Crimes
The Blood Brothers Lyrics
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on Junk Island where
they send their garbage
is anybody listening?
After work we'll watch
the seagulls diving in
and out of the lashing towers of flame.
It twinkles like a pile
of rotting jewels left
to bake in the sun.
Is anybody listening?
We're just like those condom wrappers: used up torn up
thrown away.
And we're just like yesterday's headlines:
drifting, floating, towards the blaze.
If we rob the
liquor store we could
be in Tijuana by the crack of dawn.
If we rob the
mayor's mansion
we could pawn his pawn his modern art and make a fortune.
If we rob the lonely widow
we could steal her credit cards
and buy a cottage by the ocean.
If we swim to Junk Island we'll burn up like the seagulls
and the whiskey bottles.
We're scrapped valentines.
We're tangerine rinds.
We're crimes, crimes, crimes, crimes, crimes. (x4)
And the children
in the subway
eating apple cores.
Is anybody listening?
They're breathing paint out of plastic bags.
Their mumbled mouths say:
"Is anybody listening?"
The Blood Brothers's song, "Crimes," is a social commentary on the modern world's apathy towards environmental degradation and the neglect of underprivileged individuals in society. The song begins with the lyrics, "There's a fire/ on Junk Island where/ they send their garbage/ is anybody listening?" Here, the band brings attention to the pollution of Junk Island, which is believed to be based on an actual location in the Pacific Ocean. The island has become a state of massive pollution, with trash and waste covering its beach. The band further highlights the tragic irony that humans are polluting their own planet that sustains them while they ignore the unfortunate consequences.
In the second verse, the band members then emphasize the fleeting nature of human beings: "[...] We're just like those condom wrappers: used up torn up thrown away. And we're just like yesterday's headlines: drifting, floating, towards the blaze." This line captures how humans are similar to the trash on Junk Island, with their throwaway culture and lack of concern for the consequences of their actions.
The chorus repeats the word "crimes" four times, evoking the idea that humanity's reckless behavior can be metaphorically seen as a series of crimes against the planet and fellow humans. The third and final verse of the song portrays the neglect and struggles of the underprivileged populations. The line "And the children in the subway eating apple cores" creates a vivid image of poverty and hunger, with the children resorting to eating discarded scraps for sustenance. In the end, the children's appeal to someone listening to their plight symbolizes a society that fails to acknowledge and address issues affecting vulnerable individuals.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a fire
on Junk Island where
they send their garbage
is anybody listening?
The garbage that people throw away is set on fire on Junk Island. Is anyone aware of the environmental and human harms this causes?
After work we'll watch
the seagulls diving in
and out of the lashing towers of flame.
People are entertained by watching birds try to survive in the midst of the garbage island. This is sickening.
It twinkles like a pile
of rotting jewels left
to bake in the sun.
Is anybody listening?
The garbage on Junk Island shines like gems under the sun, but it's actually rotting waste. Does anyone care about what's happening?
We're just like those condom wrappers: used up torn up
thrown away.
People are disposable, much like used condom wrappers. After we've served our purpose, we're thrown away like trash.
And we're just like yesterday's headlines:
drifting, floating, towards the blaze.
Insignificant and forgotten, we're like yesterday's news, gradually heading towards our demise.
If we rob the
liquor store we could
be in Tijuana by the crack of dawn.
If we rob the
mayor's mansion
we could pawn his pawn his modern art and make a fortune.
If we rob the lonely widow
we could steal her credit cards
and buy a cottage by the ocean.
If we swim to Junk Island we'll burn up like the seagulls
and the whiskey bottles.
Robbing people or going to Junk Island are equally dangerous, as both lead to destruction and loss of life.
We're scrapped valentines.
We're tangerine rinds.
We're crimes, crimes, crimes, crimes, crimes. (x4)
We're worthless, like discarded valentines and citrus peels. We're nothing but trouble.
And the children
in the subway
eating apple cores.
Is anybody listening?
They're breathing paint out of plastic bags.
Their mumbled mouths say:
'Is anybody listening?'
Children are breathing in harmful chemicals and struggling to survive. Is anyone paying attention?
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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