The Exploited are a Scottish punk rock band from Edinburgh, Scotland, forme… Read Full Bio ↴The Exploited are a Scottish punk rock band from Edinburgh, Scotland, formed in 1979[1] by Stevie Ross and Terry Buchan, with Buchan soon replaced by his brother Wattie Buchan. They signed to Secret Records in March 1981,[2] and their debut EP, Army Life, and debut album, Punks Not Dead, were both released that year.[2] The band maintained a large cult following in the 1980s among a hardcore working class punk and skinhead audience. Originally a street punk band, the Exploited eventually became a crossover thrash band with the release of their album Death Before Dishonour in 1987.

Although the Exploited continue to perform live, they have not released any studio material since their last album Fuck the System in 2002. Their songs have been covered by Slayer and Ice-T, and despite many lineup changes, Wattie has remained as the Exploited's singer and leader.

Discography:
1981 - Punks Not Dead
1982 - Troops of Tomorrow
1983 - Let's Start a War...
1985 - Horror Epics
1987 - Death Before Dishonour
1990 - The Massacre
1996 - Beat the Bastards
2002 - Fuck the System

Out Of Control
The Exploited Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Out of control
I'm out of control
My mind's a mess
Stare at you
A man possessed
My mother said that's the way I am
Father said that I was damned

Outta control, ah you're a mess

LSD
Killed my head
Schizophrenia
Around the bed
?????

Serial killer
We're after you

Overall Meaning

The Exploited's song "Out of Control" is a dark and intense song about losing control over one's mind and actions. The first verse describes the singer's state of being: out of control, with a mind that's a mess. The second line, "Stare at you, a man possessed," suggests that the singer is obsessed or fixated on someone, perhaps to the point of stalking or violence. The third and fourth lines reveal that the singer's parents have been aware of his problematic behavior for some time, with his mother accepting it as a part of who he is and his father seemingly condemning him.

The chorus of the song simply repeats the phrase "Out of control." This emphasizes the main theme of the song and creates a sense of chaos and instability. The following lines, "Ah you're a mess" directed at someone else, suggest that the singer sees others as similarly out of control and struggling.

The second verse of the song takes a turn towards more extreme behaviors and mental health issues. The line "LSD killed my head" suggests that the singer has experimented with drugs and experienced negative effects. The line "Schizophrenia around the bed" suggests that he may be suffering from this mental illness. The third line is unclear and difficult to interpret, but the fourth line's mention of a serial killer adds to the overall sense of danger and instability in the song.

Overall, "Out of Control" is a powerful and disturbing song that deals with themes of mental illness, obsession, and violent behavior.

Line by Line Meaning

Out of control
I'm losing control over my thoughts and emotions

I'm out of control
I can't stop myself from behaving erratically

My mind's a mess
I'm mentally scattered and distressed

Stare at you
Looking at you intently, trying to make sense of my surroundings

A man possessed
I'm in a state of mental distress, akin to being possessed by a demon

My mother said that's the way I am
My mother believes that I've always been this way

Father said that I was damned
My father believes that I'm destined for eternal suffering

Outta control, ah you're a mess
You too are devoid of control and seem to be going through turmoil

LSD
A hallucinogenic drug that alters one's perception of reality

Killed my head
The drug had an adverse effect on my mental state