of your harmful beliefs and actions still linger and continue to negatively affect others.
Your ugliness, your decaying traditions.
Your outdated and harmful ways and beliefs are unattractive and detrimental.
It's a waste of existence that you cling to.
Focusing on these negative and harmful things is a waste of your potential and time.
Your ugliness, your decaying traditions.
Your outdated and harmful ways and beliefs are unattractive and detrimental.
An oppressive dominating value system that fucks us all into submission.
A value system that seeks to oppress and dominate others leads to everyone being negatively affected and feeling trapped.
We condemn. We suppress.
We reject and actively work against these negative beliefs and actions in order to create a better world.
Institutionalized hatred of womankind, our language, our culture, our media, ourselves.
Hating on women, our ways of speaking, our cultures, our media, and ourselves is ingrained and supported by the systems around us, which is unacceptable.
Contributed by Eva O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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