The Locust was formed by Justin Pearson, Bobby Bray, Dylan Scharf, Dave Warshaw, and Dave Astor. After a number of personnel changes, they arrived at their current four-piece lineup in 2001, consisting of Pearson, Bray, Gabe Serbian, and Joey Karam. Originally a powerviolence band with a strong tendency towards synth-based passages, they have more recently stripped down much of their past sound, but retained the heavy distortion, synthesizers, screamed vocals, and intense stage presence. On the band's unique sound and live presentations, singer/bassist Justin Pearson has said, "I wanted to change the way people perceive music, or maybe just destroy it in general." Their music is complex, dynamic and fast-paced, often featuring abrupt and inconsistent time-signature changes. These erratic elements are, according to guitarist Bobby Bray, "a reflection of perhaps how our brains have to function in order to be able to do anything in the Western societies we live in."
The Locust have a unique stage presence: costumed in skin-tight, full body nylon suits (which the band refer to as uniforms), they have at times come across to first-time viewers as frightening. The last 5 different suits were designed and made by Ben Warwas. Unlike most bands, which normally have the drums set up behind the other members, the four members of The Locust are usually all positioned in a line at the front of the stage. The group recommends that in order to get the full impact of the music, one should see them live. The Locust boycotts Clear Channel Communications and refuse to play in any Clear Channel-owned venues. This boycott affected a 2005 tour with Fantômas as well as another tour with Yeah Yeah Yeahs. They also have a policy of only playing all-ages shows. The band's lyrics range from stream-of-consciousness poetry to satirical portrayals of mainstream ideas of sexuality to political commentary and critiques of religion.
God Wants Us All To Work In Factories
The Locust Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Getting born again can be somewhat hard.
A snake eating its own tail,
Riding the new wave of new.
Wading in the sentimental sperm of now.
Don't wait for God to judge you because we can do that.
The words you sing are wrong since all masters are taught exactly what masters are to know.
The one who is only God cannot be thee top dog.
Employer, employ me some stale dead dog fuck all fuck bag.
Hey!
Heave! Ho!
Well, in case you did miss the memo
Rest in peace neoclassical absurdity.
Let's polish turds.
Then eat them.
Yum, yum.
The Locust's song "God Wants Us All To Work In Factories" is a satirical take on the concept of religion and its impact on human life. The lyrics, "dying can be that easy, getting born again can be somewhat hard," suggests that the process of dying is simpler than the process of being reborn, referring to the idea of salvation and redemption in Christianity. However, it also implies that the concept of rebirth is difficult to comprehend and execute. The line, "riding the new wave of new," portrays the idea of constantly changing trends and beliefs.
The artist then takes a dig at religion by mocking the idea of judgment by God. The line, "Don't wait for God to judge you because we can do that," indicates that humans are capable of judging themselves and do not need divine intervention. The phrase, "the words you sing are wrong since all masters are taught exactly what masters are to know," suggests that the knowledge imparted by religious masters is often biased and manipulated.
Furthermore, the song portrays the concept of power and hierarchy in society. The line, "the one who is only God cannot be the top dog," implies that the concept of power does not apply to God, but rather to those who claim to interpret or preach his teachings. The chorus, "I'm unimpressed," reflects the artist's disdain for society's obsession with power and authority.
Line by Line Meaning
Dying can be that easy,
Death can be a simple and effortless process
Getting born again can be somewhat hard.
Reincarnation or starting over can be difficult
A snake eating its own tail,
A symbol of infinity, the never-ending cycle of life and death
Riding the new wave of new.
Following the latest trend or fashion
Wading in the sentimental sperm of now.
Engaging in trivial, temporary pleasures and experiences
Don't wait for God to judge you because we can do that.
Humans are capable of passing judgment and therefore should not wait for divine intervention
The words you sing are wrong since all masters are taught exactly what masters are to know.
Masters are taught to think and speak in a certain way which may be limiting and potentially incorrect
The chorus sings: "I'm unimpressed".
The proclaimed message of the song is one of skepticism and disapproval
The one who is only God cannot be thee top dog.
The idea of a monotheistic deity being the highest power or authority is challenged
Employer, employ me some stale dead dog fuck all fuck bag.
A nonsensical and vulgar statement, perhaps indicating a desire to rebel against traditional employment structures
Well, in case you did miss the memo
Making note of the fact that the message being conveyed may not be well-known or understood
Rest in peace neoclassical absurdity.
Rejecting conventional, outdated ideas
Let's polish turds.
Attempting to improve upon something that is inherently flawed or unpleasant
Then eat them.
Consuming the polished turds, metaphorically insinuating that society may passively consume unsavory or unappetizing things
Yum, yum.
An ironic or sarcastic expression of satisfaction or enjoyment
Contributed by Alexander M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.