Fight Back
The Exploited Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Rules are made to put you down
They laught at you when you are down
Can they survive if swapped around
Fight back dont give in
Spend your money on royal display
Shut your mouth go away
All that money thrown away
Its not fair on those who paid
Fight back dont give in
Mother steals to make ends meet
And i got busted selling speed




Got no future got no job
They wont admit they got it wrong

Overall Meaning

The Exploited's song Fight Back was released in 1985 as a part of their second studio album, "Let's Start a War...Said Maggie One Day". The song is a reflection of life in a society where rules are made by those in power to oppress the common man. The lyrics shed light on the struggles of survival amidst the unfair societal rules and regulations. The song begins by highlighting the fact that rules are created to put you down, followed by the imagery of people mocking and laughing at someone who is down. The lyrics are ironic as the very people who make the rules to oppress others cannot survive if they were to be in swapped around.


The chorus of the song encourages listeners to fight back and not give in, as it is not only necessary for personal growth but also for a society that works fairly for everyone. The second verse talks about the people who are struggling to make ends meet, including the singer's mother who resorts to theft, and the singer themselves who has been busted for selling drugs. Both characters do not have a future or a stable job due to the system that has failed them. The song is a rebellious anthem, encouraging listeners to take control of their lives and fight against societal oppression.


Line by Line Meaning

Rules are made to put you down
Rules are created by those in power to subjugate and control the less powerful


They laugh at you when you are down
Those in power enjoy seeing the less powerful suffer and take pleasure in their misfortune


Can they survive if swapped around
Those in power would not be able to endure the same conditions that they inflict upon the less powerful


Fight back dont give in
Do not succumb to the power dynamic; resist and stand up for yourself


Spend your money on royal display
The wealthy spend their money on extravagant, unnecessary luxuries instead of using it to make the world a better place


Shut your mouth go away
Those in power do not want to hear dissenting opinions and will try to silence those who speak out against them


All that money thrown away
The wealth of the powerful is often squandered on frivolous and wasteful pursuits


Its not fair on those who paid
The less fortunate must suffer the consequences of the elite's carelessness and irresponsibility


Fight back dont give in
Again, do not succumb to the power dynamic; resist and stand up for yourself


Mother steals to make ends meet
Poverty forces some to turn to illegal means just to survive


And i got busted selling speed
Drug use and sales are another result of poverty and lack of opportunity


Got no future got no job
The less fortunate are trapped in a system that offers them few opportunities for upward mobility or escape from their current situation


They wont admit they got it wrong
Those in power refuse to acknowledge the flaws in the system and the oppression it perpetuates




Contributed by Callie T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Wattie Yadoin’


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