Pariah
The Clay People Lyrics

The Clay People's song "Pariah" is an impassioned call to arms for anyone who feels trapped or cornered, whether by society or their own demons. The opening lines set the tone: "We are all visionaries with a scheme / Can't they see / That another motherfucker's trying to take it all away." The singer feels like they have a vision for their life, something they want to accomplish, and someone or something is trying to block that dream. The use of profanity gives these lines a sense of urgency and frustration, as if the singer has been fighting this battle for a long time and is getting tired of the pushback.

The chorus, with its repetition of "I don't want to die here / Pariah," adds to the sense of desperation. The singer doesn't just feel blocked, they feel like they're suffocating, like their very existence is in jeopardy. They don't want to be cast out as a pariah, someone who's rejected by society, but they also don't want to give up on their dreams. The verses describe the ways in which society brings them down, "like needles pricking, poking / Mocking our existence," but they also assert their right to choose their own path in life. "By this choice, we have a right" is repeated several times, as if to remind both the listener and the singer themselves that they have agency in this situation.

Overall, "Pariah" is a song of defiance and resilience, urging the listener to keep fighting for what they want, no matter how hard the battle may seem.