Rise and Fall
The Agonist Lyrics
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Sub-human intolerance hitting home
This stupid old prejudice and its consequence
Civilian rights are not right for all deserve rights
Large and small
Rise and fall
Each breath could be the last
Why can't we just shake the urge to end everything
Property lines slice through the earth
The sudden urge to control our surroundings
Money and time now define their worthless
We rise and we fall
Rise and fall
Each breath could be the last
Chances have all come and passed
Fighting for land to own
And man will always find reasons for war
Fighting wars yields bitter rewards
So let's contemplate what to fight for
From the oceans we rise
To the ashes we fall
All for one
Not one for all
Where do we go when we no longer exist
Apologies are useless, they're nothing, they're impotent.
To savor the taste of youth and sweet control
Hierarchol classes split the masses
Pray your ranking's high
Off-white
Low-life
Nuisance in a flawless life
Ground underfoot like ashes
The worlds a fucking gas chamber
Populations rise and fall
The lyrics to The Agonist's song Rise and Fall address the themes of human fallibility, intolerance, prejudice, and the concept of rise and fall. The opening lines address human incompetence and the consequences that come with sub-human intolerance, highlighting how old prejudices still exist, and how they impact the human condition. The following lines emphasize the importance of civilian rights as everyone deserves equal rights, no matter how big or small they are. The chorus lines bring to light the rise and fall concept, highlighting the uncertainty of life where every breath could be the last, and how chances have all come and gone. The lyrics further delve into the motivations behind the urge to take control of the world around us for the sake of property and money, defining them as worthless. The lyrics urge for collective introspection, advocating that instead of fighting for land, we must find reasons to fight against wars.
The lyrics to Rise and Fall call for the end of prejudices and the importance of being aware of the consequences of our actions. It highlights how human beings are their own worst enemies and how the desire for control and ownership results in destruction. The lyrics ask where we go when we no longer exist, emphasizing that apologies are of no use once we are gone. The final lines show how societal hierarchies place people in classes, giving significance to their worth- high ranking, off-white, low-life, and how they can be ground underfoot like ashes, highlighting the world's harsh realities.
Line by Line Meaning
This human incompetence and this consequence
The consequences of human incompetence
Sub-human intolerance hitting home
Intolerance towards a particular group has significant consequences
This stupid old prejudice and its consequence
Prejudice and its repercussions
Civilian rights are not right for all deserve rights
Everyone deserves equal rights
Large and small
Affects everyone regardless of size
Rise and fall
The cycle of life
Each breath could be the last
Life is precious and fleeting
Chances have all come and passed
Missed opportunities
Why can't we just shake the urge to end everything
The urge to destroy is inherent in humans
Property lines slice through the earth
Ownership separates us
The sudden urge to control our surroundings
The desire for control
Money and time now define their worthless
Money and time are meaningless in the grand scheme
Fighting for land to own
Wars over territory
And man will always find reasons for war
War is inevitable
Fighting wars yields bitter rewards
War only leads to suffering
So let's contemplate what to fight for
We should choose our battles wisely
From the oceans we rise
Life emerges from the sea
To the ashes we fall
We all return to the earth eventually
All for one
We're all in this together
Not one for all
We can't be selfish
Where do we go when we no longer exist
What happens after we die
Apologies are useless, they're nothing, they're impotent.
Apologies aren't enough to make up for harm caused
To savor the taste of youth and sweet control
The desire for youth and control
Hierarchol classes split the masses
Social classes divide us
Pray your ranking's high
We strive for success
Off-white
Marginalized
Low-life
Dehumanized
Nuisance in a flawless life
The undesirable aspects of life
Ground underfoot like ashes
The powerless are ignored and oppressed
The worlds a fucking gas chamber
The world can be a cruel place
Populations rise and fall
The cycle of life and death for societies
Contributed by Jayden I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.