Requiem
The Killing Joke Lyrics

The Killing Joke's song Requiem is a poignant and thought-provoking track that deals with some incredibly deep and complex themes. The opening lyrics talk about a man who is watching a video while being acutely aware of the relentless ticking of the clock. He doesn't know why he's subjected to this mundane routine, but he ultimately feels like a mere animal, a helpless lamb awaiting slaughter. The line "He's just cattle for slaughter" is particularly evocative. It speaks to the idea that in today's society, people are often reduced to the role of mere consumers, buying and consuming products without fully understanding why they are doing so. They are controlled by the clock, trapped in a cycle of mindless routine, and ultimately desensitized to their own suffering.

The chorus, "The requiem," reinforces this sense of futility and desperation. The song seems to be asking: what happens when words lose their meaning, when there's nothing left to say? When will we be jolted out of our complacency and start to question the status quo? The lyrics go on to reference religion and its false morality, and the sound of breaking glass, which could be a metaphor for the shock and upheaval that's needed to break us out of our routine and start to effect change.