The Bar Stool Preachers released their first album, “Blatant Propaganda,” in 2016, sharing stages with artists like The Slackers, Jaya The Cat and Die Toten Hosen. In support of their second album “Grazie Governo” (2018), they toured all around UK, Europe and North America performing in sweaty sold-out clubs as well as stadiums supporting The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, The Bouncing Souls, The Bronx and The Interrupters, to name but a few. The band’s progressive message of community, charity and change has remained the same since the start, but the delivery has never been stronger! Look out for their third album "Above The Static" which is being released by Pure Noise Records in March 2023.
http://www.thebarstoolpreachers.com/
Good News
The Bar Stool Preachers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I stick my coffee in a cup,
I switch on, my TV,
And wonder why I bothered getting up.
Spreading fear and paranoia,
And like parasites they feed.
Breeding hate and animosity,
Between people of all creeds.
It′s not naivety, or innocence,
My head's not in the sand.
But the media, has gone way too far,
And lost touch with the common man.
Spinning story after story,
Making everything unclear.
There′s taxes, cuts and murders,
And it's all worse than last year...
It's a platform, for the rich elite,
To get their propaganda heard.
They′re known, as the voice of the people,
And to me that′s fucking absurd.
Politicians argue semantics,
In their plush leather backed seats,
Oblivious to, the pain and the anger,
And the violence on the streets.
So why can't you see?
They spoon feed you these lies,
To keep us all marching in line,
And there will come a time,
For you to open up your eyes.
They spoon feed you these lies,
To keep us all marching in line,
And there will come a time,
For you to make up your own mind.
1234, 12, 12
Whatever happened to good news?
We′re forced to obey,
We're never taught to choose.
Whatever happened to good news?
When you think for yourself,
They′re the only ones that lose.
Surely there should be a balance,
Good and bad combined.
Tell people what's really going on,
And let them make up their own minds,
The world is not as dark,
As they want us to believe,
Being scared keeps you where you are,
But information will set you free.
They spoon feed us these lies,
To keep us all marching in line,
And there will come a time,
For you to open up your eyes.
They spoon feed us these lies,
To keep us all marching in line,
And there will come a time,
For you to make up your own mind.
Whatever happened to good news?
We′re forced to obey,
We're never taught to choose.
Whatever happened to good news?
When you think for yourself,
They're the only ones that lose.
The Bar Stool Preachers's song Good News addresses the issue of the media spreading fear, paranoia, and breeding hate and animosity between people of different creeds. The lyrics criticize the media for spinning stories, making everything unclear, and being a platform for the rich elite to get their propaganda heard. The song highlights the importance of balance in news reporting, telling people what's really going on, and letting them make up their own minds rather than spoon-feeding them lies to keep them in line. The lyrics encourage people to be informed and think for themselves.
The song exposes how the media has lost touch with the common man and promotes the voices of the rich elite as the voice of the people. The lyrics also criticize politicians for their inability to understand the pain and anger that the people feel, and their inability to tackle the violence on the streets. The song reveals the power of the media in shaping people's perceptions and warns against blindly believing everything that is being fed to them.
Overall, The Bar Stool Preachers's Good News is a call to action for people to open their eyes, think critically, and demand balance and truth in news reporting.
Line by Line Meaning
6am roll out of bed,
Starting the day early, tired and lethargic.
I stick my coffee in a cup,
Getting ready for the day ahead, preparing for the caffeine boost.
I switch on, my TV,
Turning on the television to catch up on news and current events.
And wonder why I bothered getting up.
Feeling disappointed or disillusioned by the media's negative reporting.
Spreading fear and paranoia,
Media's reporting is causing panic and anxiety in the public.
And like parasites they feed.
Media outlets thrive on sensationalism for profit purposes.
Breeding hate and animosity,
The news is causing social divides and hostility.
Between people of all creeds.
Media's divisive reporting affects people from all backgrounds and beliefs.
It's not naivety, or innocence,
It's not being oblivious or unaware of the situation.
My head's not in the sand.
Not avoiding the problem or reality of the situation.
But the media, has gone way too far,
The media has overstepped their boundaries and caused harm.
And lost touch with the common man.
Media outlets have become disconnected from the average person's life experiences.
Spinning story after story,
The media twists and turns facts to create sensationalized stories.
Making everything unclear.
The media's reporting is confusing and ambiguous.
There’s taxes, cuts and murders,
Reporting on negative aspects of society.
And it's all worse than last year...
Suggesting that the situation is deteriorating.
It's a platform, for the rich elite,
The media is a mouthpiece for the wealthy and influential.
To get their propaganda heard.
They use this platform to spread biased or misleading information.
They're known, as the voice of the people,
The media are claimed to represent ordinary citizens.
And to me that's fucking absurd.
The artist disagrees with this claim and finds it ridiculous.
Politicians argue semantics,
Politicians nitpick and debate small details without addressing the bigger picture.
In their plush leather backed seats,
Politicians have luxurious offices and lifestyles.
Oblivious to, the pain and the anger,
Politicians are ignorant of the general public's suffering and frustration.
And the violence on the streets.
Politicians are unaware of the societal tensions and dangers in public places.
So why can't you see?
Why can't people recognize the media's true intent and harm?
They spoon feed you these lies,
The media manipulates or controls what people believe.
To keep us all marching in line,
The media wants people to conform to their views.
And there will come a time,
There will be a point in time where the truth will be revealed.
For you to open up your eyes.
People need to realize the truth and stop believing lies.
Whatever happened to good news?
Questioning why media outlets only focus on negative news and stories.
We're forced to obey,
We feel pressured to comply with media's propaganda.
We're never taught to choose.
We don't learn how to think critically and independently.
When you think for yourself,
Encouraging people to form their own opinions and beliefs.
They're the only ones that lose.
The media loses their power and influence over you when you think independently.
Surely there should be a balance,
The media should present both good and bad news in a balanced way.
Good and bad combined.
Both positive and negative news should be presented, showing a realistic view of the world.
Tell people what's really going on,
Media should provide unbiased and truthful news, rather than sensationalizing or manipulative stories.
And let them make up their own minds,
People should be free to decide their own views based on accurate and honest reporting.
The world is not as dark,
There are good things happening in the world too, not just negative events.
As they want us to believe,
The media's reporting is exaggerating the negativity and pessimism in the world.
Being scared keeps you where you are,
Panicking and fear-mongering can prevent people from taking positive steps to improve their lives and society.
But information will set you free.
Accurate and truthful information will empower people to make informed decisions and take positive action.
Writer(s): Alexander Hay, James Tetley, Karl Jeffery, Thomas Gibbs, Thomas James Mcfaull
Contributed by Riley I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.